1. Our Design Idea Design Information
Who is this product for and what do they want from it?
The product is for a creative home worker who would like to have their own space to work. We would like to have a design that reflects both their work and personality.
Why will people use this product and would they prefer it to other products?
The purchaser would prefer this to other products because it is unique to what the individual specialises in and shows off their area of expertise. Also, being made out of aluminium it is more eco-friendly than other products. For example, the spiral staircase would be made out of aluminium. Furthermore, we would apply the aluminium in different ways and forms, such as twisted rope for the handrails, and sheet aluminium for reinforcing the tree house structure.
When will people use this product?
Home workers can use their garden buildings whenever they want to conveniently work in a calm and controlled environment. This will provide inspiration that will feed creativity and also allow workers to focus on their tasks.
Our Design Idea
The Metal Detectors; Wiktoria Swiatkowska, Carys Nurse, Nicole Vaughan Jones and Jennifer Grant.

2. Twisted aluminium rods.
A sheet of aluminium.
Twisted aluminium rods.
Aluminium rods.
Inside the pod
A skylight, although we are questioning whether to add this, as branches and leaves above might cause issues; blocking out light and difficulty in removing if they fall onto skylight.
Where would it be used and how does this affect the design?
The product will be used in the garden, or any plot of private land. This will affect the design because it will have to be durable to survive the outdoor conditions. It must be waterproof to cope with harsh weather such as wind and rain.
How will people use this product and can we make this simpler, easier, safer and better?
People will use the product by climbing the stairs or ladder, and entering a quiet workspace where they can develop creative ideas.
We can make this design safer by including safety features (such as handrails, and tread on the stairs) around the house and other strong metals that are heavier than aluminium (e.g. steel).
What will we make it out of and what will happen at the end of its lifetime?
Our product will mostly be made out of aluminium because it is lightweight and strong. It is also resistant to corrosion and is durable. In addition, part of the tree house will be made out of wood to create a warmer, cosier atmosphere. Also, wood regulates humidity and does not require much maintenance.
At the end of its lifetime, the entire structure can be recycled, reformed, and made into other objects.
A bed with a sturdy lightweight aluminium base. This will give the person time to relax
Circular windows
A lightweight aluminium shelf, whose design reflects the elements of the pod
The artist easel is again made from aluminium. The lightweight nature of the material makes it great for reducing the overall weight of the pod
A lightweight aluminium ladder leading to the bed
A working desk area, made from aluminium and sprayed in a variety colours.
The Metal Detectors; Wiktoria Swiatkowska, Carys Nurse, Nicole Vaughan Jones and Jennifer Grant.

3. The 6 Rs   Rethink – This product is needed to create a calm, quiet environment for a creative person. Also, the tree house would provide an inspirational environment because it would be raised from the ground, giving the customer/resident a different perspective of the environment.   Refuse – Aluminium and wood are going to be the primary materials used in the making of the tree house. Aluminium can be applied in multiple ways and has many benefits: it is lightweight, strong, and resistant to corrosion, making it suitable for a suspended spherical structure. Wood is a natural material, regulates humidity, is relatively cheap, strong, durable and is cost effective and easy to maintain.   Reduce – The smooth, spherical shape and plain circular windows look very modern and simple, but are also very effective. The simplicity of the design would benefit the maintenance of the product – cleaning the tree house would be extremely  
Our Idea in 3 Dimensions
Sustainability   We are integrating solar panels into the roof of the tree house which will power the heating, lighting and appliances used. However, depending on the placement of the tree house, light may not penetrate the leaves of the trees. Therefore, the sufficient amount of sunlight would not be absorbed by the solar panel. We could overcome this by placing the solar panels elsewhere, and then transferring the energy to the tree house.     
The Metal Detectors; Wiktoria Swiatkowska, Carys Nurse, Nicole Vaughan Jones and Jennifer Grant.

4. Repair – In our opinion, the building would be quite difficult to repair as every tree house would be custom made for each individual and unique tree. Even though our design contains windows and doors that are not particularly complex, it would be hard to repair them because it is integrated into the wood and aluminium – our design is modern and efficient.   Reuse – Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, you can use it again and again. The good points of this metal is that it is as strong as steel when alloyed with other materials. Furthermore, it is the second most-used metal after steel. Along with aluminium and wood components in the tree house, we could also use steel. Steel isn’t the lightest metal however it is less expensive than aluminium.   Recycle – Aluminium can be melted down, cast into a different shape and used in a different way. Wood can be turned into shavings or sawdust. It can also be recycled in the way that it is turned into another item, for example, furniture, pallets.
The Metal Detectors; Wiktoria Swiatkowska, Carys Nurse, Nicole Vaughan Jones and Jennifer Grant.