Croco
Croco from Daniel Ha
Croco

Problem
Private contractors who paint often have difficulty keeping paintbrushes in reusable condition because the bristles dry out when paint is left on the brush and are deformed upon external contact.

Purpose and Scope
Our team’s goal was to design a product that would prevent the bristles of a paintbrush from deforming and drying but also would be durable, mobile, and easy to use.

Methodology
We followed an iterative user design process, which included constant communication with our clients and users, multiple mockups, user and performance testing, and constant modifications to our design. Every change made was a reflection of the users’ needs and requirements, resulting in an easy-to-use and effective paintbrush case.

Design
Croco is an individualized tough plastic paintbrush case that forms to the brush’s natural shape and retains the moisture within the case, preventing the bristles from drying and deforming.

Primary Users: Private contractors, Professional Painters Secondary Users: Paintbrush industry/market, Paint industry/market Stakeholders: Local and international hardware stores (Home Depot, Aces)
Client showing us different examples of how his brushes become ruined. The top row of brushes were ones that dried without proper structural containment so they eventually fanned out naturally. The bottom left brush was one that was tossed into the trunk and other tools pressed against the bristles causing some of the bristles to fan out - brush becomes useless for detailed strokes. The bottom right brush is one that dried with acrylic paint still on it - bristles become very stiff and stuck together.
Final Product
Croco consists of acrylic plastic, a rubber lining that fits around the neck of the brush, and customized replaceable sponges. Croco has only one moving part, the front plate. A hinge is attached to the front plate at its bottom. The up-down folding motion opens and closes the case. The front plate is fastened to the main body by two latches on top. Once two latches are opened, the space inside is visible. Two customized sponges, attached to the front and backside of the case, envelop the space. The sponges keep the bristles moist and maintain the desired formation of bristles by limiting the free space inside the casing. A paintbrush of the size 1 to 3 in is placed inside. The neck of the brush is held by the small, rubber lined opening. The folding motion closes the case. Then the body and the front plate are latched. As the two parts are latched together, the rubber lined neck fixture molds into the shape of the neck.
Front View: Croco is constructed with ¼-in thick, scratch-resistant acrylic plastic. The thickness of the case guarantees extra durability desired by our users. The weight and feel of the case inspire accountability to users who work in rugged environment. Croco has an inner width of 4-in that grants universality. The design is able to accommodate 1’’ to 3’’ brushes as desired by our client.
Back View
Components
The rubber lining grants air tightness and holds a brush neck of different sizes effectively.
Piano Hinge: Croco’s hinge is placed on the bottom. From user testing, it was discovered that the bottom-top folding motion is a more natural motion than a sideway folding motion, especially when the user wears the design on his belt. The bottom-top folding mechanism grants space on the bottom of the case where extra paint can flow into rather than spilling out of the case
Sponges / Interior: Sponges are removable components of the design and are held in place by two small hooks on the corners of the front of the case. The fixture by the hooks enhances ease of use. The sponge on the back of the case fits securely inside the case. Customized, removable sponges limit free space inside the case, which is especially crucial in casing a one inch brush. Without the sponges, bristles move around in the case, and it may cause damage to them. The sponges keep bristles moist and maintain their natural formation. The sponges can also be easily removed for cleaning.
Pins holding the sponges
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Croco

Problem
Private contractors who paint often have difficulty keeping paintbrushes in reusable condition because the bristles dry out when paint is left on the brush and are deformed upon external contact.

Purpose and Scope
Our team’s goal was to design a product that would prevent the bristles of a paintbrush from deforming and drying but also would be durable, mobile, and easy to use.

Methodology
We followed an iterative user design process, which included constant communication with our clients and users, multiple mockups, user and performance testing, and constant modifications to our design. Every change made was a reflection of the users’ needs and requirements, resulting in an easy-to-use and effective paintbrush case.

Design
Croco is an individualized tough plastic paintbrush case that forms to the brush’s natural shape and retains the moisture within the case, preventing the bristles from drying and deforming.

Daniel Ha
Chicago, IL