DEFINING DRIVERS
DEFINING DRIVERS
GETTING A GRIP ON HAB USER NEEDS
GETTING A GRIP ON HAB USER NEEDS
Over time the innovations of packaged goods become ubiquitous (think pop-tabs and ketch-up nozzles). For hearing aid batteries, their ubiquitous moment began decades ago when they were first dispensed in circular packages. Today most remain in largely the same format. Attempts to differentiate from this norm by adding magnet assist and easy tabs have been hit and miss.
Over time the innovations of packaged goods become ubiquitous (think pop-tabs and ketch-up nozzles). For hearing aid batteries, their ubiquitous moment began decades ago when they were first dispensed in circular packages. Today most remain in largely the same format. Attempts to differentiate from this norm by adding magnet assist and easy tabs have been hit and miss.
Our client was upgrading to a new battery technology and wanted new packaging to pair it with. The challenge was to bring a new perspective to redesign a 15 year old piece of packaging. I began mining years of market research distilling this down to a set of innovation drivers. I would use these to guide a broad exploration to redefine look and feel for this product.
Our client was upgrading to a new battery technology and wanted new packaging to pair it with. The challenge was to bring a new perspective to redesign a 15 year old piece of packaging. I began mining years of market research distilling this down to a set of innovation drivers. I would use these to guide a broad exploration .......
CREATING ACCESS
CREATING ACCESS
AT THIS SCALE, I COULD FDM A NEW ITERATION IN 15 MINUTES!
AT THIS SCALE, I COULD FDM A NEW ITERATION IN 15 MINUTES!
Scale would prove to be a challenge as well as an asset. Hearing aid batteries are small and hard to handle especially by the majority demographic that uses them, baby boomers. I found early sketching could generate promising thoughts, but the true value lied within trying these out full size. For the next few weeks the FDM became my best friend.
Scale would prove to be a challenge as well as an asset. Hearing aid batteries are small and hard to handle especially by the majority demographic that uses them, baby boomers. I found early sketching could generate promising thoughts, but the true value lied within trying these out full scale. For the next few weeks the FDM became my best friend.
I continued to bounce between loose sketch and CAD iterating many promising concepts. Each of these address removal and handling of the batteries in many ways. The models enabled us to narrow quickly to a group of concepts we would prototype to a realistic level for user preference testing.
I continued to bounce between loose sketch and CAD iterating many promising concepts. Each of these address removal and handling of the batteries in many ways. The models enabled us to narrow quickly to a group of concepts we would prototype to a realistic level for user preference testing.
REFINEMENT SUPPORT
REFINEMENT SUPPORT
HELPING RAYOVAC TAKE THE PROJECT REIGNS
With our field narrowed, we were able to dial in the usability features of the prototypes creating a small scale assembly line in preperation for testing. These sessions proved very fruitful pointing to a solid winner. The combination of modern feel and solid function pushed the "Reverse Dial" over the edge.
With our field narrowed, we were able to dial in the usability features of the prototypes creating a small scale assembly line in preperation for testing. These sessions proved very fruitful pointing to a solid winner. The combination of modern feel and solid fuction pushed the "Reverse Dial" over the edge.
We now began to transition the design intent to Rayovac engineers. We continued support providing guidance for scaling the concept to multiple SKUs and overcoming IP challenges. The results are now on pharmacy store shelves! Bold, bright and iconic they really stand out from the crowd.
We now began to transition the design intent to Rayovac engineers. We continued support providing guidance for scaling the concept to multiple SKUs and overcoming IP challenges. The results are now on pharmacy store shelves, bold, bright and iconic they really stand out from the crowd.
