GARDENA HAND SAW

PRODUCT DESIGN / BRAND DNA

This was a project with Gardena (Garden tools manufacturer) during my Industrial Design Intensive Year. 

The task for this (literally) hands-on product design project was to create the best consumer saw on the market. Gardena gave a brief to focus on handle ergonomics and strictly follow their brand DNA. The project led me in to thorough user testing session, ergonomic consideration and finally an individual task to create a final product. I focused on trying to encounter perfect ergonomics together with innovative and playful functions that would make the saw attractive for a family-oriented consumer.

 

PROJECT TIME 4 weeks

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS Traditional product design, ergonomic design 

SKILLS/TOOLS  Prototyping, model building , RHINO (CAD), ergonomic user testing, brand-DNA

TEAM Individual. Research phase together with Stefani Viera, Rafa Chadud, Bengisu Yieldum Ildiz

 
 
 
 

Process

Investigating the Brand- DNA of Gardena


RESEARCH

DEFINING THE FORM LANGUAGE, BRAINSTORMING AND INVESTIGATING IN WHAT VALUES GARDENA AS A COMPANY REPRESENTED TO US. OUR THREE VALUES AND THE LEAD WORDS TURNED OUT TO BE INNOVATIVE, RELIABLE AND PLAYFUL/FRIENDLY. AFTER DISCOVERING THE DIFFERENT VALUES WE SET OUT TO VISIT PROFESSIONAL SAW USERS AT UMEÅ MUNICIPALITY TO THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THE PROFESSIONAL USAGE, POSTURE, DIFFICULTIES AND POSSIBILITIES.:

 
 
 
 

PROBLEMS WITH CURRENT SAW

 There was bad wrist alignment, the saw handle used unnecessary amount of material, and the semantics did not seem to communicate its sleek draw back japanese style it really was 

  

 

 

MY SOLUTION

The users requested a 150 degree to an almost 90 degree angle at the second user test. Later the comfortable wrist angle got confirmed by Gardena. 

 

 

Sketching and prototyping

  "My three concepts was based on the three different values - playful and friendly, reliable and innovative 

 I wanted to incorporate the friendliness of Gardenas brand , with adding the circle head, but also carefully work with volumes. My models had various thicknesses, lengths and different rounded "fish belly's", that is grip able part a…

 I wanted to incorporate the friendliness of Gardenas brand , with adding the circle head, but also carefully work with volumes. My models had various thicknesses, lengths and different rounded "fish belly's", that is grip able part against palm. I choose a more rounded shape than the current handle, to create further comfort and possibilities to wrap around the handle.

 

 

 

 
 
 

User test

User observation was the important part of the project and two user test were made. The first round started with a blind test, to make the users really feel the different parts and ergonomics of each prototype. Secondly, 5 points of the hand related to 5 points on each handle was evaluated,, and also how the wrist was aligned/ also when “cutting” in the air on fictional branches.  

Harris profile was used to thoroughly review each category, i.e shape, length etc. ( the Harris profile was used to evaluate all five models).

 

 

Sketching

 I started sketching how I wanted the function of the button to look like. My final concept became two buttons, one big , rotating, and one small for releasing blade. I wanted both the function of replacing the blade for making it sustainable, and the rotating for changing the blade and reaching good wrist alignment.  I added this also to make the saw "playful and friendly".

 

Final concept

 

The final model has applied Gardena colours and Gardena semantics.  It fits the more family oriented and friendly user drawn to the form and comfortable ergonomics. The new and upgraded functions could add an adaptable touch to the saw and the circle can prevent the saw from looking robust but more friendly.  The goals to further communicate the draw back cut is something I tried to enhance with a logo. The logo with a parallel straight line to symbolise the smooth ease in the pull back.

 

 

 

 

FINAL thoughts

The project was about ergonomics which I think as a designer is very important to constantly consider, since we are constantly working with human interaction.

The user will always benefit when the product is designed with an ergonomic point of view. During this project I have learned a lot from carefully observing the users, and trying to adapt after the users different needs.