SQUEEZE

squeeze |skwēz|verb1 [ trans. ] firmly press (something soft or yielding), typically with one's fingers : Kate squeezed his hand affectionately | [ intrans. ] he squeezed with all his strength.• [ trans. ] extract (liquid or a soft substance) from something by compressing or twisting it firmly : squeeze out as much juice as you can| [as adj. with submodifier ] ( squeezed) freshly squeezed orange juice.• [ trans. ] obtain (something) from someone with difficulty : a governor who wants to squeeze as much money out of taxpayers as he can.• informal pressure (someone) in order to obtain something from them :she used the opportunity to squeeze him for information.• (esp. in a financial or commercial context) have a damaging or restricting effect on : the economy is being squeezed by foreign debt repayments.• ( squeeze off) informal shoot a round or shot from a gun : squeeze off a few well-aimed shots.• ( squeeze off) informal take a photograph : he squeezed off a half-dozen Polaroids.• Bridge force (an opponent) to discard a guarding or potentially winning card.2 [ intrans. ] manage to get into or through a narrow or restricted space : Sarah squeezed in beside her | he found a hole in the hedge andsqueezed his way through.• [ trans. ] manage to force into or through such a space : she squeezed herself into her tightest pair of jeans.• [ intrans. ] ( squeeze up) move closer to someone or something so that one is pressed tightly against them or it : he guided her toward a seat, motioning for everyone to squeeze up and make room.• [ trans. ] ( squeeze someone/something in) manage to find time for someone or something : the doctor can squeeze you in at noon.• [ trans. ] ( squeeze someone/something out) force someone or something out of a domain or activity : workers have been squeezed out of their jobs.noun1 an act of pressing something with one's fingers : a gentle squeeze of the trigger.• a hug.• a state of forcing oneself or being forced into a small or restricted space : it was a tight squeeze in the tiny hall.• dated a crowded social gathering.• a small amount of liquid extracted from something by pressing it firmly with one's fingers : a squeeze of lemon juice.• a strong financial demand or pressure, typically a restriction on borrowing, spending, or investment in a financial crisis : industry faced higher costs and a squeeze on profits.• a molding or cast of an object, or an impression or copy of a design, obtained by pressing a pliable substance around or over it.• informal money illegally extorted or exacted from someone : he was out to extract some squeeze from her.• Bridge a tactic that forces an opponent to discard an important card.• (also squeeze play or suicide squeeze) Baseball an act of bunting a ball in order to enable a runner on third base to start for home as soon as the ball is pitched.2 informal a person's girlfriend or boyfriend : the poor guy just lost his main squeeze.PHRASESput the squeeze on informal coerce or pressure (someone).DERIVATIVESsqueezable adjectivesqueezer nounORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from earlier squise, from obsolete queise, of unknown origin.

Make it Better! Design for 5 bucks

Project Brief:

The main goal of this project was to take an object that we thought had poor design, and revamp it.  Redesigning an object that was under five dollars, and making it better designed and more functional.  The objective was to add features that would help its efficiency, and either take away the problems it had, or redesign those features of the object that were the problem.  After carefully interviewing a broad group of people to see what the overall impression of that object is, we used the information from those interviews to make our plans, which we would then execute and make a better designed object.

Reflection:

I thought this project was very eye opening.  I never really realized how many flaws such a simple object like tape could have.  After really analyzing what I liked and disliked, it was easy to make an object that would work best for me.  However, when creating an object, it is important to think of a design that will appeal to the largest number of people, especially in sales.  After doing this project, I now look at numerous objects and find the flaws hoping that someday someone will redesign the object.  

Reflection of “The Writers Toolbox”:

Through The Writers Toolbox, we learned how to construct a mind map, and what the benefits of using this tactic are.  The benefits of using a mind map when doing a project like redesigning an object are thinking of a simple idea, but branching off, making more complex thoughts in the process.  Once you write down one thing on a mind map, the quick process of linking different thoughts to a specific thought makes more more ideas, some out of the box, and some that are potentially great.

FINAL PROTOTYPE INTERVIEWS

Questions

1) What do you like about this tape dispenser?

2) What do you dislike? 

3) How would you use this product?

4) Is there a certain feature you still wish it had?

Responses:

1) I can still store it anywhere, I like the new shape

2) There isn’t much I don’t like about the new design, its pretty cool.

1. Even though it has a new design, I probably still wont use it a lot, but I would use it for projects and homework

4) It’s got everything I could think of that I would need

Interviewer: Taylor Zahrt

Interviewee: Carson Rufledt

1) Its small and square, and it has grips

2) I like everything on this prototype

3) I use it to tape things for homework and stuff

4) I think everything I said in my interview before, was put into the new prototype

Interviewer: Taylor Zahrt

Interviewee: Claire Henry

1. I really like the shape, I love the grips, and the measured part is really a neat idea as well.  Also that I can just buy new rolls of tape instead of buying a whole new dispenser is nice
2. Nothing, its great.
3. I will use tape more now for projects and homework not just for wrapping gifts
4. Nope, everything looks good!