The Dremel Air is a compressed air based painting product, looking to take the Dremel Hobby range into a wider and more varied market.
Working in cooperation with Dremel UK, the product was developed by myself and four others as part of a wider design competition. The project was based around the premise of creating a completely new product for the Dremel Hobby range, looking to new opportunities whilst still staying faithful to the brand and relationship that Dremel has developed with consumers and users.
The development was based entirely upon self-initiated user research, leading to a final presentation of concept including research, ergonomic testing, CAD, renderings and prototype models.
Named as the Winner of the Competition, below are some of the product renderings that I produced, with a little information about the product’s features taken from the promotional booklet that was produced. Enjoy!
DREMEL AIR COMPRESSOR
The compressor has more functions than just pumping air. Being an integral part of the product, it acts as a base. Easily transportable and featuring storage for all of the extremities, it allows for an ethos of ‘plug and paint’ – set up, plug it in and unleash your creative side.
DREMEL AIR STYLUS
Why have a set of brushes when you can have one tool that does it all?
A wide range of nibs provides different effects for whatever the hobby. Nibs can range from precise for detailed model painting, variable wide sprays for priming and even shaped for calligraphy and scrapbooking.
COMPACT STORAGE
Keeping track of your accessories can be a challenge, especially when your work surface is covered in craft materials. With nib storage inside of the compressor shell, loosing components is not an issue. Everything is kept safe and secure in one place, away from dust and stray specks of paint.
PAINT POD
The last thing you want to be doing when feeling creative is spending your time cleaning. The stylus’ paint pod makes this process simple and quick. Just unplug the pod you have been painting with, insert a pod filled with water and spray into the holster. In seconds the stylus is ready for use again.
WALL MOUNTED
Not everyone has a work surface dedicated to their hobby. When space is an issue, the compressor can easily be hung from a nearby surface, freeing up the area for un-cramped creativity.
DRIP TRAY
When placing the Air stylus back in its holster, any drips or spills are caught and drained into the drip tray. This can then be removed to empty and wash. Simple!
DESIGNED FOR MANUFACTURE
The forms of both the stylus and the compressor allow for easy tactile grips and an ergonomic feel, whilst still comfortably fitting all of the internal components. The shells of both are designed for injection moulding and rapid assembly, keeping production and assembly costs to a minimum without reducing the value to the consumer.
Special thanks must go to the rest of the team for all of their work. Keep an eye out for Dan Lee, Dan Blackford, Ben Healy and Luke Broderick in future! In the meantime, also keep an eye on the blog here, as I shall try and post some of the ideation sketches soon.
Nice job Hywel!