You will need:

• an everyday object to redesign
• writing paper
• drawing paper
• Design® Drawing 3800 Pencils-HB
• Pink Pearl® or White Pearl® Erasers
• Sharpie® Ultra Fine Markers
• Prismacolor® Premier or Scholar® colored pencils (optional)
• Give your artwork a title and send it to us!

We are surrounded by things—things that people invented to make our lives easier and more enjoyable. From axes to airplanes, unicycles to umbrellas, an industrial designer had a hand in designing it. Industrial designers create the look, sound, feel and function of just about everything we use every day!

Industrial designers have to think about all the ways that someone might use-and misuse-an object. Usually it takes more than one try to get everything just right. Sometimes things are so poorly designed they confuse, frustrate or even hurt us.

We can all think of objects that annoy us, break or just don't work. Try your hand at improving an everyday object. Here's how:

1. Think of an object that you want to redesign. Maybe it is a toy that broke easily, shoes that slip, scissors that hurt your hand or the ugliest lamp you've ever seen.

2. Think about your object. What is it supposed to do? Is it attractive? Does it make you want to use it? What are the problems?

"These scissors hurt my thumb after using them for awhile."

Divide a sheet a paper in half. On one side list all the things the object does well—the things you like about it. On the other side, list the things the object does poorly—the things you dislike about it.

3. Think about your two lists. What could you change to improve your object? Jot down your ideas on the back of your paper.

4. Time to start drawing! Industrial designers draw plans of objects to tell manufacturers how to make them.

Grab a piece of drawing paper and make a drawing of your object. Show the important details. You may want to draw it from several angles.

This is a plan for the Paper Mate® PhD™ pen. It shows all the shapes and sizes for all the pen parts.

You can sketch lightly with pencil first. Then go over your drawing with a fine-tip marker. If color is part of your redesign, you can color with markers or colored pencils.

5. Now note the changes you want to make on your drawing. Include changes in size, shape, materials, and color.

6. Draw your redesigned object. You may want to practice a few times on scratch paper before doing your final design on drawing paper with a Sharpie® Marker. Write a paragraph about your redesigned object and how your changes have improved it.

7. Give your industrial design a title! Now explore industrial design in other ways! So Sue Me! Create a Bad Industrial Design