The assignment:

Creator has previously worked with Zehnder Freshman, helping them develop their air filters’ “quivering technology”. IKEA utilized these air cleaners in their stockroom localities, when the idea arose that the same technology could be expanded to household use.

IKEA FAMILY and Freshman jumped to action and Creator was put to work with design and sourcing incoming components.

Freshman is the source of the project, but IKEA FAMILY was active with input regarding product prestanda and quality.

IKEA FAMILY was clear in their conviction that a playful, casual design would more easily melt into a home environment. Two technical conditions were to be met: the existing filter’s square form should be taken into consideration when designing the air cleaner’s overall form, and the second was that the air cleaner was to be so quiet that it could operate in bedroom environments (under 30dB).

Combining a pleasing form, superior fan prestanda and achieving low sound levels into one product were the greatest challenges.

The solution:

”We were responsible from the first idea sketches to production, says Product Manager Mats Svensson. “We have selected all of our suppliers ourselves to acquire the necessary components.”

Creator created a simple functional prototype and then suggested different design variations to IKEA FAMILY. One of Creator’s industrial designers, Tor Magnusson, steered the design efforts down two different paths. IKEA FAMILY was pleased with and selected the more playful, whimsical design.

In order to best achieve sound level requirements, Creator chose to equip the air cleaner with three fan speed levels: night, day and max.

”After several tests, we succeeded in combining an excellent balance with design, fan prestanda and low sound levels,” says Project Manager Mats Svensson. “Our thorough knowledge in designing in plastics was a great advantage for us.”

The result:

Creator’s presence in Hong Kong and the smoothly functioning relationship with our Chinese suppliers has been crucial for a smooth product development process. The responsibility on the project management in organizing the suppliers in China and manufacturers in Europe with the product development team has been extensive,” says Mats Svensson.

All of the puzzle pieces fell into place,” says Mats Svenson. Our global efforts have fallen on fertile ground. The product has been favorably accepted by our customers, having expressed their pleasure that the specification has been met with good margin.”