This is a short show-real from my time as Head of Design at FLIR Systems Industrial and the journey that we made over the last seven years. From using design as a menas of styling to incorporate and using design as a strategical business tool and design management as a natural part of product management.
THE JOURNY | When starting at FLIR Systems AB back in 2013 it obvious that FLIR was not totally new to design. The internal culture was already very familiar with using user-research and doing ergonomically studies and also using external design agencies for design deliverables. Creating very appreciated product offerings by customers. After assessing the organisation position on the design maturity ladder, which was very much at level one, the next steps of focus became:
Processes & Creative direction Taking control of the external design process though directing and leading the Design Briefing Process and the following Creative Process. This to make shore to sett a correct and motivating challenge at start and then being able to navigate the output along the way. There where also a need to establish and optimise the internal design processes and adapt it to the current development process. Which nearly always means: trying to pushing the design process to the earliest development stages to reduce friction and wast.
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ABOUT FLIR | FLIR Systems designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes technologies that enhance perception and awareness. They bring innovative sensing solutions into daily life through our thermal imaging, visible-light imaging, video analytics, measurement and diagnostic, and advanced threat detection systems. FLIR offers a diversified portfolio that serves a number of applications in government & defense, industrial, and commercial markets.
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Recruiting and Attracting talent A big challenge for a technology and engineering driven company that is located in the outer suburbs of Stockholm, is to attract designers and design talents. My strategy became a mix of employer branding at design schools, winning design awards and also creating an creative and inspiring internal working atmosphere.
The journey from product styling to using design as a strategical business tool and brand differentiator.
From styling to Design Strategy With processes and design systems in place the next step was design organisational optimisation and to build design management structures. To support Product management with Business design, customer experience intelligence and user research analytics. And also give the management team a design perspective on it’s challenges, and to suggest new ways forward.
This where some of the things that I focused on and worked with durring my time at FLIR, if you are curious about what I could do for your company?
From Visual Identity to Brand experience | When starting at FLIR a mayor CMF Harmonisations project was well on its way, initiated by Johannes Berg as Chief Brand Officer. Meaning that the natural next step was to lift that harmonisation project to include the physical gestalt/form-languish, haptic experience, interaction design and communications through out the customer/user experience.
This is FLIR´s Hardware product design evolvement journey from 2008 to today. It has evolved through the first step of an CMF (color, material & finish) harmonisation 2008 to the final ongoing step of aligning the entire portfolio in one harmonised design languish. Today FLIR Industrial combines a strong feeling of robustness and sophisticated technical expression with a full workday ergonomic and durable DNA.
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2008
2021
It's the total sum of harmonised Brand touch points is what makes the difference.
Brand Identity
One FLIR Brand Experience
Challenge, The goal was to improve the ergonomic handling and intuitiveness of the camera, giving the user an improved experience when diagnosing hard-to-reach components in any environment.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
Despite its small size it is easy to operate and features intuitive menu icons making it very user friendly.
Imaging IR Thermometer
Challenge, besides adapting the E-series camera for full day industrial use. This project also dealt with the slightly contradictory user wishes - Smaller and Lighter product - Larger Screen. And Supreme Performance - Longer Battery Time.
Pocket friendliness
Challenge, At this time when the C-series was on the drawing board, it was sade that this product was not possible to make. But an interdisciplinary creative development process chanced that. It’s pocket friendliness and easy to use touch based user interface made the C-camera an immediate success and a very appreciated camera by users.
The Portable Explosives Trace Detector
Challenge, Fido X2 was a challenging project from a design-managerial point. Our engagement came in very late in the development process. It was a completely unfamiliar target group for the UX team to take on. And on top of that the project was a remote collaborations with a development team Detection in US. The success of this process comes a-lot from the Detections teams deep customer knowledge. And also the teams openness to collaborate and strong leadership.
Design Awards 2015
Fixed-mount Thermal Imaging Cameras
Next generation C-cameras
Challenge, user workflows and connectivity. Also its interaction intuitiveness and haptic experience.
High Definition Mid-Range Surveillance System
Challenge, Surveillance hardware visual expression & identity.
This is website showcase some of my latest work and conclude some of my service offerings as Design Strategist Consultant.
