Paul Miller, Author at Whistle Industrial Design Melbourne

New Australian Standards For Products With Coin Batteries

Paul Miller — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 01:45:00 +0000

The Australian government recently introduced new safety laws and standards for consumer goods that contain button or coin batteries supplied to Australia. These come into effect 22 June 2022.

We have provided a summary below, but encourage you to find the full details at ACCC’s product safety pages here.

In Australia, children have died (and a growing number are seriously injured) after swallowing or inserting a coin battery. This is a result of:

Products with unsecure battery compartments
Button/coin battery packaging that is not child resistant
Poor quality products which release button/coin batteries when dropped or broken
Spare batteries being provided loose in product packaging
Spare batteries not being kept out of reach around the home
Used batteries not being properly disposed of

Our commitment

These new standards aim to minimise the risk of death and injury to children in Australia. At Whistle, our commitment is to deliver products to the market that are safe and effective.

We’re working with all our clients to bring them up to speed with these new safety standards and ensure their products are market-ready next year.

A summary of the new standards

The new standards include the following requirements:

Consumer goods containing button/coin batteries that are intended to be replaced by the consumer must have a secure battery compartment that is resistant to being opened by young children
Consumer goods containing button/coin batteries, whether or not the batteries are intended to be replaced, must be secure and not release the batteries during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions
Compliance testing must demonstrate that safety requirements have been met
Warnings are required on the packaging of consumer goods containing button/coin batteries or in accompanying instructions. If the consumer good is supplied unpackaged, or not supplied with instructions, warnings must be attached or included to alert consumers that a button/coin battery is included with the product and the hazard button/coin batteries pose to children

Example of Appropriate Packaging Warning

Any Questions About These New Standards? Let Us Help You.

If you’re in the process of developing a product, it’s essential to get yourself up to speed with these new standards so that your product is compliant. We can facilitate compliance testing and anything else required so that your product becomes market-ready.

If you have any questions regarding these new standards that will come into effect from 22 June 2022, please contact us on 03 9561 5810.

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Test, Refine, Repeat: Why you need to prototype

Paul Miller — Fri, 14 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Get crucial feedback during the product development process.

If you’re familiar with the Product Development Process, you’ll understand the term “prototype” and how important prototyping is throughout the entire design process. From the first proof of concept, right through to pre-production, prototypes that look and perform exactly like the final product help to refine and perfect the final product. This avoids costly pitfalls and saves time and money in the long run. When creating new products, prototypes are an essential step in evaluating design performance and function.

What do we mean by prototype?

A prototype is an early version of a product or its sub-components, made for the purpose of gaining insights into the merit of a proposed design. Unlike final production, prototypes are made in low volumes. They can be put together quickly with low-cost materials such as foam and cardboard, or produced from CAD files using high tech additive and subtractive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing and CNC milling. Some of the types of prototypes we use throughout the product development process to help our clients make crucial decisions are:

Functional Prototypes: To test mechanisms and key features.

Ergonomic prototypes: To test comfort, ease of use, layout of controls, form and colour.

Virtual prototyping: Computer simulation of mechanical design against applied forces.

Digital prototypes of User Interface (UI): To test the flow of digital menus, controls, information etc.

Why do we prototype?

We create prototypes in order to:

1. Save time and money.

A prototype takes time to develop but in the long run, you’ll save yourself both time and money once you’ve experienced the feedback that comes from developing a prototype. You’ll consolidate productions steps and refine materials and costs. Uncover and address potential design issues before spending your allocated engineering budget, before investing in manufacturing, and before delivering the final product to the market.

2. Refine the product’s integrity.

A prototype highlights unknowns and shows you structural or functional weaknesses. This gives you the opportunity to correct issues at a less crucial point in the product development cycle.

3. Receive feedback quickly.

With feedback, you’ll change or add new features and refine your product further. Changing features later in the product development cycle costs much more than changing or adding features earlier.

4. Get to market sooner.

When you have the prototype in your hands, you’re more compelled to get to market sooner. You’ll have more confidence in what you’re creating. Through testing and refining, you’ll most likely start the production phase earlier.

Creating a prototype allows you to study the impact of a design in the real world. It helps you best understand the impact of your design choices, gain valuable feedback from others and take the learnings about the likely success of the intended design direction. Only when you are armed with this feedback can you confidently make decisions about the next stages of product development. You’ll be in a position to determine if all of the design criteria have been met and make valuable improvements to the design where needed.

Create A Prototype To Give You The Essential Information You Need.

No matter how complex the prototype might be, remember that it is being made to test something and give you important feedback. It’s therefore important have a clear intent and goal about why you’re creating it, and the feedback you need:

What exactly are you testing for?
How do you judge if the prototype is successful?
What is the pass/fail criteria?

If you’re worried the product may fail at the prototype phase, this is exactly why the prototype step is of great value. Understanding where a design may fail is often the most valuable outcome of prototype testing.

Design, Test, Refine, Repeat.

Designing, creating and building new products will inevitably feature prototyping as a core part of the design process. Product development is a process of design, test, refine and repeat. We refer to this as a Design Loop, and it gives us and our clients valuable feedback at every stage to further refine, test and repeat. Each time we complete a Design Loop there is typically always at least one prototype.

Make multiple Prototypes.

We recommend prototyping and testing often before heading too far down the time-intensive path of development. And you don’t always have to prototype the complete product. At times, prototyping and testing only key components of the product is enough to get the feedback you need. For example, to ensure the mechanisms inside a product are working as expected before completing the engineering design of an external housing.

What Can Be Prototyped?

Almost anything can be prototyped. We have access to a local and global network of suppliers who can assist with the production of prototypes at every stage of the product development process. Our in-house workshop, complete with 3D printers, is the perfect place to start testing ideas and development meaningful prototypes.

Get In Touch With The Product Design Team.

Whether you need full product development support or just manufacture and supply of parts, contact us to see how we can help. Our fully resourced award-winning design team is ready to partner with you and help you bring your ideas to reality.

The post Test, Refine, Repeat: Why you need to prototype appeared first on Whistle Industrial Design Melbourne.

Innovation post COVID – Has 2020 sparked our appetite for change?

Paul Miller — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:15:00 +0000

Are we more willing to innovate and change? Will this shape our lives for the better?

Who would have thought that 2020, the year of the lockdown, would change our daily living rhythms permanently? We had our lives turned upside down by COVID-19. We were forced to adapt and change. Our regular life was no longer what it once was, and we were compelled to innovate.

Overall, as a community, we took this in our stride and we adapted to many changes occurring simultaneously. Some of the obvious examples that affected us here in Melbourne, Australia were:

Wearing face masks
Closure of social spaces
Working from home
Sanitiser everywhere

Zoom meetings
Social distancing
Covid-safe apps
5mk lockdown radius

International border closures
Local border closures
The ‘ring of steel’, and more!

It accelerated the shift to online purchasing, and further reinforced our reliance on big tech for good and bad. In many cases we saw the clear benefits of change, such as the reduction of commute time, nature flourishing and more sourdough. But in other cases we continued to question and argue the merits of change. Think curfews, home schooling, freedom of movement, protecting the elderly vs not harming the youth.

But importantly, this drove a bigger discussion of change and innovation, setting up an appetite for change and a mindset of innovation and creative thinking. If we can change our lifestyles so quickly, what else can we change? And what positive difference can we make if we focused on it?

The Rapid Changes That Occurred During COVID, Have Helped To Foster A Mindset Of Innovation And Creative Thinking.

Hard lockdowns along with ongoing limitations on social movement and travel have really forced everyone to stop and think, to feel and sense. To reflect on the way things were and the way things are now. This forced reflection seems to be driving a strong desire for a new way of living, and a bounty of new thinking and ideas for the future. Now more than ever before, we can recognise change all around us. We understand that change can happen rapidly, and that change may not be as difficult as we would have imagined. The question is – how can change improve our lives? As a society, what can we do right now to make sure we’re guiding our compass toward a better lifestyle?

We’ve noticed the level of enquiries to our business has increased post COVID. It feels like people have really grabbed hold of this innovation mindset and appear to be thinking more creatively. They’re identifying new needs and new opportunities. There seems to be an increased motivation to develop solutions to overcome the problems and challenges we face in all aspects of our life. People are preparing for more innovation and getting ready to invest in the future with products they hadn’t considered before.

What Does A “COVID Normal” World Mean To You?

What learnings will you take with you into the future? Which new problems will we need to solve? What else can you change for the better?

We’re still at the beginning of this new era. Who can really know what’s ahead? Where can this new mindset take us? We hope the future is better and brighter and we can’t wait to see what new ideas and approaches people take.

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How Great Product Design Simplifies Your Marketing Strategy

Paul Miller — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 06:33:03 +0000

Your Product’s Design Is The Silent Ambassador Of Your Brand.

Imagine you’ve just launched a product. The better you’ve addressed your customer’s needs, solved their problem, and given them the satisfying experience that your brand represents – the more likely that your customer will advocate for your product, and your brand. Suddenly, marketing just became a lot simpler.

Marketing And Product Development Go Hand In Hand.

Marketing and product development are not two distinct processes. Ideally, the marketing phase flows from a product that is already in alignment with your business values and your brand’s tone of voice. The customer should have a seamless experience of your brand – from the moment they lay eyes upon your packaging, to holding the product, reading the instructions and beginning to use the product. This is called brand consistency, and it’s essential if you want to develop a trusted relationship between your brand and your customer.

How Do You Want Your End User To Remember You?

Product design is a visual and sensory language. As Paul Rand, the graphic designer known for creating logos for IBM, UPS and the ABC quoted: “Design is the silent ambassador of your product.”

Once the packaging is stripped back and the person is left holding, touching and using your product, this experience is what they’ll remember about your brand. It’s not one that can be easily put into words, but the experience and the memory lasts. We’re creating a tangible and identifiable product that is seen and felt.

Visual language.

Around 90% of information is transmitted to the brain visually. We process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. When you design a product, it’s essential to pay close attention to the way it looks. For example, does it look like it can solve the end user’s problem? Does it match your brand values?

Sensory language.

The skin also absorbs a vast amount of information from what it touches and senses. Consequently, the choice of materials used, the shape of your product, and how it feels have a significant sensory influence on the end user. This sensory information leaves its indelible mark on the end user and communicates the essence of your brand.

Your Product Is The Lasting Embodiment Of Your Brand

In short, you’re creating more than just a product. You’re creating something unique which extends your brand story further. It is no longer a generic object. Product development encompasses the entire cycle – starting with the packaging and completing with the product in the end user’s hands. So, how do you want your brand to be remembered?

Let The Expert Team At Whistle Help You Get Your Product To Market.

We are award-winning global product design and development specialists. Based in Melbourne, Australia, we have developed more than 350 products since 2012. From concept to creation, from production to profit, we create commercially viable and technically feasible solutions, ready for manufacture. We work on small to large projects with a specific focus on technical and challenging product development.

Please give us a call on +61 3 9561 5810 for a confidential discussion about your product idea.

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Winners! Good Design Awards 2020

Paul Miller — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:30:58 +0000

It’s GOLD for Whistle!

As a key part of the Product Design and Development team behind the KangaTech KT360, we are excited to have received 2 awards at this year’s Good Design Awards, including a prestigious Gold Accolade in the Engineering Design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation. The judging panel commented –

“The KangaTech KT360 is an innovative application of engineering technology, using stress and strain gauge measurement with biomechanical engineering with bespoke data collection to improve athlete recovery and sports performance. The designers have found a niche application that will be highly beneficial in sports injury treatment and rehabilitation. The designers are commended for their ingenuity and innovation.”

View our winning entry at Good Design Australia, Engineering Design here.

View our winning entry at Good Design Australia, Product Design (Medical and Scientific) here.

Find out more about the Kangatech KT360 in our portfolio here.

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Rising to the Challenge

Paul Miller — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 04:30:32 +0000

Whistle Design Group is still developing brilliant products safely under Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions.

This year has certainly presented challenges for businesses everywhere – affecting all types of business in all types of ways. For us, at Whistle Design Group it has been exciting to see our team rising to the challenge of working from home; Adapting, innovating and thriving in this environment and continuing to deliver for our clients.

A shout out to our team, we thought it the right time to share some love.

Due to the Stage 4 restrictions that came into effect on the 6th August, our Melbourne Studio is now closed to the public. If you have any enquires please feel free to reach out and get in touch via phone or email. We are still here to help with all your product development needs!

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Whistle Welcomes Danielle Boyd!

Paul Miller — Fri, 08 May 2020 02:24:00 +0000

A belated lockdown welcome is in order for our newest team member, Danielle Boyd.

Danielle (Dee) joined us in February 2020 as a Junior Industrial Designer. With experience in both Graphic Design and Industrial Design projects, Dee brings a vibrant energy to the team, with her sidekick kitty Patricia always by her side.

Unfortunately, Dee was in the studio for just a few weeks before Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown began in March, but we are very much looking forward to having her back in the studio soon.

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Introducing the KangaTech KT360

Paul Miller — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 05:22:01 +0000

We are excited to share the launch of the KangaTech KT360 Injury Prevention Platform!

KangaTech, a leader in sport science, approached Whistle Design Group to build on the success of their first-generation IPP (Injury Prevention platform). At the heart of this unit is KangaTech’s world-class, software-based, testing platform that enables the performance monitoring of elite athletes.

Many thanks to Steve, Dave and the KangaTech team for the shared journey over the past 2.5 years. We’re glad to have played our part in shaping the great product you have on offer! Full credit to your team. We’re looking forward to your ongoing success!

See more about the Kangatech KT360 in our Portfolio here.

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BluCave Flashcell Screwdriver at Sam’s Club

Paul Miller — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:11:16 +0000

Congratulations to BluCave on the release of their Flashcell screwdriver – now available at US retail giant, Sam’s Club.

We worked closely with BluCave on this project to develop a cost-effective, fresh packaging solution. We needed to be fast to market and allow the Flashcell screwdriver to integrate with the existing Blucave storage system.

Our reinforced canvas construction was able to significantly reduce the lead time and cost for the client, especially when compared to traditional power tool case solutions which are typically blow moulded, or injection moulded.

The convenient carry handle and fully enclosed casing allows the screwdriver to be sold either as a standalone product, or as a part of the existing Blucave system. When integrated, storage is enhanced by the protective hard moulded carry cabinet, and the convenient and customisable nature of the broader system.

We’re very pleased to see this product come to market and look forward to working on future developments with BluCave.

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BluCave Compact Bluetooth Speaker

Paul Miller — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:20:02 +0000

We’re pleased to introduce our latest work and the newest addition to the BluCave range. Working with the BluCave team at Demain International, we recently designed the Audio Zone Compact Bluetooth Speaker.

Featuring touch-sensitive controls, NFC and Bluetooth for connectivity to the latest devices, the speaker has a removable rugged exoskeleton shell that feels as comfortable in a clean modern home as it does in the workshop.

We worked with Demain and their key stakeholders through numerous design iterations to achieve a solution that was simple and clean yet rugged. The key to ensuring its success was a strong focus on simplicity and easy of use.

Congratulations to the team at Demain and BluCave on another new and exciting addition to their range.

Check it out at your local Mitre 10.

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