TIDAL:
Laptop Stand
Designing an adjustable laptop stand to help someone work from home.
Individual / Fall 2025 / 6 weeks
Tidal is an adjustable, collapsible laptop stand designed to bring flexibility and comfort to the modern workspace. Inspired by the smooth motion of the Surface Arc Mouse, it uses a bend-and-snap structure that folds flat for easy storage and expands into a stable, ergonomic position for use.
Research
After observing my client's work from home space, I took note of pain points and patterns in their work routine.
Ideation
Peer Feedback
I explored a variety of concepts for improving the work from home experience, including desk organizers, extension cord ideas, and comfort-focused accessories. Hearing what my classmates thought helped me see which directions felt most useful and exciting. Their feedback pointed me toward refining the laptop stand idea, which stood out as both practical and adaptable for different setups. From there, I began iterating on different forms and mechanisms for the laptop stand.
Prototyping
After exploring different directions for the laptop stand, I decided to pivot back to my original concept and build a full-scale cardboard prototype. This version didn’t include any mechanism yet, so it stayed in a fixed position, but it helped me test the overall proportions and stability. This prototype was able to support my laptop, giving me a better sense of how the stand would feel in use.
How might I improve my client’s existing setup, at home and at studio, to be more comfortable and encourage longer work sessions?
