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Elizabeth Liu

BS in Product Design — Product Design
Course:
Design Lab 2
Faculty:
Mia Ferrera Wiesenthal
Term:
2025 Summer

Billie Razor Kit

As part of a brief to evaluate products at Urban Outfitters through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) lens, I identified opportunities within the self-care section. While these products promote personal grooming and lifestyle rituals, many (particularly shaving kits) rely on single-use plastics, excessive packaging, and short product lifespans. This project reimagines the everyday razor as a more sustainable, thoughtfully designed system.

Process:

I began by breaking down the product and its packaging to analyze material choices, assembly, and lifecycle impact. This systems-level understanding guided a more sustainable redesign. I then iterated on the razor’s ergonomic form through prototyping and testing, focusing on comfort, grip, and user experience, while exploring material strategies that extend product lifespan and reduce waste.

Learning Outcomes:
  • Developed a deeper understanding of product systems and lifecycle thinking through LCA analysis
  • Strengthened my ability to design with sustainability in mind, balancing material use and longevity
  • Improved my skills in ergonomic design through iterative prototyping and testing
Project Website:
https://www.elizabethpdjourney.com/projects-6
Tags:
Sustainability