CHALLENGE
The increased competition from Asian manufacturers, a generational handover and the financial crisis motivated the battery charger manufacturer Inelco to develop a new generation of products. The basis for the develop-ment was that the company wanted an alternative approach to their products and an insight into which aspects of a battery charger are important and valuable for the users – a prerequisite for standing out from the competition.

PROCESS
Through extensive user observations in the beginning of the design process Inelco and the design company 3PART were able to identify a long list of possible improvements on the battery charger. Thus, all the improvements to the battery charger are based on what matters to the users rather than what is technically feasible. A new technical platform was chosen that made it physically possible to develop a more compact design.
The process following the user input involved competitor analyses, idea brainstorming, establishment of the design expression and a new name for the product line, new marketing material, website, packaging and a trade fair stand.

RESULT
The result is a battery charger with a simple user interface, a built-in electric torch, a booster function for powering up the battery, and new patented terminals. The battery charger is named Keepower and after the market launch it has won two international design awards, increased the company’s turnover and improved the bottom line.

Design discipline Industrial design and graphic design
Method User-driven innovation
Company Inelco A/S
Design company 3PART A/S