Author Archives: charlwood

Mittstrom Mid stream urine device

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Mittstrom is an innovative device designed by Charlwood to assist with the hygenic collection of midstream urine for pathology analysis. It is a low cost, fully biodegradable saddle made from corn starch into which a standard pathology collection jar is placed. Early stream urine is diverted away from the jar by a thin cornstarch membrane which dissolves over a period of 3 seconds and then allows the midstream urine to flow into the collection vial. Once collection is complete the user simply removes the filled jar and flushes the device down the toilet. This innovative product has been granted patents internationally.

Charlwood not only developed the innovative design and shape but also sourced the flushable cornstarch material, developed the specialist adhesive, designed the tooling and oversaw a number of material/pathology tests to validate the product.

In October 2013, the  Mittstrom Mid-Stream Urine Collection device won in its categories at the BASF Plastics Innovation Award and the Melbourne and Sydney Design Awards, as well as being a finalist in the Victorian Premier’s Design Awards 2013. In addition to these awards, The Mittstrom Mid-Stream Urine Collection device was exhibited as part of the opening ceremony events at the Southeast University – Monash University Joint Graduate School (Suzhou) that opened in China late 2013.

For additional information, visit Melbourne Design Awards and ianwongresearch.blogspot.com.au

Classical Fingers Clarinet Teaching Guard

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Charlwood developed “classical fingers” as an innovative training tool for clarinet players. An elegant, clear guard inspired by a treble clef is attached to the clarinet via silicone rings with integrated magnets. The guard helps guide a players fingers to ensure they are positioned correctly and develop the correct technique.

Charlwood Design worked closely with our client to get the perfect shape for the product, prototyping and testing the idea and then engineering the product for production. We also sourced suppliers to manufacture the components.

www.classicalfingers.com

Uppercup

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UPPERCUP is a sustainably designed, reusable takeaway coffee cup. With a strong belief that good design is long lasting the product has been designed as an elegant, durable alternative to disposable cups. The unique, double wall tumbler is made of Tritan plastic and is ultrasonically welded. The result is a BPA free design that not only insulates the cup but also doesn’t absorb odours and flavours and is fully recyclable. The sturdy plastic construction ensures it is not fragile like ceramic or glass.

The unique rotating lid can be turned to reveal a tilt-up spout and then resealed flat to prevent splashes. The PP and LDPE parts separate for easy cleaning and recycling at the end of life. Designed and manufactured in Melbourne Australia the cup is available in white/black in two sizes – 8oz and 12oz. It is currently featured on the crowdfunding site pozible

MCHUMBA Children’s Table

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Charlwood Design was approached to develop this activity based children’s table for startup MCHUMBA.  Digitally printed artwork on the table surface is covered in clear whiteboard paint encouraging children to draw and explore directly on the table surface. Charlwood conducted extensive ergonomic research to ensure maximum comfort and the result is an appealing, easy to clean activity surface. We also created a matching stool with a built in storage compartment and created a prototype for testing.

Check out the MCHUMBA website for more information- mchumba.com

321 Water Bottle

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The 321 Water bottle is a reusable personal water filtration bottle with a unique plunger filter mechanism invented and designed by Charlwood Design. The ecologically sustainable design encourages the environmentally conscious user to carry and refill the bottle and the carbon filters are easily replaceable. They can be plunged repeatedly to filter the water.

Smartphone Data Capture System

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A rugged, external hardcase with barcode and signature capture for BlackBerry Smartphones. This is a complete system including a charging docking station and belt holsters. Engineered to last – This product can be driven over with a 4 wheel drive and still function.

We took the product from concept design to production tooling in 10 months. The complete housing and injection moulding tooling was managed by Charlwood Design.

Oates Cleaning Product Range

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Charlwood Design developed a comprehensive range strategy for Australia’s leading manufacturer of industrial, commercial and domestic cleaning products. The range, comprising 40-50 products, which could be implemented over time to minimise capital outlay, but would build into clear categories and market segments. This strategy has enabled the brand to be defined, for the first time, as more than its logo. In addition to a comprehensive colour strategy other elements that are key to the brand are function, form, innovation, value and sustainability.

The Oates squeeze mop was redesigned to remove all metal components and resulted in three individual patented design features. The end result reduced production cost, increased quality and performance and with the compete unit made out of polypropylene and free of adhesives, is fully recyclable.

Incontinence Monitoring System

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This class 1 medical product is designed to improve the quality of life for people suffering incontinence and help reduce the cost of clinical care in the community. This product has recieved a number of awards including a GOOD DESIGN AWARD from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and a Dupont Innovation Award.

A monitor is worn by the patient and it uses a wireless mesh network to communicate through nodes to the base station. The units are recharged through a docking system. Charlwood developed the units and managed the injection moulding production.

Solar Tower Concept

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Charlwood Design was engaged by Enviromission limited to create a vision for a future “hope solar tower” – a solar, thermal power station for the Smithsonian Institute Design Triennial exhibition in New York. In conjunction with R-Co we developed a scale model of our concept inspired by the complex network of roots beneath a tree. The highly detailed final model was produced in machined aluminium and acrylic.

The tower operates by collecting the sun’s radiation to heat a large body of air under a glass collection area, which acts as a giant greenhouse. Based on the principle that heat rises, this air flows towards the center of the collector through electricity generating turbines and out of the tower’s central chimney. A single 200-megawatt solar tower is estimated to produce enough electricity to power approximately half a million households.

‘Ellipta’ Monitor Arm

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Charlwood Design developed a LCD monitor arm for German manufacturer Häfele, which was awarded a Gold Medal for best new desktop technology at Chicago’s NeoCon trade fair.

Using a simple 4-bar linkage we chose to express the arm’s components rather than hide them and in the process created the smoothest function arm on the market. The product was fully engineered in Australia, and we assisted production set-up in China.