Welding Machine Design
MMA200 I 120
Side Project
2023-2024
Niagamas Lestari Gemilang is an industrial machinery company based in Indonesia. I provided exterior redesign services for their Japan-exported brand, DAIDEN. The original product featured a metal sheet exterior, and I focused on redesigning only the front panel with a plastic material while retaining all other metal components. This design approach not only modernized the product's appearance but also successfully reduced production costs for the client. Moreover, the new plastic front panel enhanced the product's visual identity and brand presence, further strengthening its competitiveness in the Japanese market.
DAIDEN is a brand targeted at the Japanese market.
Define the Scope and Identify Client Needs
In-Depth Understanding
Before starting the design process, I engage in thorough discussions with clients to fully understand the product's specifications, usage scenarios, and operation methods. For new types of products I haven’t worked with before, comprehensive communication in the early stages is crucial. This not only ensures that the client’s expectations are precisely met but also effectively reduces the time spent on subsequent revisions, ensuring a smooth design process.
Japan Retro 80's style
From Divergence to Convergence
Client Needs Communication
he client places great importance on the product’s appearance, requiring a design that reflects the classic 1980s Japanese style, while incorporating modern elements, avoiding being too avant-garde or outdated. During the design process, I gathered extensive competitive product data and engaged in in-depth discussions with the client to understand their specific needs and ideas. This communication helps ensure a more accurate understanding of the client’s design expectations.
In the early proposal phase, I create multiple 2D design drafts and present both bold and conservative options. Through discussions with the client, we gradually narrow down the design direction. Subsequently, I engage with manufacturing partners to discuss details such as part count, production feasibility, and assembly yield, ensuring the design is optimized for mass production.
The process moves from open, divergent thinking to a more focused, convergent approach, which helps us better understand the client’s preferences and needs, ensuring the final design is both creative and practically feasible.
Pay Attention to The Detail
Design Fine-Tune
Considering the client’s desire to reduce mold costs, we decided to share the metal sheet components for the main body and design the front cover in plastic. However, to maintain design consistency, I redesigned the screen-printing effect and details of the metal sheet components, skillfully blending the vintage Japanese style with the shape of the front cover. Throughout this process, I made several hand-drawn refinements, ultimately presenting six carefully crafted proposals for the client to choose from, ensuring each one perfectly aligned with their design needs. Additionally, I also designed multiple options for the screen panel Mylar.
The Sense Of Stability
and Also Exquisite
CMF Consideration
Since the product is often placed outdoors or on the ground, I chose the coarse texture finish(MT-11020) for the CMF design, with some part polish details. The metal body features a powder coating and screen printing. My goal is to maintain a sense of quality and refinement even in the design of heavy machinery, balancing durability with aesthetic appeal.
A Complete Evolution
Of The Appearance
Existing Product vs. New Design Product
