Electronic Palette System for Design Product Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interior designers and architects face a time-consuming process in creating design palettes by manually reviewing and ordering product samples from various manufacturers, which involves extensive browsing and separate ordering processes.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system that allows designers to create, manage, and share design palettes online, featuring filtering and ordering capabilities, enabling the selection and procurement of multiple product samples along with associated documentation through a website or tablet app.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If designers manually review and order product samples from various manufacturers, then they can evaluate products in detail, but the process becomes extremely time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates digital copies of physical product samples through high-quality images and detailed specifications stored in a database. Designers can view, evaluate, and compare these digital representations without handling physical samples, maintaining evaluation accuracy while eliminating time-consuming manual review processes.
Solution Approach 2:
An electronic platform acts as an intermediary between designers and manufacturers. The system consolidates product information from multiple manufacturers into a centralized database, allowing designers to access and evaluate products through a single interface rather than contacting each manufacturer separately.
2Loss of information
If designers order samples from multiple manufacturers separately, then they can obtain comprehensive product information, but the ordering process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple ordering processes into a single unified platform. Designers can select products from different manufacturers and add them to a design palette, then order all samples through one centralized ordering process rather than placing separate orders with each manufacturer.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic platform serves multiple functions: product catalog, evaluation tool, palette creator, and ordering system. This multi-functional system handles the entire workflow from product discovery to sample ordering within a single interface, reducing process complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If designers manually sort through thousands of physical product samples, then they can find suitable products, but the process requires extensive manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical process of physically sorting through sample libraries with an electronic search and filtering system. Designers can quickly find products using digital search functions, category filters, and sorting options, eliminating the need to manually handle and review physical samples.
4Productivity
If designers create electronic palettes online with filtering capabilities, then they can efficiently evaluate products, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization and categorization of all product data before designers access it. Products are pre-tagged with attributes, organized into categories, and indexed for search, allowing designers to quickly filter and evaluate products without the system needing complex real-time processing during palette creation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments provide a system for generating design palettes over a network. In one embodiment, the system comprises a database configured to store design product data corresponding to one or more design features of a plurality of design products. A user interface is configured to allow submission of information specifying one or more requested design features. An e-palette server is in operative communication with the database and the user interface. The e-palette server is configured to receive the requested design features and to generate a subset of the design products. Each design product in the subset of the design products shares at least one design feature in common with the requested design features. An e-palette generator is configured to generate a design palette including at least one design product from the subset of design products and to send the design palette to the user interface for display.