Case Study > Quadnet Fire Detection System
Rafiki Protection Ltd
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONTENTS >
> INTRODUCTION
> BRIEF
> DESIGN PROCESS
> MARKET RESEARCH
> MOOD BOARDS
> ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
> IDEA SESSIONS
> CONCEPT DESIGN
> CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
> DETAIL DESIGN - CAD
> FIRST MOLDINGS
> GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING
> MOULDING MODIFICATIONS
> FINAL PRODUCT
This case study
outlines the process of
developing the Rafiki Quadnet fire detection
system, from the initial
idea through to final
production and launch.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
INTRODUCTION > ABOUT RAFIKI
Rafiki Protection Limited
Rafiki was formed in 1994 and operates from an
11,000 sq. ft industrial manufacturing facility in
South Wales.
The company designs and manufactures what it
describes as ‘intelligent’ fire detection systems for
commercial and public buildings. Each system comprises
of many individual fire detectors all controlled and
monitored by a single central user interface panel.
The company's success to date has been based on a
strategy of innovative product development. To further
develop previous product innovations Rafiki wanted to
develop a system, that would provide protection to very
large new buildings such as schools, hospitals and
even skyscrapers. Such a system may include up to
50,000 individual fire detectors.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
BRIEF > QUADNET - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
> The system is to be aimed at larger office, retail and hotel buildings
> It should have major technological advantages over
competitor products
> The main user interface / control panel could be a central hub for
between 200 to 50,000 individual fire detectors
> The system will be distributed through specialist suppliers
and installation companies
> Architects and contractors should want to choose it over other
large systems
> It should be capable of being mounted into a wall
or simply or surface mounted
>There will be two stages of installation – Stage one by an electrical
contractor fitting the control panel and cabling, stage two by a
specialist fire engineer positioning the individual fire detectors
> The system should be easy to service and maintain
> The user interface must be clear and ergonomically sound
> The control panel should be robust and rugged for installation
and operation
> All electrical and building regulatory standards must be exceeded
The brief highlights the
main design
parameters that
needed to be
addressed whilst
developing the product.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DESIGN PROCESS > QUADNET
> INFORMATION COLLATION AND CONCEPT GENERATION
> CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
> COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING
> PROTOTYPE, TESTING AND VALIDATION
> DETAIL DESIGN
> GRAPHIC DESIGN AND BRANDING
> PRODUCTION IMPLEMENTATION
The design process
for the Quadnet
control panel had
seven distinct steps.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
MARKET RESEARCH >
Competitors systems
Information about competitor products was gathered
and assessed in relation to the brief for Quadnet.
Through discussion the following strengths and
weaknesses were identified;
> All had poor user interfaces
> Most of the competitors were visually very similar
> Most had little aesthetic appeal and this would
seem to encourage the control panel being hidden
from public view
>Most systems could compete on price and ease of
installation & maintenance
> The main specifiers / buyers of the product
(architects) were generally not interested or
embarrassed by the current competitor offerings
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
MARKET RESEARCH >
Competitors systems
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
MOOD BOARDS >
Look and feel
Mood boards aims to capture the visual values that
the final product might aspire to achieve.
Presenting and, more importantly, discussing the visual
qualities that will appeal to the customer helps to build a
common view of the styling objectives between the
designer and client.
The mood of a product is the sentiment, feeling or
emotion which the product provokes when first seen for example, soft and comforting, hard and rugged,
business like or frivolous.
Styling queues were taken from the products,
images and lifestyles that architects and the
customers / users of the target buildings would
purchase or aspire to purchase.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
MOOD BOARDS >
Look and feel
Products and details that provide further clues for the
potential look and feel of the new design.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS >
External images
The mood boards were extended to include images
and information about the kind of prestige buildings
and developments where the product would be used.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS >
Internal images
Images showing the type of internal environment
within which the new product will have to function.
The visual appeal of the product will have to match the
level of quality, finish and attention to detail demonstrated
in such environments.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
IDEAS SESSIONS >
Thorough exploration of ideas
Semi-structured and creative group activities were
used to come up with new ideas for innovation and
improvement.
Members of the group were encouraged to put forward as
many ideas as possible (in written form on note paper)
that could address the issues raised in the design brief.
Although most ideas might be rejected,
working as a team for short periods can encourage
individuals to generate many more ideas than if they were
working alone.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
IDEAS SESSIONS >
Idea sessions explained
The three rules for a successful ‘idea sessions’ are:
1 Participants should be encouraged to come up
with as many ideas as possible, however wild they
might be (there are no bad ideas).
2 No judgment should be passed on any idea until
the end of the session (whether negative or positive).
3 Participants should be encouraged to build on each
others ideas, creating unlikely combinations and
taking each one in unexpected directions.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
IDEAS SESSIONS >
Idea session tips
Some additional tips for a ‘idea sessions’ are:
> Use an experienced (external?) facilitator
> Identify a precise topic to be discussed
> No more than 8-10 people in one session, if there
are more participants split up the group and report back
to each other afterwards
> Make sure someone writes everything down
> Evaluate the ideas in 2 steps:
A. Define a range of assessment criteria such as cost,
time to market, availability of technology etc
B. Score the results on the criteria to find the strongest
ideas
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
Initial concept designs for the control panel were
hand drawn but produced using a sketching tablet
linked to the computer.
Producing the concepts on the screen allows work to be
easily saved, changed and the use of various rendering
tools.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
Initial concept designs were produced for the control
panel, examining a wide variety of colours, forms and
textures.
This hand drawn sketch shows a wall mounted concept
with a hidden user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
An initial visual concept produced with a CAD
package.
Such images are only visual and do not include
information about product size, function or the individual
components.
Using CAD at this stage allows the designer to easily
explore many variations of colour and proportion.
This concept shows a long wall mounted control panel
with a hidden user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
An initial CAD generated visual concept.
A wall mounted concept with hidden user interface visible
through a flush window.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
A hand drawn sketch with annotation for discussion
with the client company.
A floor mounted concept with hidden user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
An initial CAD generated visual concept.
Floor mounted unit with exposed user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
A hand drawn sketch with annotation for discussion
with the client company.
A wall mounted concept with hidden user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
A hand drawn sketch with annotation for discussion
with the client company.
A wall mounted concept with hidden user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
An initial CAD generated visual concept.
Wall mounted with flush but exposed user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DESIGN >
An initial CAD generated visual concept.
Wall mounted with flush but exposed user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >
Using the hand drawn sketches and CAD generated
concepts for discussion a direction for further
development was now identified.
The selected concept was for a wall-mounted control
panel with a sophisticated flush-fronted appearance.
The user interface was to be hidden behind a translucent
or transparent door.
Here the visual design and technical specification were
developed and clarified and some of the basic key
engineering hurdles addressed at a conceptual level.
The decisions that have been agreed at the conclusion of
this stage will confirm the majority of downstream costs.
Although detailed information about individual
components will not have been available, experience
from previous projects will have been used to estimate
costs in order to help the discussions and final decision.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >
The visual design and technical specification are now
developed and clarified in more detail.
A key document at the end of this stage is a complete
product design specification and objectives.
The specification will have to be agreed between the
designers and Rafiki as all subsequent development will
be assessed against this document.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >
A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted
option with black panelling and translucent cover
over the user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >
A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted
option with stainless steel panelling and translucent
cover over the user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT >
A CAD image showing the chosen wall-mounted
option with wood panelling and translucent cover
over the user interface.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >
Once the visual design had been decided the detail
design of each component can begin.
This will use 3D CAD modelling, physical models, test
rigs and mock ups as necessary.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >
A 3D CAD image showing the chosen
wall-mounted option.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >
These images are detailed 3D CAD images of the
locking mechanism of the chosen design.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >
This is a 3D CAD image of the front control panel
moulding.
This view shows the simplistic outer form and
demonstrates the feature laden requirements for
mounting of locks, PCB’s, display panel and keymats.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
DETAIL DESIGN - CAD >
This is a computer simulation of the injection
moulding process to verify that the design is
producible before investing thousands of pounds in
injection moulding tooling.
At the conclusion of this stage the design activity is frozen
and the tools and production implementation started.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
PROTOTYPE >
Demonstration model
A one off prototype was produced from printed paper
and acrylic sheets.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
PROTOTYPE >
Rapid prototype
Rapid prototypes were used to verify the design
before tooling orders were placed. This ensured the
client could visualise the design intent and ensured
no errors were made.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
FIRST MOULDINGS >
Concept 1.
The first moldings were produced from the detailed
CAD designs.
Tools were made and mouldings produced in India.
Essential stage in any product development to ensure the
design intent and required quality and functionality
maintained.
Manufacturing implementation through prototype and preproduction builds where many projects founder and run
up unnecessary delay and expense.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
MOULDINGS MODIFICATIONS >
Modification to cavity
& core positions
Modification to cavity
& core positions
Modification to core position
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Initial sketches that led to the first branding design
concept.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Concept 1.
First branding design concepts.
> The logo shape is a modified letter Q.
> The colours of the logo - red and grey, are used to
complement the deep black finish of the system.
> The typography is strong, solid and contemporary.
> The main element of the graphic design material is the
use of the strong black silhouette of the system, used in
an extreme angle of perspective.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Concept 2.
Sketches that led to the second branding design
concept.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Concept 2.
Second branding design concepts.
> The logo shape is influenced by the double square
panels of the system, complemented by a modern but
simple typeface.
> The main elements of the graphic design is the use of
large bright images of the system, and the use of a rigid
grid layout, both were carried through to the final
design material.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Concept 3.
Sketches that led to the third branding design
concept.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Concept 3.
Third branding design concepts that lead to the final
logo choice.
> The logo uses a very contemporary typeface, the red
and black is very powerful.
> The logo complements the futuristic visual style of the
system and was easily developed into the final version
of the logo.
> The large blocks of red were felt to be too
overpowering, but the image treatment and strong grid
structure of the second concept was utilised in the final
version.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
GRAPHIC DESIGN & BRANDING >
Final brand designs
The final logo evolved from the third concept.
> The grid structure and image treatment from the
second concept was developed into the final version.
> The final logo, page layout and image treatment were
combined to produce the finished visual communication
style for the Quadnet system.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
FINAL PRODUCT >
Final product
External view of the Quadnet System Control Panel
displayed at the product launch.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
FINAL PRODUCT >
Final product
An internal view of the assembly.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
FINAL PRODUCT >
Final product
One of the alternative finish options.
Case Study > Rafiki - Quadnet
FINAL PRODUCT >
Final product
The final product in-situ.
Case Study > Quadnet Fire Detection System
Rafiki Protection Ltd