Close Razor
The Close razor intends to disrupt the men's shaving industry by integrating both gel and blades into a seamless and chiseled razor.
Through several sessions of problem identification, I chose travel as my direction. Traveling involves a great deal packing, and traveling light is always preferred. Discovering that you have forgotten something be unsettling. It leaves people with the question,"What else did I forget?"
What if you could pack one item instead of two? What if your razor included the shaving gel, and helped with the application of it?
I started looking at the entire product landscape for shaving. What I found was an incredibly crowded market for manual, electric, and everything in-between. How can any product break through the noise and be noticed? It isn't about being different. It's about being better.
This product needs to embody the man who will buy it. What does he value? These keywords mean something to the target audience. They instill quality and precision. These are words that the rest of the market does not convey in their products.
I began to explore a form factor which would allow for the largest amount of gel by volume, without compromising comfort during use.
Carving forms out of foam by hand, I defined the form and further explored the line work for the razor.
The design is strong and precise. The gel cartridge is replaceable, accessed by removing the head of the razor. The bottom of the head is lined with neodymium magnets for a strong connection, and intuitive and simple separation.
A simple mechanism allows you to extrude the gel towards the top. This allows you to see how much gel is left in the razor as well. A thin silicone strip on the backside allows for the user to easily apply an even coating of gel. Then you use Close Razor like any razor.