Lined Journal
Small-scale manufacturing of an original, sellable product
Design Concept
Designed with consideration for those who enjoy writing just about anywhere, this journal features hardback covers, spiral wire binding, and a spot to slip their favorite mechanical pencil. The wire-style binding allows a writer to fold their journal in half, if they please, while the covers provide a hard writing surface, and the pencil loop avails a convenient writing utensil. Additionally, the uniquely layered cover design makes this journal stand out against other writing journals.
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Concept Sketching
initial ideation
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Cover Design
motif exploration
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Multi-Layered Cover
concept prototyping and refining
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Pencil Loop
position and attachment prototyping
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Paper Block
paper selection and line design
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Binding
holepunch pitch and sizing
Manufacturing Process
More than developing a product concept, I designed the process to manufacture the product—as per the project’s emphasis. As proof of concept, I did a small-scale production of seven journals which I sold in a student store.
Major Manufacturing Tools Utilized
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Full Spectrum Laser
Utilized to cut front and back covers.
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Konica Minolta Printer
Utilized to print lined pages.
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Band Saw
Utilized to cut paper sheets to size.
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4:1 Pitch Hole Punch
Utilized to punch 2:1 pitch paper blocks.
Other tools included: SawStop Table Saw, Rhino 3D software, and sandpaper.
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Laser Cut
pattern for front and back Covers
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Dado Cut
grove to thin back cover for binding
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Sand
edges of front and back covers
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Clean burn dust
front and back cover binding holes
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Assembly
of front cover
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Fasten
pencil loop to front cover
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Apply finish
to front and back covers
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Print
lined paper block
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Cut
paper block to size
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Hole Punch
paper block
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Bind
covers and paper block
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Complete
Lined Journal
Manufacturing Time
Approximate time to produce a single journal:
According to the methods and tools available to me.
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Laser Cutting | 23 minutes |
| Front Cover Assembly | 12 minutes |
| Back Cover Assembly | 20 minutes |
| Finish Application | 8 minutes |
| Paper Printing | 8 minutes |
| Paper Block Preparation | 17 minutes |
| Journal Binding | 8 minutes |
| Total | 96 minutes |
Material Costs
Approximate material cost for mass production:
Does not includes labor cost.
| Material | Cost per unit |
|---|---|
| Maple Veneer | $3.10 |
| Birch Plywood | $0.53 |
| Lacquer Finish | $0.35 |
| 80lb Tabloid Paper | $3.06 |
| 1" Wire-O Binding | $0.90 |
| 3/4" Knit Elastic | $0.10 |
| Professional Super Glue | $0.01 |
| Total | $8.05 |
Lined Journal
Saleable Product
