Project Overview

Innovation, shape, elegance… With the perfect blend of form and function, the ShavEzy foot stool delivers an ergonomic solution to a struggle that women have had for years. Shaving legs just got easier and a whole lot safer.
The quote below sums up our approach to the design process
“Design should not dominate things, Not dominate people, it should help people.” Dieter Rams

Organisation

Bath Art Pty Ltd

Team

Angela Nicholls
Victor Nicholls

Project Brief

The project brief was developed out of research of existing products that were falling short of the solution required, and identifying the functional and design gap that existed.
The finished product had to meet the following criteria
•Safe and Sturdy
Users must be confident that it will not slip especially if pregnant, elderly or have restricted movement
•Functional
Right height to suit a wide demographic of people and also not too high that it became uncomfortable
•Able to fit in the shower without restricting movement through the space
Blend into the space rather than be a statement
•Aesthetically pleasing
No sharp edges but curves that reflected the shape of the leg
•Able to be left in place but also taken out and folded away if necessary
•Ease of manufacture and hence cost effective
•Have an integrated razor holder that would keep the razor as dry as possible and be safely removed by the handle
•Easy Clean

Project Innovation/Need

Women have struggled with shaving their legs in the shower for many years, the shower being the best place due to the mess that can be created and the hot water softening the hairs and making shaving easier.
A Market scan revealed a number of products, some directly related to shaving legs and some more generic. None delivered a total solution in providing a safe platform that could be used every day without removing from the shower and without intruding on the shower space.
Other options available are to build in a foot rest which is expensive given the waterproofing required or to permanently fit something to the wall. Both cost, and skill required are both impediments to these options as are the ability to take this with you if you move.
The design brief was driven out of this market scan and what the existing products did not do. Interviews with potential users from a wide range of demographics were also commissioned to understand the user’s perspective. These potential users became an integral part of the design process during the multiple iterations of product through concept to final design.

Design Challenge

With so many competing design criteria in the brief and a wide range of potential user profiles it was critical that the fundamentals of the design took priority. The height was crucial, and took into account the ergonomics of the task involved. Shaving legs involves movement of many joints including the ankles, knees hips and back, and it’s important that each are not over extended to provide the most comfortable and safe platform. The platform must also feel solid and have enough surface area to reassure the user that they are safe in an already slippery environment. The next fundamental was the structure to ensure the ShavEzy did not impede the movement through the shower space and did not require any special set up, this was achieved by placing the supporting sides as close as possible to the side walls of the shower. No impediment to movement and a platform that can be left in place.
Next was the folding mechanism to allow removal and storage as well as reducing the impact of shipping. And as part of the whole process was the aesthetic and tactile form to ensure the product both looked and felt beautiful.

Sustainability

The ShavEzy can be manufactured out of recycled materials to reduce the impact on the environment and is a long lasting product that does not need replacing regularly.
Shipping impacts are also reduced due to the foldable design both from the manufacturer and to the end user.
The ShavEzy team are also committed as a company to a reduced carbon footprint having adopted policies that encompass minimising travel and working from home as well as recycling and the use of recycled materials where appropriate.
This policy has been in place during the design process and is continuing as an integral part of the business during commercialisation.