Snap-On + SCAD
Future family of Snap-On lighting for professional technicians.
Objective
To create wearable lighting concepts for professional technicians in automotive, aviation, marine, and heavy industry fields.
Challenge
We conducted field research at companies around Savannah, including JCB, Savannah Yacht Center, Kenworth Service Center, and several local mechanic shops. We observed and interviewed mechanics, service technicians, and supervisors to discover opportunities that current lighting products didn’t meet. Technicians brought out that they often need a third hand to hold a light because their hands are busy using tools or holding fasteners while repairing vehicles or machinery.
Solution
We designed a family of lighting based on users’ needs and Snap-On’s brand identity. Each concept is designed to be worn or held on the body yet be hands free. These enable the technician to work more efficiently by giving him/her better lighting while freeing up his/her hands for other tasks.
Field Research
Conducted field research at multiple companies around Savannah. Below are insights gained from interviews and observations at automotive repair shops, JCB, Savannah Yacht Center,and Kenworth Service.
A Third Hand
Technicians need a third hand to hold lights while their hands are full of tools and parts.
Brightness
Working environments are often poorly lit, so the lights can never be too bright.
Durability
Lights must be able to absorb lots of abuse without losing functionality. Rough treatment and exposure to harsh chemicals are the norm in the typical work environment.
Sketching
As we conducted our research we created concepts based on our research, and tested our ideas with technicians at companies we visited. We explored many different concepts and got excellent feedback from the technicians we interviewed.
Midpoint
At the midpoint client presentation the team showed the client a number of refined concepts. I worked with three other team members to prepare foam models for three of these concepts that the team felt would benefit from the additional context.
Final Concepts
The Bite Light
Bite Lite features an ergonomically designed bite shelf at the rear of the light to facilitate gripping with the mouth when one’s hands are full with tools or parts.
Technicians were not interested in replacing batteries, so Bite Lite features a rechargeable battery that connects to power with a mini-USB port.
“This should have been done ten years ago.”
- Head technician at flagship JCB dealer in Savannah, GA.
The Auglight
Five LEDs are mounted in the frame of the safety glasses to provide bright, accurate lighting where technicians are looking. Rugged titanium frames can be customized with a prescription lens if desired. Twin cameras can capture video and stills.
The Auglight is also equipped with flip-down screens that provide enhanced vision via digital zooming so that technicians can read dirty labels and small serial numbers easier. Images and videos captured can be sent to customers and supervisors so that they can see what the technician sees in real time.
“I’d pay $2,000 for these if they were offered today.”
- JCB technician
Project Notes
Team: Jonathan Comeau, Andres Acuna, Camrin Arreseigor, Alex DelleMonache, Eduardo Dodge, Caleb Hunter, Megan Kiely, Yian Ma, Alex Neel, Joy Jungin Park, Berenice, Plessis, Sydney Shreve, Harry Stevens
Project Length: Ten weeks
My Role(s): Ideation, User Research, Physical Modeling and Prototyping, Final Renders of Auglight and BiteLight