The assignment:

3M recruited Creator for the mechanical design and concept development of the next Speedglas9000 generation.

Creator was central in the concept phase. They contributed with extensive knowledge in materials and design, with focus on, among other things, the helmet’s headband. However, Creator’s most important roll was in creating the prototypes that were tested on different marketing groups.

The solution:

”Success with the 9100 was anchored early in the analysis and concept phases. These phases must be allowed the time needed to develop, and it required a smoothly working cooperation between Creator and our Research and Development department,” says 3M´s project manager, Arne Linderstrand. The concept phase should generate several alternative ideas that can be evaluated and tested against each other. Brainstorming and cross-checking ideas better ensure that we are heading in the right direction before beginning the resource-demanding design phase.

Creativity blossoms best when allowed free reign, and a design team with a broad spectrum of competence provides many different angles to consider, as well as provides skillful visualization and excellent prototyping. Ideas and concepts are filtered down to a solid foundation for the design.

”Creator’s advanced prototype workshop was very important in the developmental process. Prototypes realize the conceptualized solutions and tests their limits,” says Arne Linderstrand. “3M highly values VoC (voice of customer). Dialog with customers around the world and the ability to test prototypes on end users is exceedingly valuable.”

Creator and 3M established a well working cooperation where designers had frequent meetings that utilized good communication.

”Designers must have constant input. Successful cooperation is one of the most important aspects in projects such as this, not only when developing individual design solutions, but as a complete functional unit as well,” says Arne Linderstrand.

The result:

”Creator’s experience from other projects benefited the entire developmental process. While our own employees are often drawn between different projects, a hired consultant can completely focus on an assignment,” says Arne Linderstrand.

The results of the design efforts has given birth to a worthy replacement to the Speedglas 9000, and there haven’t been any technical problems in the product since it was launched in 2008.

”It’s common that small adjustments are required to be made in a product after it has already been introduced on the market, and it often leads to problems,” says Arne Linderstrand. “We have succeeded beyond our expectations with the mechanical design and thankfully avoided such problems and adjustments after launching the product. This is mainly thanks to our solid work efforts early on in the developmental phases and continuous risk analysis.