Collapse Co.
Paired Project | Spring 2017
Space saving shelving system
Designed for use in commercial kitchens with space concerns
Only occupies in-use space, allowing for storage when not in use
Alternative to typical sheet pan racks used in most kitchens
Identified key need through empathy field work interviews with university dining hall staff
About the Design
Scissor cross brace significantly reduces footprint when collapsed
Magnetic guide rails allow for configuration with only one hand
Distance between levels adjustable using magnets
Designed to be manufactured out of sheet metal, magnets, and plastic guide rails
Prototyped out of acrylic at approximately a 1:4 scale with reduced functionality
Initial Prototype with two levels and without guide rails and scissor constraints
Experimentation with acrylic protoype that demonstrated the need for alternative materials