Imagine a new oral care device that can provide a full clean, in less than 30 seconds that fits beautifully on your countertop

Goal

Action

This project started as a simple “concept generation” to be shown to investors by the client, a dentist. Working closely with the client, this relationship quickly grew. Through multiple funding rounds, I was tasked to lead design in hardware and user experience, as well as contributing to brand and website. As this was a multidisciplinary project, I worked very closely with the engineering team to build and test the first prototype, which landed a large funding round that allowed for deeper development. I worked closely with the CEO and engineering manager to design, build and test prototypes. We started with internal stakeholders and as the product became more real, extended testing to external stakeholders to ensure cleaning efficiency, comfort and validating usability, design and ergonomic.

Leading design and usability concepts that landed multiple funding rounds and finally securing a partnership with a major CPG company.

Result

Building trust through expertise. I worked with the client on what they wanted (Industrial Design concepts), and showed them what was needed (deeper understanding of the product, challenges of their innovative technology and the importance of understanding the people that will use it).

Project Description

Research

Industrial Design

User Experience and Usability

Branding

Prototyping

Role

The Opportunity

create a beautiful and simple device that can encourage better oral health

Understanding who it’s for

The US oral care market is an $11 billion market, and almost everybody uses a toothbrush, or electronic toothbrush. The strategy proposed was start by targeting a small, high value, high impact target group; then grow and expand.

The client identified 2 target markets that we could make the largest oral care impact.

First, a group that has been impacted by “brushing too hard”, and having lowered gum health.

Second, a group that have trouble brushing correctly; this includes individuals with dexterity challenges.

Keeping in mind, that this product will span the larger population in the future.

Through multiple tests and observations of using a prototype with a small group (7) that fit within these groups, I created a user journey to identify, and visualize key pain points and areas that work. Discovery information was abstracted from observation and discussions with users.

Design

Design Goals

Keep interactions minimal, mimic what people already know
Aesthetically, and tactically pleasing. Add touches of joy and elegance.
The innovation is the custom mouthpiece and it’s also the one thing that causes the most difference in opinions. Manage the ‘feeling’ of this part.

Design decision: No Screen Interface

To start….

There was an opportunity to create a screen interface on the device, and or a connected device that could be controlled via an application.

Understanding our initial user base, I wanted to keep the device a stand alone unit, and simple to use.

One press - On, and cleaning.

Two press - Check battery status.

I proposed we allow for future implementation of a connected device, but keep this first version as simple as possible, allowing the users to acclimate to the ‘interesting’ experience and visual of a full mouth brush.

Design the device

From multiple sketch, 3D printed prototypes and renderings. A final design form was established.

Something that was neutral in form, that was soft and comfortable in the hand, but not cumbersome, while adding small details that created a sense of quality and intrigue.

Colors, Materials and finish

Using mood boards, we were able to establish the feel and intent we were going for. These concepts were reviewed, not only by us, but also by some of our test user’s that have been using a rough prototype.