This twenty-four inch straight ruler was constructed with a pliable metal allow and a cork underside that gives the structure rigidity while allowing it to bend in accordance with the force applied onto it.
This tool was made for artists, architects, mathematicians, and any other vocation, hobby, or project that requires a straight-edge measurement system. Since this device is labeled using both inches and centimeters, this ruler can be applied to both the Imperial and metric systems of measurement, thus diversifying the range of audiences who can take advantage of the tool. However, given that the text was printed right-side up across only one side of the ruler - that of the inches - there is an unspoken priority given to followers of the Imperial Measurement system. Such prioritization is a marketing strategy; doing this appeals to that specific audience and gives them incentive to purchase this tool.
A ruler of this particular scale was created to accommodate projects that are too large for a twelve inch measurement tool, but too small to require anything larger. The flexibility of the materials actually makes the overall structure more durable. As a solid straight-edge, it would have a very limited point at which an external force exerted on it would break the structure apart. When it is so flexible as it is here, however, it can absorb some of these forces, increasing its lifespan. Flexibility also allows the ruler to bend as much as is necessary to pack it into a bag or piece of luggage that may not be the ruler's length. Furthermore, the installation of a cork underside provides friction that the metal alone cannot provide when it is placed on a hard surface. Friction increases the force required to move two surfaces across each other, and with cork the ruler has a better chance of staying in place for the measurements and lines to be drawn from the user.
There is, however, an imperfection along the cork: a single scar that reveals the metal underside. It is only a small blemish on its own, but missing material like this is indicative of the cork's vulnerability to natural wear. A scar like this ages the product and reduces its capacity to produce friction. Eventually, more cork will erode and chip off the structure, reaching a point where it becomes both aesthetically jarring and functionally flawed.
The idea for this design was to adhere to common measurement systems and requirements while using materials that enhance the structure of the ruler. The problem here is to create a design that will last a significant amount of time, enough for the user to implement this tool into their projects on a regular basis.
On one hand, the vulnerable cork reduces this tool's long-term functionality. Once the cork is sufficiently chipped, it will look unsightly and lose its friction, making it harder to measure with. A possible solution for the cork is to apply a stronger adhesive to bind the particles together and keep them stuck more firmly on the ruler. A rubber border protecting the edges of the cork will reduce the chances of the material being chipped off from the edges inward.
That said, the potential loss of the cork will probably be insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The metal alloy making up the body of the ruler is durable, so it is not so vulnerable to wear as its cork underside. The ruler itself is ultimately more important than a medium that only serves as a friction aid. Furthermore, while metal is a material with less friction than cork, it is not so lacking in friction that it will actively hinder a measurement. This two-foot size allows the tool a wide applicability that is more useful for artists and architects, who rely on larger mediums of paper and materials than persons from other vocations. On the whole, this sleek design is of excellent quality and promises long-lasting use, even if age will gradually degrade the visual quality of the underside cork.
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