JMM INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
A MARKETING TOOL TO SELL EMPIRE GROUP’S SERVICES & CAPABILITIES
When tasked to create a marketing tool for Empire Group, we put it through our usual design process. We began by establishing all of the departments that we needed to represent. It was important we presented all of them clearly and equally.
DISPLAY CONCEPT IDEATION
We were drawn to the idea of the marketing tool being an interactive display. A sort of “sample library” where you could touch and feel all of the different materials, see the variety of processes, and experience the power of CMF (color, material, and finish) that can be executed in a prototype model. The trick was to figure out how to show off both our design and prototyping capabilities in a meaningful & balanced way.
FINAL DISPLAY CONCEPT
The final display concept has two main components that bring it together – the “generic replicable part” and the “product development project.” The “generic replicable part” is produced many times over by each department, providing a library of material samples that can be created, held, inspected, and experienced. These parts live all across the main face of the display, organized by their specific departments, and labeled with pertinent information. The second element, the “product development project,” is a faux design project that shows off the product development departments at Empire Group. A final prototyped design model would be displayed on the top surface with a series of “Russian nesting doll” versions of the product in a glass display drawer below. The “Russian nesting doll” versions of the product would magnetically connect and provide an interactive CMF exercise to the viewer.
MEET EMPI
Empi is the “generic replicable part” that can be produced in a variety of materials and processes offered by Empire Group. This part primarily shows off the 3D printing, CNC, Mold & Cast, and Paint/Finish departments. In a more nuanced manner, Empi also personifies Empire’s design capabIlities. The light-hearted, plump character harkens back to Empire’s rich history of client work within the toy industry.
MEET ESA
For the “product development project,” we decided to do a table top “smart assistant” device. We put it through our design process: competitive research, gathering inspirationally products & imagery, expansive sketch exploration, and several rounds of revisions. In the end we created ESA, the Empire Smart Assistant. Moving forward, we are working with our engineering and graphics team to further develop ESA, delving into engineering considerations, branding, and packaging.
