Product Design

Client

Snapswall

Brief

Design a new way of displaying photographs that appeals to younger parents and home-owners. Encourage users to update their photos regularly by making them easy to change.

Solutions

Our product designers investigated how a photograph could be displayed in its simplest form, as though there was no frame at all.

We wanted to reduce the impact of shipping and manufacture, so material usage was kept to a minimum, whilst keeping the intent of a rigid frame. A range of concepts were developed and tested using sketch models and rapid prototypes.

In the chosen design each frame aligns perfectly with its neighbour to the side or above and below, allowing very precise displays to be built up over time. A photo is simply retained under small transparent tabs in each corner so it appears that the Snapswall character is holding and looking after the owners precious memories. Large images can be tile printed over several frames also, creating a really eye catching display.

Injection mould tooling and manufacture could be competitively delivered in the UK as we had designed out the need for costly assembly procedures as used on most multi-component photo frames.

Currently available in boxes of 6, each Snapswall frame is simply fastened to a wall or surface with a drawing pin, or sticky tac.

The result

A new brand created with intellectual property including UK patent, UK registered Trade Marks, EU design registration.

Currently retailing at several UK outlets and in negotiation with Spanish, German, and French retailers. Exhibited at The Spring Fair 2011 – Birmingham, PULSE 2011 – London, TENT 2011 – London.

Press

E-photozine, Develop-3D Magazine – Jan 2011

Skills

Product innovation, Concept design, Industrial design, 3D CAD Design, Prototyping, UK contract manufacturing, Project management of Packaging, Graphic, Web, and  Product Design.