Designing for Brand Equity and User Confidence in DIY Tools
Arrow Fastener Company, LLC.
Arrow is the market leader in fastening, having earned the reputation as the go-to manual staplegun manufacturer with their heritage product from the 1950s, the T50. We were thrilled when they called on Sundberg-Ferar to help them design the next iconic manual and electric stapleguns that would uphold the Arrow brand and provide new value to its trusted customers.
Arrow had developed novel technology that they wanted to integrate into a new tool design. They shared extensive market research that defined exactly who the tools were used by and the types of projects being executed. SF set out to create a line of products that complimented Arrow’s current product offering while embracing their long heritage and drive for innovation, style, and functionality.
Market
Consumer Products
With a clear vision for who will purchase and use these tools along with the defined mechanical systems, the team set out to explore a broad spectrum of tool designs.
Hands-on experience and testing allowed refinement and optimization of the ergonomics for both comfort and usability. Market research was utilized to achieve intuitiveness and guide the concept selection. The team also developed an engineered enclosure system for each of the units that led to the fabrication of production representative prototypes in the SF model shop for final validation.
Arrow Fasteners: Electric and Manual Staplers
Although complex as a process, Design should result in a simple and honest solution that makes the user feel capable and confident.
Human Impact
Different users demand different designs. Sundberg-Ferar has rich experience with both DIY and PRO tool users and a deep understanding of their behavioral differences and key pain-points. With Arrow, we developed unique and highly functional tools that deliver for the needs of both. For the PRO user, these efforts resulted in designs that provide precise staple accuracy for quality craftsmanship. For the DIY user, intuitive staple loading and balanced ergonomics enable a rich user experience.
Business Impact
The team provided manufacture-able solutions for what is now Arrow’s newest line of staple guns. Over the past six years the success can be captured in the thousands of reviews of real customers who have consistently given the highest rating possible.
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