Hi: I am an industrial engineering student, and I like to design as a hobby.
I made a few calculator designs over the last two years and now they are in my web page. Please visit it and give me some feedback.
https://home.comcast.net/~marturo/
Thank You.
Marino Arturo
Mark,
Funny I like to industrial engineer as a hobby, jk. Since you obviously use it alot you understand its functions better than I do, but you are missing a good deal of design considerations. But just to give you a taste with what to improve with your design. Here goes:
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It’s not very stylish and pretty boring… too boxy. But in its defense it is just a calculator and most engineers don’t care about looking cool, he he, sorry just a light jibe but still a pretty true intended user classification.
Categorizing and prioritizing. Other than one or two slightly different sized buttons they are the really aren’t differentiated that much. This can be accomplished (but not over done) by color, size, shape or even texture.
What size manual and how long would it take to use this calculator. Since you have the two other uses for each button (red and green) how do you get to those functions? It’s not very intuitive.
Since you have the screen fold in, the buttons in the higher lower half will sometimes be inadvertently hit when going for the shallower ones in the top half.
The buttons that aren’t covered will get worn off pretty quickly when you throw them into your backpack several times. Either they need to be covered or the lettering needs to be depressed… more expensive.
Think about wear, ease of cleaning, cheat-sheets, power (solar, batteries, rechargeable), ease of assembly, wear and tear, etc.
And best of luck as an industrial engineer.
agree with Guest. also…
mainly seems like any other calculator. already asked - why are buttons arranged in columns/rows? necessary? desirable? ergonomic? computer keyboards use to be flat. now curved. ergonomic.
never assume HP or another company has done real research. usually reasons for a design are old. old restrictions forced design. but restrictions went away. except no one asks now if design can change. IDer would ask. you should ask. i bet layout comes from old calculator manufacturing restrictions. those are now gone. but the layout endures. maybe wont change much. but have to ask.
Funny I like to industrial engineer as a hobby, jk.
That’s is a good one…
- It’s not very stylish and pretty boring… too boxy. But in its defense it is just a calculator and most engineers don’t care about looking cool, he he, sorry just a light jibe but still a pretty true intended user classification.
Yes, I have to agree, I don’t know if you saw one of my other designs, the pasillo, I posted that design in a newsgroup for calculators, and nobody like it because for all calculator people, easy of use is more important than design.
- Categorizing and prioritizing. Other than one or two slightly different sized buttons they are the really aren’t differentiated that much. This can be accomplished (but not over done) by color, size, shape or even texture.
Thank you, I never realized this, I will do it in my next design.
- What size manual and how long would it take to use this calculator. Since you have the two other uses for each button (red and green) how do you get to those functions? It’s not very intuitive.
Well there is a green and red button in the leftside of the keyboard, the redndering does not show it very well. I guess you are not a calculator person.
Since you have the screen fold in, the buttons in the higher lower half will sometimes be inadvertently hit when going for the shallower ones in the top half.
The buttons that aren’t covered will get worn off pretty quickly when you throw them into your backpack several times. Either they need to be covered or the lettering needs to be depressed… more expensive.
I am aware of this. I recently bought a HP49G+ and it came with a nice leatter case. There is the solution; I am just too lazy to render it.
- Think about wear, ease of cleaning, cheat-sheets, power (solar, batteries, rechargeable), ease of assembly, wear and tear, etc.
Well, I didn’t think about the interior design, I have some knowledge about this kind of stuff, but it is too complicated to do it for a design that will never come true. 
And best of luck as an industrial engineer.
Yes, I know, I will never try to compete with one of you guys, I don’t have the imagination necessary for Industrial design, I am better sticking with the numbers…
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the pasillo looks pretty sweet. simple design, with the curves that make it seem very inviting. it’s nice. i would change it to a darker cool grey, just because there arent too many white calculators on the market for obvious reasons. i like the low contrast color scheme you have going though.
the avantix is just kind of rudementary needs some refinement.
hey, shouldnt there be a parting line in there somewhere?..