Designing better looking exercise equipment!

stokerob2
stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
edited February 5 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi there. My names Rob, I'm currently studying Product Design and I'm researching home exercise as a final year project.

I'm hoping to design a much better looking piece of equipment, that people can use in a small living space. I'd like to design something that on first sight doesn't look like it's made for exercise, something that will make a statement in someone's home. I know people with smaller living spaces have nowhere to store equipment but either prefer to exercise at home or have no time for the gym. And so the equipment becomes a part of the furniture, which is why I'd like to design something that looks great.

Below is a link to my survey, I'd really appreciate it if you could help me out. It will only take 1 minute.

https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0kf9m2Bt37kmvbf

Thank you. Also, feel free to comment here if you have any thoughts or ideas about the project.

EDIT: Can't get the link to work, if you could copy and paste that'd be fantastic. Thank you.

Replies

  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    does it look like a squat rack with a 45 lb barbell and plates??


    oh- no?


    sigh
  • nytrifisoul
    nytrifisoul Posts: 499 Member
    functionality over looks any day of the week. I have my treadmill and exercise bike rigged with speed bags and resistance bands.:laugh:
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Ah man I love design, this is cool, I would be interested to see what you come up with. I'd figure a plus is how simple the equipment can be.

    What would you do with the barbell and plates though?
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Might be a little late for this. Torque Fitness makes a lot of equipment that looks cool & takes up minimal space. I have their F1 trainer and it's awesome, takes up no room, and is very well built. I think their F7 is the one that folds away into a corner.
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    Thanks for your replies. I've posted on a few forums now and I'm getting 'function first' a lot, especially with weights! I think I'm going to avoid that, bigger things like that wouldn't be used in the living room, completely get that.

    I think I'm going to go down the exercise bike route, or cross trainer. These are things you can make a lot nicer...

    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    Just look at that link for example. And Thanks FrnkLft it wont be completed for a few months yet but could post here when i'm done.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Yeah but I think he's looking for something that would look good next to your couch lol That's tough...
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    Thats great, thank you. I'll look into that.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Thanks for your replies. I've posted on a few forums now and I'm getting 'function first' a lot, especially with weights! I think I'm going to avoid that, bigger things like that wouldn't be used in the living room, completely get that.

    I think I'm going to go down the exercise bike route, or cross trainer. These are things you can make a lot nicer...

    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    Just look at that link for example. And Thanks FrnkLft it wont be completed for a few months yet but could post here when i'm done.

    Oh man that exercise bike is awesome! Damn now I'm excited, don't disappoint me man!! lol
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    I know its great! haha. Thats what I'm going for anyway. I think weights should be left for the garage or gym.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member


    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    That is VERY sweet.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    make a squat rack pop out of my couch.
  • InForBacon
    InForBacon Posts: 1,508 Member
    make a squat rack pop out of my couch.
    This
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    If barbell plates could be powder-coated in pastel pink I would be more inclined to weight-train.

    Until then, my yoga mat and pants tuck nicely away in a living room cupboard.
  • iceqieen
    iceqieen Posts: 862 Member
    make a squat rack pop out of my couch.

    second that! or able to fasten it to the wall and fold/unfold somehow
  • iceqieen
    iceqieen Posts: 862 Member
    If barbell plates could be powder-coated in pastel pink I would be more inclined to weight-train.

    Until then, my yoga mat and pants tuck nicely away in a living room cupboard.

    Paint.
  • sabified
    sabified Posts: 1,035 Member
    Great idea! I know a lot of people who don't buy equipment because of the size but then don't exercize otherwise because they're too shy to do it outside their home.

    I think you have a lot of great options- you could make things double as shelving, tables, furniture (futon style).... good luck with your project! please let us know what you come up with :)
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    Thanks for the feedback! I'll have a look into doing something with the squat rack then :)
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    If barbell plates could be powder-coated in pastel pink I would be more inclined to weight-train.

    Until then, my yoga mat and pants tuck nicely away in a living room cupboard.

    Paint.

    Dang - now I'm right out of excuses!
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    tobemotivated- Thank you, I think you're spot on. And I'm considering a second use, like furniture as you say. And I will, like I said though it will be a few months.

    p.s I don't know why my profile picture is what it is.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    @yogi ROFL



    About the rack... look up "squat stand" rather than squat rack. I can see how a squat stand could be designed to look kinda like a CD stack or something, barbell placed upright beside it. There are plenty of attractively designed weight plates too...
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    tobemotivated- Thank you, I think you're spot on. And I'm considering a second use, like furniture as you say. And I will, like I said though it will be a few months.

    p.s I don't know why my profile picture is what it is.

    I don't know Stoke... I think you do... I think you do....
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member


    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    That is VERY sweet.

    So I went to the article. Then I went to the article where they reviewed the thing. The picture in the second article reminds me of the bunny creatures in the opening credits of My Neighbor Totoro
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    But... my elliptical already doubles as a clothes hanger!

    Maybe a power rack that folds out of the wall, kinda like a Murphy bed?
  • richardheath
    richardheath Posts: 1,276 Member
    If barbell plates could be powder-coated in pastel pink I would be more inclined to weight-train.

    Until then, my yoga mat and pants tuck nicely away in a living room cupboard.

    Paint.

    Dang - now I'm right out of excuses!

    tumblr_m8r0uilHdD1r4df1po1_1280.jpg

    Yes. Yes you are :wink:
  • whitebalance
    whitebalance Posts: 1,654 Member


    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    That is VERY sweet.

    So I went to the article. Then I went to the article where they reviewed the thing. The picture in the second article reminds me of the bunny creatures in the opening credits of My Neighbor Totoro
    Hahaha!! Yes, it does! Imagine three of them in a line, varying sizes. :bigsmile:
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    If barbell plates could be powder-coated in pastel pink I would be more inclined to weight-train.
    Until then, my yoga mat and pants tuck nicely away in a living room cupboard.
    Paint.
    Dang - now I'm right out of excuses!
    tumblr_m8r0uilHdD1r4df1po1_1280.jpg
    Yes. Yes you are :wink:

    Ha ha! that rig is excellent.

    Seriously though - if weight plates were anything but black, they would look pretty cool in a small apartment. How about Mango Yellow or Lime Green as well as my favourite - Fushia Pink! they could be stacked alongside a pull-out-of -the-wall squat rack that seconds somehow as a bench and safety rack.

    Cucumber Green? - NO!
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member


    http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/10000-exercise-bike-for-posing-not-riding/

    That is VERY sweet.

    So I went to the article. Then I went to the article where they reviewed the thing. The picture in the second article reminds me of the bunny creatures in the opening credits of My Neighbor Totoro
    Hahaha!! Yes, it does! Imagine three of them in a line, varying sizes. :bigsmile:


    Yay someone who gets me!!
    My coworkers are looking at me funny
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,528 Member
    I can picture a stairmaster you put in a corner where one side is a bookshelf or something like that kinda hides it, but I would think that would just make it bigger, but camoflaged (however you spell that word ;) )
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    Interesting thought, I'll look into it. Thanks.
  • stokerob2
    stokerob2 Posts: 8 Member
    Bump*

    The more people that can fill the questionnaire in the better. Thank guys.
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