NPK design bv
Hamax AS
Hamax PLUS System
The PLUS System is a new bike transportation system. It consists of luggage carriers, with a variety of accessories. The system needs no tools and has a clear family resemblance.
Who is the client, what is their position in their industry?
Hamax AS is the world’s leading manufacturer and a pioneer in the market for bicycle child seats, toboggans, ski helmets and bicycle helmets.
What business is your client active in and what is their strategic positioning?
The core of the Hamax business is making products which contribute to healthy outdoor activities for children and their families.
The products are divided into two main groups: winter and summer. All Hamax products are developed and tested in consultation with the target groups and external test institutes to ensure safety, design and functionality.
What was the brief for your project and what does your client hope to achieve?
Hamax PLUS was developed based on consumer surveys as well as a careful review of what weaknesses exist in whatever biking equipment is currently on the market.
Not only did we want to meet the various transportation needs of consumers. The client wanted to combine tough safety demands with a high degree of ease-of-use.
How did you discover the core of the problem and how did you find the solution?
One of the ideas behind Hamax PLUS was that it needed to be simple to clip and unclip the gear, without using tools. It should not be an ordeal to prepare your bicycle to pick up your children from the kindergarten, or to remove the child seat again when going to the movies or out exercising.
The luggage rack – the core of the new system – has a double safety function that prevents it from being detached unintentionally. To detach the rack, you keep the button depresses while turning a little wheel. The system is simple to use, and the gear can be attached or detached is a matter of seconds.
No need for tools. If you need to remove any of the gear from the bike that impacts safety, you need to perform a two-step operation.
Describe the key design aspects of the project.
Because there was a need to be able to use all the parts of the Hamax PLUS simultaneously, we focused on giving the gear a streamlined, modern design suitable for city use. By developing the Hamax PLUS system we finally have a more standardized solution for bike equipment.
How does this project fit in with the overall (brand) strategy of the client?
By succeeding in developing a product range which combines tough safety demands with a high degree of easy-of-use, the Hamax PLUS lets you use your bike in situations where you would have previously used your car. This in turn benefits the environment and leads to a healthier way for users of the system.
How will the project be implemented, what can we expect?
All products have been in production since the summer of 2006. The range of equipment will be developed further in the near future.
What was your role and the role of the client in coming to a solution?
To come to a system which nicely fits in with all the demands a client like Hamax has, you need to work in very close cooperation.
The complexity of all the products and their functions made it possible to not involve the client’s knowledge and input.
What is the European element in this project?
We have taken great care in making sure that the equipment complies with applicable European standards. To develop a system for the European market also means understanding the needs of the various markets, which can be different.
In what way does working on an international project differ from working on a local market project?
The most obvious difference is the amount of time used for travelling. This makes it very important to use the time you spend together with the client efficiently. By using modern data transfer systems we can show everything within minutes but nothing beats one to one discussions, sitting together with the client with the parts in your hand, and brainstorming to find the right solutions.
What is the single most important thing needed from the designer and from the client to make a design project successful?
Key to the success of a design project are a shared enthusiasm and a ‘dream’ of what you want to achieve with the project.
What else have you learned from this particular project?
We found that the added value of early prototyping on a low cost 3D printer is huge. It helps you to come to solutions a lot faster than behind the computer screen.
npk design’s 30th anniversary
Party
Friday September 19th npk design celebrated her 30th anniversary in the main office in Leiden.
All relations, former colleagues, friends and family were shown around in the various design studios. Afterwards all guests, seated at long tables, enjoyed an Italian dinner on our inner court.
published in European Business Design 1
Hamax PLUS System
‘Key to the success of a design project are a shared enthusiasm and a ‘dream’ of what you want to achieve with the project.’
published in Sketching - drawing techniques for product designers
Two npk projects descriped in Sketching
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Basicphone
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