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Alcor

Minimalist Air Purification Product Line

Client

Private

Year

2022

Role

Lead Industrial Design

Website

No website available

Directed the strategic design and development of Alcor, a line of premium air purifiers designed for high-end residential and corporate environments. By utilizing a "lean" manufacturing strategy focused on artisanal processes, the project successfully avoided high tooling costs while delivering a functional prototype sold to early stakeholders. The project showcased a biophilic design language across two tiers: Premium and Standard, bridging the gap between industrial air quality and domestic elegance.

The Challenge
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Most high-performance air purifiers on the market in 2021 were bulky and industrial, clashing with modern interior aesthetics. The goal was to create a sleek, robust machine that could pull and push air in 360 degrees while fitting seamlessly into both home and office settings. Furthermore, the product needed to be developed as a "lean" line, utilizing manufacturing processes that could scale without the heavy upfront investment of traditional injection molding.

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The Strategy

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  • Tiered Product Architecture: Developed a dual-track design strategy with a Standard line featuring natural wood and ionized finishes for biophilic value, and a Premium line using polished and brushed stainless steel.

  • Lean Artisanal Manufacturing: Focused on material selections and assembly methods (such as bent sheet metal) that bypassed expensive mold tooling, allowing for rapid iterations and reduced market entry risk.

  • User-Centric Customization: Integrated customizable LED lighting and a 360-degree air intake/exhaust system to maximize functional value and user emotional connection.

  • Minimalist Brand Identity: Created the "ALCOR" brand from scratch> including name, logo, and storytelling to represent "elegance, style, and freshness".

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The Process

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  • Design & Engineering: Utilized SolidWorks and Rhino to develop the internal assembly, ensuring the mechanical fan and filtration components fit within a compact, ergonomic chassis.

  • UX/UI Development: Designed a customer journey that included an LCD touchscreen interface, allowing users to easily navigate three fan speeds, sleep modes, and sensor feedback.

  • Prototyping & Iteration: Led multiple shape iterations, from initial 2D sketches to high-fidelity 3D renders used for stakeholder validation and presentations to potential manufacturers.

  • Cost Management: Optimized the casing design to meet a specific manufacturing cost structure established by the management team.

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The Result
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  • Successful Prototyping: Delivered a fully functional prototype that met all technical requirements for air distribution and user interaction.

  • Strategic Validation: Presented the product to international manufacturers, validating the demand for high-end, designer-focused air quality tools.

  • Manufacturing Readiness: Developed a comprehensive BOM (Bill of Materials) and technical documentation for industrial manufacturing.

  • Legacy: While market conditions in late 2021 shifted the client's production priorities, the project remains a benchmark for rapid, high-aesthetic hardware development using lean methodologies.

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Project Details
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