New to AS Business ( BUSS1/BUSS2) | Step Up to A2 Business (BUSS3 / BUSS4)
MU folding electric plug
“When I’m walking down the street I see everyday objects and ask myself why that object exists. If I can find any possibility for improvement, I start to design it.” Min-Kyu Choi.
The newly launched folding MU plug uses less materials, less space yet meets current UK regulations for electric equipment, and will appeal to users of tablets, smartphones and ipods, which require a slim USB adapter.
It is a great case study for consideration of all aspects of entrepreneurship - risk taking, design, development, finance, marketing production and profits.
The designer’s philosophy is simple, he wanted to find a better form of electric plug, one which could be folded, used less plastic easily stored without damaging sensitive screens.
The original design won awards whilst Min-Kyu Choi was a student, but it has taken three years to bring the product to the market. The folding plug needed to be refined to meet existing UK technical requirements, funds had to be raised to produce prototypes, patents were taken out to stop others copying the design. Part of the development process was a result of a partnership with Matthew Judkins and the establishment of Made in Mind.
The product has a short memorable name - MU derived from the Greek word for small/micro, with a simple yet recognisable logo, important elements of marketing.
Decisions had to be made about prices, and volumes. The MU is available at a price of £25, from only one outlet, but if it is to reach a mass market, should the designer licence his design and accept royalties on each one sold, or should he sell the design onto the highest bidder? Can the product be produced in sufficient numbers to meet market demand? The design has won The Dyson Award, and has had plenty of media coverage including an interview with Rory Celand-Jones of the BBC.
The original design carried a three core wire to the folding plug but the newly launched folding plug will have a port for a USB device. It remains to be seen if this reaches the mass market. The firm hopes to launch a USB adapter for tablets and a power cord for laptops.
The MU encapsulates the key aspects of entrepreneurship, risk taking, product design, product development, finance, marketing and production decisions.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Business Studies Revision / Exam Coaching Workshops Coming Up:
GCSE Business (AQA Unit 2 & Edexcel Unit 3)
Thursday 24 April 2014 - Birmingham
Friday 25 April 2014 - London (Stratford City)
AQA AS & A2 Business (BUSS1 & BUSS3)
Monday 20 January 2014 - London (Stratford City)
Tuesday 21 January 2014 - London (Fulham Broadway)
Wednesday 22 January 2014 - Bristol (Cribbs Causeway)
Thursday 23 January 2014 - Birmingham (Star City)
Friday 24 January 2014 - Manchester (Salford Quays)
AQA AS & A2 Business (BUSS2 & BUSS4)
Tuesday 25 March 2014 - London (Stratford City)
Wednesday 26 March 2014 - London (Fulham Broadway)
Thursday 27 March 2014 - Bristol (Cribbs Causeway)
Friday 28 March 2014 - Birmingham (Star City)
Tuesday 1 April 2014 - Newcastle (Metro Centre)
Wednesday 2 April 2014 - Leeds (The Light)
Thursday 3 April 2014 - Manchester (Salford Quays)
Post-Easter (BUSS1/BUSS2 Combined & BUSS4)
Monday 28 April 2014 - London (Stratford City)
Tuesday 29 April 2014 - London (Fulham Broadway)
Wednesday 30 April 2014 - Bristol (Cribbs Causeway)
Thursday 1 May 2014 - Birmingham (Star City)
Friday 2 May 2014 - Manchester (Salford Quays)
Try some of these superb starter activities for Business Studies:
- Anagram Countdown
- Beat the Teacher
- Bellwork
- Budget Basket
- Memory Challenge
- Loop Cards
- I'm the Question
- Catchphrase - Say What You See!
- Consider All Possibilities (C.A.P)
- i-Teach
- Teacher Talkabout
- Perfect Recall
- Pass the Buck
- What would you have invented?
- These are a few of my favourite things
- Set Your Students the 15 Word Challenge
- Topic Tennis
- What Why Depends - Developing Thinking Skills
Join our Business Teacher Email Newsletter
Join our community of over 15,000 Business Teachers & Lecturers who receive our Business Teaching Resource Newsletter
| Business Studies Blog | Economics Blog |
| Geography Blog | Politics Blog |
| Give It A Go! Blog | Sociology Blog |
