paris-based designer ariane prin's 'air hair machine' is a study of the hair dryer.
prin visited numerous hairdressers, observing their use of the hair dryer -
typically 4.5 hours a day - and noticed their forms were not very convenient.
she also observed that hairdressers often use the same nozzle and that the switch
which allows one to move between power levels was useless because it is habitually
on maximum mode. she concluded that the overall device needed to be small, lighter
and wireless.



one of the three most adapted shapes as a result of prin's research

the most important observation prin made was the fact that a majority of hairdressers
did not use the actual handle of the hair dryer because it did not allow them to be precise
and efficient. instead, they held it by the body of the object even if this is the hottest part.
in addition to this, at the end of their careers, most hairdressers develop wrist and shoulder
articulation problems.

with these observations and research in hand, prin started working on the ergonomics
of the hair dryer. this is a look at her studies of the different shapes and models she developed
and brought back to the hairdressers to decide which would be the three most adapted shapes.



one of the three most adapted shapes as a result of prin's research



one of the three most adapted shapes as a result of prin's research



the three most adapted shapes as a result of prin's research



observations of how hairdressers hold hairdryers - never by the handle



process work



series of study models



observations and notes on each form



the collection of study models



drawings