Energising an Iconic Brand through Strategic Design
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Hoover HL5 Upright Vacuum designed by Smallfry for Hoover.
Everyone knows what a Hoover is right? Despite the name being commonly used as a verb to describe vacuum cleaning, over recent years, the iconic Hoover brand famed for being pioneers in floorcare has become a distant memory to many of its consumers.
Aiming to revitalise the Hoover brand, Smallfry played a leading role initiating a cultural shift within Hoover to develop their new HL5 Upright Vacuum.
The ambition was to set a new precedent internally, and regain the prestige they once had through products designed by people, for people.
So why Smallfry?…
It’s common knowledge that many large consumer brands like Hoover have their own internal R&D capability, so why choose a consultancy?
Zero distance to consumer
At Smallfry, we put your consumer at the forefront of everything we do. Through countless in-home trials and focus groups, we were able to take Hoover into the minds and homes of their consumer. It’s often not what your consumer says, it’s what they do that’s important.
When we ask people what they want from a product, they all tell us something different. By understanding the “why” behind the user’s needs, our team of design researchers were able to translate the fog into a clear direction to success.
By having a well-defined strategy and vision, we can ensure that you’re not only creating the right product for your consumer, but one that is commercially viable and profitable for your business; mitigating the risk of NPD.
Engineering a 5 Star Experience, Inside and Out
Smallfry’s team of designers, with over 25 years of experience in floorcare, were able to translate this strategic vision into a viable product.
“To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. Execution is worth millions.”
Steve Jobs
With the ability to balance usability, technical constraints, and aesthetics, we could understand the bigger picture. This allowed us to rapidly design and deliver a product that aims to excel in star rating reviews.
From initial POP (proof-of-principle) rigs, through to developing a mass-production ready product, over 1000 prototype parts were designed, tested, evaluated and refined to ensure the final product was in the best position possible to fulfil the user’s needs.
Click here to find out more about the project and how we helped bring the product to market.
With significant expertise in floorcare and consumer product development, get in touch with us to see if we can support your next project.
From research through to production, email Kelly for more info – Design@Smallfry.com
