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Double iF award for new ventilation control experience

Airmaster

Airlinq provides fresh air through intuitive interaction, empowering end-users in schools and offices to control indoor climate. At the same time, the slim panel blends discreetly with its environment. design-people's innovative solution for ventilation control has resulted in two iF 2013 awards - an iF product design award and an iF communication design award for the interface design. The iF award is an internationally recognized seal of quality which is awarded to excellent design. A great recognition of our ambition to create meaningful user experiences that seamlessly integrate product and interaction design!

Our initial user studies revealed that end-users would often like to adjust the ventilation program, but are reluctant due to the technical character of current control panels. Airlinq therefore focuses on giving end-users a simple interaction with the primary function of the panel - adjusting the air exchange. Our thinking was verfied through the involvement of female teachers, who would be typical users of the panel, in a concept focus group.

By simply swiping clockwise or counterclockwise along the Airlinq panel's distinctive circular element, the air exchange in a room increases or decreases. The circle elements light up while swiping and settle into an unobtrusive single element indicating the setting that has been chosen. Secondary functions are accessible to advanced users only through a PC software. Overall the new design encourages end-users to influence the indoor climate when needed, but prevents them from accidentally adjusting settings that result in a lower system efficiency.

The new Airlinq panel is the latest addition to the successful ventilation design line that design-people has created in close cooperation with Airmaster over the past few years. Airlinq lifts the user experience of the Airmaster system to new heights - and further strengthens Airmaster’s position as an innovative ventilation brand.

Development partner: JE electronic a/s

Services: user research, interaction design, product design, user feedback

Intuitive Cooking

Hounö

SmartTouch is the next generation interfaces for professional ovens from Hounö.

The ovens are used by wide range of clients, ranging from supermarkets to institutions and exclusive Michelin-prized restaurants.

The main focus throughout development has been to provide easy access and operation of the many advanced features of the oven. This gives the users full benefit of the ovens and enables them to cook more efficient with delicious end results.

The interface development has been based on knowledge from extensive user research, to meet the users based on their routines, level and needs. The result is an interface can be customized to support the various user types, from bake-off routines to the fine kitchen of high-end restaurants.

For unexperienced users, a simple navigation makes it easy to learn and fast to operate.
By enabling these users, Hounö has a strong sales parameter and has at the same time potentially minimized the support needs.
The consistent use of interaction- and layout principles also benefits the development time by enabling a faster design of future functionalities.

The SmartTouch interface is featured on a selected range of the Hounö Visual Cooking touch models.

Services: User research, interaction design

Icebreaking interaction

Epoke

To keep the rest of us safe from the hazards of winter’s icy roads, Epoke delivers industrial high-end salt spreading systems. The key to controlling these systems is a remote control located in the drivers cab. With the new EpoMaster X1, Epoke introduces a more visual approach, to make it easier for the driver to understand and adjust how the salt is currently being spread behind the truck. Being able to spread salt precisely is the key, since this means higher road safety and less salt wasted. To maximize traffic safety, the primary settings are also adjusted using physical controls so they can be controlled while keeping the eyes on the road.

The new interface is based on thorough user studies, feature workshops, and situated interviews to understand the drivers and the context of use.
Since the profession of spreading salt is seasonal, the remote has been designed to make it easy - especially for new users - to get familiar with the system and get started.

Especially the startup menu guides the users through the initial configuration and is accessed using a touchscreen.
This simple approach benefits Epoke, by minimizing the amount of time it takes to train new drivers and the amount of support required by users in the beginning of season.
"The money we have used on designes have been really well spent" - Jørn Christensen, CEO, Epoke A/S

Services: User research, interaction design, product design

A holistic user experience

Danfoss

Noi is a concept for maintaining indoor climate in private homes. The case study was made in collaboration with the company Danfoss, and is a part of the research project, Female interaction. Noi shows how female tech preferences can drive user experience innovation. Noi supports a woman’s sense of providing for a healthy home and family and lets her be in charge of not only having a healthy indoor climate, but also of the economic and environmental impacts that follow.

Women want to feel in control instead of being overruled by an intelligent, automatic system. Noi provides transparency of when it is controlled automatically or when manual adjustments have taken place. Understanding the link between air quality and temperature and the events, which take place in the home, such as running tap water or burning candles relates to family economy, environmental responsibility and well being. Noi provides awareness and action tips of these factors as a means of helping her make smarter decisions. Due to her understanding the subtle signals the shape changing visual display portrays she is able to take the appropriate actions in order to improve the air quality. This transparency is also reflected in the iPad application, which encourages her to teach her children about their energy consumption, and they can donate to environmental charities. When she is on the go and remembers that she forgot to turn down the heat, she has instant access to her home climate system from her mobile device.

Services: female interaction, interaction design, product design, user exploration

Discreet ease of use

DEVI Danfoss

Danfoss is a leader in indoor climate solutions. The Devireg Touch thermostat is taking the lead in intuitive operation of floor heating.

The ambition with DEVIreg Touch has been to create a thermostat that stands out with a clear and restrained interface. The primary goal was to improve usability and accessibility for all users of comfort regulation and to bring awareness of environmental aspects closer to the user.

User involvement has helped focus interaction on essential and beneficial features. The straightforward first touch experience makes the user feel empowered. It confirms the expectation arising from the clear cabinet and graphical design that the interaction is accordingly intuitive. Advanced features like 'timer' and 'away' are accessible in the second level through the comprehensive 'home menu' screen.

The installer UI is based on wizards that guide the installer through the setup process.

DEVI is a Danfoss product brand

Services: interaction design, product design, focus group concept feedback, usability test

Watch the DEVIreg Touch video here

design-people benchmarks smartphone experience

Nokia

Womenomics - the emerging influence of female consumers - has an impact on most industries. Thus the development toolbox emerging from design-people's 3 year design-research project "Female Interaction" is highly requested. Nokia was one of the first to bring the analysis tools into play in order to benchmark its Smartphone user experience in a female perspective - with considerable success and valuable insights.

”We asked design-people to carry out a female interaction analysis on the Nokia N8 smartphone applications. The analysis methods provided us with new insights and inspired us to intensify the effort of improving our interaction design and female user experience".

Senior Manager Ole Vilster, Concepting, Nokia

Services: Female interaction user experience analysis

Learn more about female interaction on: www.femaleinteraction.com or call us to discuss in what way our expertise in female interaction could take your business forward.

Sleek audio design

Jamo

How to design a classic satellite speaker to fit into the modern living environment as companion to flat screen TV’s? And how to make it attractive for the female part of the world?

Our product design team converted these challenges into a discreet, yet unique speaker design for Jamo. The overall shape is an evolution of Jamo’s design language; there is a clear overall form statement while refined, soft form details catch the attention when you get closer and touch the product. The signature element is a characteristic grill pattern that gives the product identity and style.

Services: trend research, product design

New water meter rocks the market

Kamstrup

The new Kamstrup water meter is a revolution in a technology driven market – however it does not show, and that is on purpose.
The list of new features is impressive - new digital measuring system, new anti magnetic materials, free mounting angle, easy read-out, long life battery. At the same time the product design with its classic round shape creates instant familiarity and trust among users.
The combination of high quality finish, remarkable user benefits and design details makes the difference and indicates the innovation of the product.

Kamstrup's marketing director Lis Muusmann puts it this way:

"Even though the complexity of functions in the new meter has increased, our users operate MULTICAL 21 with ease. The market feedback is overwhelming and has exceeded all expectations. To comply with orders we are currently building a new production facility".

MULTICAL 21 is part of Kamstrup's new water meter design line. See more on http://multical21.com/com/everything-counts.aspx

Exploring female luxury lifestyle

Vertu

Our female interaction team has been working closely with the Vertu design team to facilitate a user centred and situational oriented design process that brings Vertu closer to their female customers.

Vertu is a renowned British luxury mobile phone brand and is distinguished by its craftsmanship and continuous collaboration with Ferrari

Services: value exploration research, user experience mapping, workshop facilitating, female interaction lecture

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