Brush Fresh
Designing a Physical Portable Toothbrush Dryer and Cleaner
Deliverables
Tiffany Mao
Aaron Lin
Alejandro Junco
Aaron Wagner
Jolea Schwindt
Lianna Liu
Nov 2024
Challenge
In a post-pandemic world, consumer awareness of hygiene has significantly increased. Most toothbrushes harbor millions of bacteria after just a few uses, making proper sanitization crucial for oral health. Thus, in light of this problem space, our team set out to design a product that could function as a toothbrush cleaner and dryer.
Results
The team successfully designed and prototyped BrushFresh, a portable toothbrush sanitizer and dryer featuring UV-C LED technology for sanitization, with plans for an integrated heating system.
The final prototype was battery-powered for travel convenience and included a functional UV sanitizing component.
See the full report here!
Research
Market Research:
Research revealed a growing market opportunity alongside clear gaps in existing products. Competitor analysis showed most products fell into two categories: portable UV sanitizers without drying capabilities or wall-mounted sanitizers with drying functions.
Key findings from market research:
7% rise in health and personal care industry (2019-2022)
Price points ranged from budget options ($13.95) to premium devices ($174.95)
No existing product combined sanitization, drying, and portability
User Interviews: User interviews with 30 potential customers established three key priorities: effective sanitization and drying, portability, and affordability (with users indicating a maximum price point of $50).
From our individual interviews with potential users, our team gathered a list of the top needs users would be looking for. Above all, they are expecting the product to effectively sanitize and dry the toothbrush to prevent harmful bacteria growth. After this need, our interviews also indicated strong desires for portability and affordability (users indicated an average maximum price of $50). Thus, through our research and competitor analysis, we focused on these three features: cleaning & drying effectiveness, portability, and affordability.
Design Process
For concept selection, the team utilized a weighted scoring model based on:
Cost and feasibility
Safety considerations
Cleaning and drying effectiveness
Uniqueness in the marketplace
The final prototype was developed using 3D modeling software (Fusion 360) and produced on 3D printers. Despite challenges with implementing the heating element (which would have melted the 3D printed material), the team successfully created a functional prototype with UV sanitization capabilities.
Throughout the process, the team learned valuable lessons about product development, from understanding customer needs to overcoming technical challenges in prototyping. The resulting design effectively addresses the market gap for a portable, dual-function toothbrush sanitizer and dryer, with clear potential for further refinement and commercialization.
