case study >quadnet fire detection system rafiki protection ltd

Case Study > Quadnet Fire Detection System

Rafiki Protection Ltd

> INTRODUCTION

> BRIEF

> DESIGN PROCESS

> MARKET RESEARCH

> MOOD BOARDS

> ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

> IDEA SESSIONS

> CONCEPT DESIGN

> CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

> DETAIL DESIGN - CAD

> FIRST MOLDINGS

> GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING

> MOULDING MODIFICATIONS

> FINAL PRODUCT

This case study outlines the process of developing the Rafiki - Quadnet fire detection system, from the initial idea through to final production and launch.

Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet

CONTENTS >

Rafiki Protection Limited

Rafiki was formed in 1994 and operates from an 11,000 sq. ft industrial manufacturing facility in South Wales.

The company designs and manufactures what it describes as ‘intelligent’ fire detection systems for commercial and public buildings. Each system comprises of many individual fire detectors all controlled and monitored by a single central user interface panel.

The company's success to date has been based on a strategy of innovative product development. To further develop previous product innovations Rafiki wanted to develop a system, that would provide protection to very large new buildings such as schools, hospitals and even skyscrapers. Such a system may include up to 50,000 individual fire detectors.


INTRODUCTION > ABOUT RAFIKI


BRIEF > QUADNET - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

> The system is to be aimed at larger office, retail and hotel buildings

> It should have major technological advantages over competitor products

> The main user interface / control panel could be a central hub for between 200 to 50,000 individual fire detectors

> The system will be distributed through specialist suppliers and installation companies

> Architects and contractors should want to choose it over other large systems

> It should be capable of being mounted into a wall or simply or surface mounted

>There will be two stages of installation – Stage one by an electrical contractor fitting the control panel and cabling, stage two by a specialist fire engineer positioning the individual fire detectors

> The system should be easy to service and maintain

> The user interface must be clear and ergonomically sound

> The control panel should be robust and rugged for installation and operation

> All electrical and building regulatory standards must be exceeded

The brief highlights the main design parameters that needed to be addressed whilst developing the product.


DESIGN PROCESS > QUADNET

> INFORMATION COLLATION AND CONCEPT GENERATION

> CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

> COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING

> PROTOTYPE, TESTING AND VALIDATION

> DETAIL DESIGN

> GRAPHIC DESIGN AND BRANDING

> PRODUCTION IMPLEMENTATION

The design process for the Quadnet control panel hadseven distinct steps.


MARKET RESEARCH >

Competitors systems

Information about competitor products was gathered and assessed in relation to the brief for Quadnet.

Through discussion the following strengths and weaknesses were identified;

> All had poor user interfaces

> Most of the competitors were visually very similar

> Most had little aesthetic appeal and this would seem to encourage the control panel being hidden from public view

>Most systems could compete on price and ease of installation & maintenance

> The main specifiers / buyers of the product (architects) were generally not interested or embarrassed by the current competitor offerings


MARKET RESEARCH >

Competitors systems


MOOD BOARDS >

Look and feel

Mood boards aims to capture the visual values that the final product might aspire to achieve.

Presenting and, more importantly, discussing the visual qualities that will appeal to the customer helps to build a common view of the styling objectives between the designer and client.

The mood of a product is the sentiment, feeling or emotion which the product provokes when first seen - for example, soft and comforting, hard and rugged, business like or frivolous.

Styling queues were taken from the products, images and lifestyles that architects and the customers / users of the target buildings would purchase or aspire to purchase.


MOOD BOARDS >

Look and feel

Products and details that provide further clues for the potential look and feel of the new design.


ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS >

External images

The mood boards were extended to include images and information about the kind of prestige buildings and developments where the product would be used.


ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS >

Internal images

Images showing the type of internal environment within which the new product will have to function.

The visual appeal of the product will have to match the level of quality, finish and attention to detail demonstrated in such environments.


IDEAS SESSIONS >

Thorough exploration of ideas

Semi-structured and creative group activities were used to come up with new ideas for innovation and improvement.

Members of the group were encouraged to put forward as many ideas as possible (in written form on note paper) that could address the issues raised in the design brief.

Although most ideas might be rejected, working as a team for short periods can encourage individuals to generate many more ideas than if they were working alone.


IDEAS SESSIONS >

Idea sessions explained

The three rules for a successful ‘idea sessions’ are:

1 Participants should be encouraged to come up with as many ideas as possible, however wild they might be (there are no bad ideas).

2 No judgment should be passed on any idea until the end of the session (whether negative or positive).

3 Participants should be encouraged to build on each others ideas, creating unlikely combinations and taking each one in unexpected directions.


IDEAS SESSIONS >

Idea session tips

Some additional tips for a ‘idea sessions’ are:

> Use an experienced (external?) facilitator

> Identify a precise topic to be discussed

> No more than 8-10 people in one session, if there are more participants split up the group and report back to each other afterwards

> Make sure someone writes everything down

> Evaluate the ideas in 2 steps: A. Define a range of assessment criteria such as cost, time to market, availability of technology etcB. Score the results on the criteria to find the strongest

ideas


CONCEPT DESIGN >

Initial concept designs for the control panel were hand drawn but produced using a sketching tablet linked to the computer.

Producing the concepts on the screen allows work to be easily saved, changed and the use of various rendering tools.


CONCEPT DESIGN >

Initial concept designs were produced for the control panel, examining a wide variety of colours, forms and textures.

This hand drawn sketch shows a wall mounted concept with a hidden user interface.


CONCEPT DESIGN >

An initial visual concept produced with a CAD package.

Such images are only visual and do not include information about product size, function or the individual components.

Using CAD at this stage allows the designer to easily explore many variations of colour and proportion.

This concept shows a long wall mounted control panel with a hidden user interface.


CONCEPT DESIGN >

An initial CAD generated visual concept.

A wall mounted concept with hidden user interface visible through a flush window.


CONCEPT DESIGN >

A hand drawn sketch with annotation for discussion with the client company.

A floor mounted concept with hidden user interface.


CONCEPT DESIGN >


Floor mounted unit with exposed user interface.


CONCEPT DESIGN >

A hand drawn sketch with annotation for discussion with the client company.

A wall mounted concept with hidden user interface.


CONCEPT DESIGN >


Wall mounted with flush but exposed user interface.


CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >

Using the hand drawn sketches and CAD generated concepts for discussion a direction for further development was now identified.

The selected concept was for a wall-mounted control panel with a sophisticated flush-fronted appearance.The user interface was to be hidden behind a translucent or transparent door.

Here the visual design and technical specification were developed and clarified and some of the basic key engineering hurdles addressed at a conceptual level.

The decisions that have been agreed at the conclusion of this stage will confirm the majority of downstream costs. Although detailed information about individual components will not have been available, experience from previous projects will have been used to estimate costs in order to help the discussions and final decision.



The visual design and technical specification are now developed and clarified in more detail.

A key document at the end of this stage is a complete product design specification and objectives.

The specification will have to be agreed between the designers and Rafiki as all subsequent development will be assessed against this document.



A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted option with black panelling and translucent cover over the user interface.



A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted option with stainless steel panelling and translucent cover over the user interface.



A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted option with wood panelling and translucent cover over the user interface.


DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >

Once the visual design had been decided the detail design of each component can begin.

This will use 3D CAD modelling, physical models, test rigs and mock ups as necessary.



A 3D CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted option.



These images are detailed 3D CAD images of the locking mechanism of the chosen design.



This is a 3D CAD image of the front control panel moulding.

This view shows the simplistic outer form and demonstrates the feature laden requirements for mounting of locks, PCB’s, display panel and keymats.



This is a computer simulation of the injection moulding process to verify that the design is producible before investing thousands of pounds in injection moulding tooling.

At the conclusion of this stage the design activity is frozen and the tools and production implementation started.


PROTOTYPE >

A one off prototype was produced from printed paper and acrylic sheets.

Demonstration model


PROTOTYPE >

Rapid prototypes were used to verify the design before tooling orders were placed. This ensured the client could visualise the design intent and ensured no errors were made.

Rapid prototype


FIRST MOULDINGS >

The first moldings were produced from the detailed CAD designs.

Tools were made and mouldings produced in India.

Essential stage in any product development to ensure the design intent and required quality and functionality maintained.

Manufacturing implementation through prototype and pre-production builds where many projects founder and run up unnecessary delay and expense.

Concept 1.


MOULDINGS MODIFICATIONS >

Modification to cavity & core positions

Modification to core position

Modification to cavity & core positions


GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >

Initial sketches that led to the first branding design concept.



Concept 1.

First branding design concepts.

> The logo shape is a modified letter Q.

> The colours of the logo - red and grey, are used to complement the deep black finish of the system.

> The typography is strong, solid and contemporary.

> The main element of the graphic design material is the use of the strong black silhouette of the system, used in an extreme angle of perspective.



Concept 2.

Sketches that led to the second branding design concept.



Concept 2.

Second branding design concepts.

> The logo shape is influenced by the double square panels of the system, complemented by a modern but simple typeface.

> The main elements of the graphic design is the use of large bright images of the system, and the use of a rigid grid layout, both were carried through to the final design material.



Concept 3.

Sketches that led to the third branding design concept.



Concept 3.

Third branding design concepts that lead to the final logo choice.

> The logo uses a very contemporary typeface, the red and black is very powerful.

> The logo complements the futuristic visual style of the system and was easily developed into the final version of the logo.

> The large blocks of red were felt to be too overpowering, but the image treatment and strong grid structure of the second concept was utilised in the final version.



Final brand designs

The final logo evolved from the third concept.

> The grid structure and image treatment from the second concept was developed into the final version.

> The final logo, page layout and image treatment were combined to produce the finished visual communication style for the Quadnet system.


FINAL PRODUCT >

Final product

External view of the Quadnet System Control Panel displayed at the product launch.


FINAL PRODUCT >

Final product

An internal view of the assembly.


FINAL PRODUCT >

Final product

One of the alternative finish options.


FINAL PRODUCT >

Final product

The final product in-situ.

Case Study > Quadnet Fire Detection System

Rafiki Protection Ltd

case study >quadnet fire detection system rafiki protection ltd

Documents

rafiki slide

case study quadnet

quadnet control panel

design graphic design

new product

new design

product architects

protection system