Action Figure Display Stand

RISE. A creative way to display and highlight the figure's functionality.

Here is a diverse and creative way of displaying your action figures, with full utilisation of not only the articulation on the figure, but also your display space - be it a conventional shelf display or a themed diorama. Rise stands are designed to bring the attention to the true heroes on the shelf - Action Figures!

Design Objective

The focus of this project was creating a design solution that is realised through problem solving, user experience as well as aesthetic exploration.

Action Figure 101

The action figures being targeted are 1:18 scale figures, typically 3.75 to 4" tall. Along with large companies like Hasbro and Mattel, several others also dabble in this scale. The figures have multiple points of articulation that affords them dynamic pose-ability, along with a uniform size of peg-holes in their feet to attach to the display stand.

THE PROBLEM. THE NEED.

Even the best among the existing display stand solutions, fall short when it comes to addressing the obvious problems.

Low number of Foot Pegs

The low number of foot pegs per square unit area of the stand, permits a single figure per stand, restricts the usability along with wasting precious shelf space.

Toppling Over

The unimaginative stand profiles and non-uniform peg placement ensures failure in their principal function. Also, unnecessary stand height and hollow, flimsy construction makes them prone to toppling over under unbalanced loads. This can have a disastrous domino effect for army builders.

Army Building Incompatibility

Army building requires closely spaced rows of multiple figures in limited shelf space. The stands with ordinary geometric profiles and generous footprints do little in addressing this need.

Lack of Storing-Stacking Facility

In the scenario of storing them away - the absence of any features permitting this, exhibits the lack of design consideration. The end result is increased efforts and a clumsy storage solution by the user.

THE INSPIRATION. THE IDEAS.

Image Board

Concept Sketches

THE SOLUTION.

The inspiration board, concept sketches and basic cutout models (for scale reference) helped arrive at the final solution. Concurrently, a 3D CAD model was being developed to inform the decisions of form refinement as well as concept viability.

Several design features conceptualized for this solution pushed the envelope in executing a ground-breaking product.

Space Saving

The stand profile allows close arrangements or even a pattern to be created for maximum utilization of display real estate. For all the pegs, the close proximity is useful for Army Building along with complete freedom in displaying any imaginable scenarios.

Colors and Materials.

Based on general demand and certain responses, a new pure white option along with the traditional black and clear stands would be proposed. The opaque as well as the clear variants would be injection molded from different grades of suitable ABS polymer.

Highest Number of Foot Pegs

This solution offers the highest number of foot pegs on a single stand. Plus, it also has the highest ratio of number of pegs per square unit area. This is primarily on account of the stand profile.

Better Support + 2 Figures on 1

The unique profile allows 2 figures to comfortably use a single display stand, which helps in Army Building the figures.

The peg location allows 3 different configurations of feet spacing for some dynamic posing. The stand can also be simply oriented to support the unbalanced weight of the figures.

Stacking and Storing

The peg holes on the bottom of the stand align with the pegs, to allow the stands to be stacked up and stored away when not in use. The stacking feature also helps reduce the shipping volume and thus, the cost.

Other Key Advantages

Great Compatibility. The stand is compatible with brands like G.I.Joe, Marvel (Comics and Movie lines) and Star Wars from Hasbro; Acid Rain; Forces of Valor; DC Multiverse from Mattel; Power Lords from Four Horsemen Studios as well as possibly the upcoming independent lines - Marauder Task Force and Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S. designed by Boss Fight Studios.

Mechanical Advantage. The uniformly curved profile adds to the strength and sturdiness of the stand. This, along with a low stand height of 2mm and a shorter moment arm (stand limbs that allow re-orientation of the center of gravity), result in the figure not toppling over under any dynamic posing.

Cost and Material Savings. The design features reduce the amount of raw material used and the tooling cost, which reduces the overall manufacturing costs.