Halcyon

“Let yourself fall into serenity with this multi- sensorial air and mood cleanser.�

xx

Breathe is a product that creates a mood lighting effect through a combination of light and vapour.

The scented vapour slowly protrudes through the top of the device to provide the surrounding environment with a pleasurable smell.

www.rb.com

Contents Introduction

03

research

05

Design

07

technology

19

user experience

20

product visuals

24

A focused look into the way in which the project will be approached.

A look into the current Air Wick products available on the market.

The design process. Including exploded views and functionality.

The methods used to create the vapour used in the product.

How the consumer interacts with the product.

Final images of the product, showing features and form.

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02

Introduction

Reckitt Benckiser Design Challenge T

“Design the next big innovation in Air Care”

here is a set of sight) design criteria • Offer a continuous that I must fragrance (auto comply with sprays, gels, in order to have a liquids, plug ins) chance at designing • Must last for a successful product. several weeks These include: (unlike a candle) • A feasible • Be Innovative fragrance • Offer multitechnology (refills) sensory effects (taste, smell, I feel that in order to sound, touch, be successful I must

03

rank innovation as the most important criterion, as Reckitt Benckiser are looking for fresh, new ideas that include forward thinking and perhaps new technologies.

Therefore being creative and using original ideas would match their desire for innovative designs.

With these criteria

Manufacturability • Mass Production • Production Methods • Materials Costs Considered • Materials • Cost of materials/ cheapest • Number of components Innovation • New • Out of the box design thinking • End of life • Fragrance into the air

Air Wick’s main target market is that of females, therefore my designs must also aim to satisfy their tastes and preferences. In order to be designed for women the design must have a set of characteristics that will create a feminine looking product.

These will include soft curves, elegant form, floral patterns, multi- functional, discrete, soft colours such as white/beige and to be in keeping with the home.

Home

Environment

With relation to the target audience the product is aimed at, it must match a chosen environment, not too dissimilar from the image below. A homely, neat looking living room that the aesthetics of the product must suit. However, being adaptable and suitable for numerous environments would be beneficial.

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in mind, I must also follow another set of guides that will help me look at all aspects of a design to ensure quality all around.

These are:

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Functionality • How the technology/parts work • Fragrance delivery • Bursts?

• Boost features?

Consumer Experience • Suit target market • Offer something different or new. xx

04

research

Air Wick’s Existing Products W

Form, style, function.

Some of the key aspects looked at with these products.

hat initially comes to my mind when thinking of Air Wick air fresheners is the Crystal’ Air. Its simplistic function, its ornamental styling and basic design, all come together to make what I see as one of Air Wick’s most long lasting

05

successful products.

In order to gain more information about the current products on the market, I used Air Wick’s website to see the product ranges on offer and the ways in which each differed from another. I then took some examples and compared them using a certain set of criteria.

Reed Diffuser

Passive Lasts for 4 weeks £6.99

Style Natural and simple, using wooden reeds to add to this aesthetic Function Is very simple, requires no electronic components and little human interaction.

Complexity Low Environment Can be seen as an ornament and would want to be seen on a table or shelf.

Freshmatic Compact Automatic Air Spray Automated Refillable £10.99

Style Plain and clean Function Automatic, requires set up and installation, with refill when empty.

Complexity Medium Environment May want to be wall mounted away from line of sight of user.

Rating • • • • •

Rating • • • • •

Filter & Fresh

Freshmatic Base

Style Floral shape, smooth and curvaceous.

Function Filters unclean air and provides fresh air from top. Innovative.

Complexity High Environment Would want to be shown off, lovely curved features, can be an ornament.

Style Very plain and basic.

Function Automatically releases burst of fragrance on regular timer. Uses refill technology.

Complexity Medium Environment Can be placed in areas out of sight, on walls.

Rating • • • • •

Rating • • • • •

Powered Odours in, fragrance out Refillable £15.99

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Automatic Refillable £12.99

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Design

3 Design Directions Design

1

07

Scented vapour emitting air freshener. Smooth, curvaceous shape and ornamental styling.

Design

2

Collects scented vapour inside chamber and slowly releases it into the air.

Design

3

Discrete air freshener that can be placed in numerous places out of the way, to provide a gel based scent.

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08

Design

I

Final Design

have explored the design process that I followed in order to reach this point.

From feedback and comments, I have been able to combine two of my previous concepts to create the final design.

The shape I see as being most important, as the target audience that this product is aimed at is women, the shape of the product must be appealing and smooth. It must not only fit into a surrounding environment but also be an attractive object to look at.

Wick refill is clipped in place in the bottom of the device, which is then screwed into the main body. The other parts screw together also creating the final shape.

The device is then plugged into the wall via a mains socket, and is switched on by the on/off switch on the back of the device.

The Function An atomizer is one method that can be used to create the vapour inside the lower housing. It transforms the liquid in the refill into a thin vapour that is then emitted through The User Interaction the device. Another The way in which the possible method is product is used is piezo technology. most basic. An Air

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The final design incorporates the two key features of concepts 1 and 2.

The functionality of concept 2 and the smooth, elegant style of concept 1.

Combined make this design. A bold, organic shape.

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10

11

Design

Working Principles

T

he main surrounding environment, blessing it with a principle of the pleasant smell. design it that it produces a scented, smoke like vapour. This Vapour could be produced 03 Released by using technology similar to those found in E-Cigarettes.

Requiring no ignition source and can produce thin vapours.

This design produces the vapour in the lower housing, lets it protrude through into the transparent main body where a LED shines its light onto the vapour creating a hazy, constantly changing mood lamp.

The vapour collects here, and slowly makes its way up through the slits in the top of the product and out into the

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Vapour Collects

02

01

Vapour Produced

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Vapour Exit

Slits in the head of the product to allow for vapour to escape and provide a pleasant smell for external environment.

Transparent Body

Allows the user to clearly see and feel the effects of the vapour and light combination.

LED

Shines onto vapour to create hazy effect.

Vapour Intensity Slider

3 settings of high, medium and low. Adjustable to consumers desire.

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Design

I

Exploded

t comprises of 7 main parts that together assemble to create my final design. It included many crew threads that together allow the product to be disassembled and cleaned if necessary.

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14

Design

Components Main Body

15

Head Part

List of components

Head Part Main Body Lower housing Atomiser/Vapour Producer Air Wick Refill Base Sliders

Lower housing Air Wick Refill

Atomizer/ Vapour Producer

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Base Sliders

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Head Part

Manufacture: Injection Moulded Material: Polypropylene Features: Included cut trough slits in top. Angled face. Inner screw thread.

Estimated Cost: £0.07

Main Body

Manufacture: Blow Moulded Material: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Features: Transparent curved body, with two screw threads at top and at bottom. Must be easy to clean and resist corrosion/ contamination.

Estimated Cost: £0.17

Lower Housing

Manufacture: Injection Moulded Material: Polypropylene Features: Includes LED light attachment. Screw threads both at top and bottom. Intensity slider indented onto body (uses sliders to function). On/off button (also uses sliders).

Estimated Cost: £0.04 17

Atomizer/Vapour Producer Manufacture: Outsourced Material: Stainless Steel Features: Includes advanced electronics that transforms the liquid provided into a vapour.

Estimated Cost: £0.72

Air Wick Refill

Manufacture: Internally Sourced Material: Glass.

Features: Reed for slow release of liquid. Contains scented liquid that feeds the vapour producing mechanism.

Estimated Cost: £-.--

Lower Body Base

Manufacture: Injection Moulded Material: Polypropylene Features: Includes one screw thread. Holder for the refill and a wide, stable base.

Estimated Cost: £0.05

Sliders

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Manufacture: Injection Moulded Material: Polypropylene Features: Domed head.

Estimated Cost: £0.006

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Technology

Technology T

he main process that requires research is the way in which the vapour is created. I have suggested one possible method which is that of an atomiser. Which uses technology used similar to those found in E-Cigarettes.

How It Works

It transforms the liquid in the air wick refill into a thin vapour by taking an electronic current and transferring that into heat which in turn heats the liquid and evaporates it into a vapour. It is safe, and the temperatures produced are not high enough to be able to start fires (there is no bare flame ever present).

This does however mean that the refill must include a few chemicals in order for it to be transferred into a safe vapour.

These include: Vegetable Glycol Propelene Glycol Liquid Scent Together these provide the atomizer with a suitable liquid in order for it to be transformed into a vapour.

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Collects and escapes through small hole provided

Vapour rises through atomizer Heating element heats liquid.

Transformed into vapour

User experience

User Experience

To make the consumer relaxed and calm, whilst creating a tranquil environment.

T

his product brings an environment to whatever situation that it is placed in.

The vapour not only provides a scent but also an encapsulating visual stimulant, as it escapes the product then evaporates into the air.

The vapour is also creating an effect within the product, where the light reflects off the vapour creating constantly moving shapes and further visual stimuli.

Simple and strong colours are chosen, so that the product can aesthetically fit into numerous environments, without looking obtrusive. xx

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User experience

The Light

T

he lighting gives the product its great visual impact.

I have suggested the use of a large LED or possibly a small LED bulb to provide sufficient wattage to make an aesthetically pleasing lighting object. The light provides a continuous single blue colour when the device is switched on.

It compliments the scent provided by the product.

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User experience

Air Wick Refills U

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Use of existing refill, easy transition from existing products to new ones.

ses the scent after scent refills, due to their simple shape and the fact that they are in current production.

The method of vapour production is simply attached to the top of the refill, which means that there is no need for redesign.

Any scent can be placed into the product, however, the next stage of product development would allow me to be able to match the LED colour to the scent placed in the product.

Product visuals

Form Showing the size and shape of the product. The simple colours and easy to use sliders create a stylish yet functional product.

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Vapour protruding through the slits in the head of the product.

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Breathe is a product that creates a mood lighting effect through a combination of light and vapour.

The scented vapour slowly protrudes through thexx top of the device to provide the surrounding environment with a pleasurable smell.

www.rb.com

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