C. Sven Johnson

L-3 ProVision® 2 Personnel Scanner - Designed for L-3 Communications by the team at Intelligent Product Solutions, the ProVision® 2 is a compact, easy-to-deploy personnel security scanner delivering the same threat detection capability as its ProVision® ATD predecessor using the same consumer friendly millimeter wave technology in a smaller and more elegant package. It received a Golden A' Design Award Winner in 2013-14 and a Good Design Award in 2013. It was also the recipient of a $245M TSA contract and is now deployed throughout the world.

Motorola Lex 700 4-Slot Cradle and Cup Key - Developed for Motorola Solutions, the Lex 700 4-Slot Cradle was designed for both rack mount and desktop deployments as part of a larger accessories development program. I worked in collaboration with several other designers at Intelligent Product Solutions, generating blue line concept sketches, Alias 3D surface models and Pro/ENGINEER CAD for tooling.

Motorola ET1 Tablet Scan/MSR Module - This electronic tablet accessory is one of two devices; the other being a scan-only solution. This design was a collaborative effort between the client's designer, myself and another designer at Intelligent Product Solutions. Among the challenges were ensuring that the tablet with the accessory attached satisfied not only stringent drop test requirements but also met strict IP standards. The result is a tightly packed form which meets Motorola's high quality standards while integrating into the design of their newly introduced business class tablet. This particular design was modeled primarily in Alias with detailing in Pro/ENGINEER.

Motorola Concierge Control Hub - The Concierge Control Hub was one of two electronic components designed to integrate into a modular, highly interactive, consumer-facing, touchscreen kiosk comprised mostly of OTS components. This component was modeled in Pro/E Wildfire and rendered in KeyShot.

"Smart Object" [actual project name redacted under threat of legal action]: Cloud-based, Crowdsourcing Networked Personal Safety Device - This concept was generated over a four-day period for entry into the July 2004 Popular Science/Core77 "Security" Design Competition. This early concept combined "internet of things" with "crowdsourcing"and predates both Bruce Sterling's "spime" concept (Aug 2004) and Julian Bleecker's "blogject" (post-spime), both of which are similar. The concept was modeled in Pro/ENGINEER and rendered in Maya. Additional information about this project, can be found on the Core forum discussion thread at: http://boards.core77.com/viewtopic.php?t=2457

Black & Decker Lids Off Jar Opener - This highly-successful introductory product for a new kind of appliance was designed to fit within the B&D kitchen product line style, with an emphasis toward clean "Eurostyle" geometry. Significant effort was made to accommodate a wide range of users; especially the elderly and physically-challenged. A two-handed grip, a spring-assisted lift, an open-position lock for two-handed jar insertion, a spring-loaded turntable and an intuitively pleasant user experience were all the result of hands-on research coupled with empathy for and understanding of the target market. Reviews for the product were overwhelmingly positive and sales - approximately one million units in the first 18 months - were well beyond expectations. For this project, I was the sole industrial designer, providing everything from initial concept sketches and foam models cut from Alias 3D files, to tooling-ready Pro/E geometry and mechanism design.

Black & Decker Typhoon Stand Fan - This introduction of Applica's first B&D-branded fan into the product category is a blend of retro streamline with the corporate in-house style in an effort to communicate the power and efficiency of a newly-engineered fan blade. This solution was intended both to accept a much larger fan blade/housing and to have a cleanly-interchangeable user-interface by designing the control panel for tooling inserts. As the sole industrial designer assigned to this project, I was responsible to the development team for managing the design effort; including delivering concepts, generating Alias 3D geometry for models/renderings, and creating the Pro/E geometry for tooling. Additionally, this effort required extensive liaison with and travel to Asian manufacturing sites.

Rubbermaid Shotgun Butterfly Mop - This unique mop designed in-house for Rubbermaid combined shotgun-style actuation with a butterfly-style compression mechanism. During informal comparisons to other units, the ID model for this design (assembled, vacuum-formed polypropylene parts) yielded superior sponge compression with less user effort than competitive products. Molded-in hooks for loop-style sponge pads not only simplified removal and clean-up, but also reinforced Rubbermaid's sponge replacement business. To lower assembly costs parts were designed with living hinges and molded-in snap fasteners. I was solely tasked with a complete redesign of an initial, production-unfriendly design produced by another member of the Rubbermaid design team, and delivered everything from concept sketches to a near "tooling-ready" Pro/E file; including 7-degree shutoff angles and an equation of motion written as a relation within the file to confirm operation and conduct virtual interference checks.

Rubbermaid/Richell Unicot Storage Cases - Low-capital investment product design program for entry into an already-crowded Japanese storage products market - conducted in cooperation with Richell. For this effort, I was sent to Japan to work on-site at the Richell factory. While stopping through Tokyo, I had the privilege of meeting buyers for Japan's major hardware chains and gaining first-hand knowledge of their market. Additionally, after reaching the Toyama offices of Richell, significant on-site, in-home research was conducted. Concept sketches, designer refinements and final marker renderings were presented to management in Japan and a final design direction was chosen. Upon return to the U.S. I generated a Pro/E model from which SLA's were made and sent back to Richell for approval. At that point, the design left my oversight and some changes were made, but generally the original design remained and entered the market.

Rubbermaid RTA Cabinet - Designed in close cooperation with Target during their transition from big box retailer to design-driven shopping destination, this ready-to-assemble cabinet was inspired by Japanese storage products but aimed at the American garage organization market. As the sole industrial designer, I worked closely with engineers in bringing this product to market. Dozens of assembly options were presented for review but the most significant contribution I made to this product was proposing a dual-material extrusion for the tambour door in order to overcome extrusion die size limits and consumer assembly concerns. Unfortunately, my team's engineer and our vendor each decided to independently patent this idea, and I was only made aware when Rubbermaid lawyers made inquiries. Although I presented the original, dated concept sketch, my contribution to Patent US6053591A was never attributed.

Rubbermaid ActionPacker Toolbox Program - Rubbermaid's ActionPacker program consisted of three toolboxes (16", 20" and 24") intended for a global market. This was a major initiative in an effort to help extend the brand overseas. Initially only a new set of toolbox lids with integrated containers intended to fit existing bases, handles and latches, the program scope increased during development to include new bases, single-piece ergonomic latches and new internal organizing trays. This was my first project at Rubbermaid and as such my role was primarily that of a junior designer delivering a large number of concept sketches for review. Although I was assigned with another, senior designer, I generated all the concepts and worked with the CAD team to get the concept into Pro/ENGINEER. The above rendering of one of the toolboxes, the 24", was generated in Alias from the CAD team's tooling file database. The blueline sketches were for the more important 20" toolbox.

Ames ReelEasy Hose Reel - This design effort was originally a project to update product aesthetics while replacing old tooling; no functional changes to the original design were to be considered. My primary contribution, however, was defying that guidance by focusing on user experience instead of aesthetics: moving the originally top-mounted storage tray to the bottom, thus allowing items to remain stowed while the unit was moved, while also allowing the handle to fold down for efficient long-term winter storage. The tray relocation was visually presented, the folding handle idea was verbally communicated as a consequent option. The client chose the new concept for further development, with the final design including stackability for improved palletization (Ames' contribution). It was awarded Patent US5794649 (on which my contribution was not attributed). Designed in the mid-90's, this product continues to sell long after having set a new industry standard.