Seton, a market-leading health, safety and compliance equipment manufacturer and distributor, needed to relaunch their EasyProtect barrier system.
The existing product suffered from critical user experience flaws: difficult transport, awkward storage, time-consuming assembly and expensive manufacturing costs. Our design challenge was to transform a problematic safety barrier into an intuitive, cost-effective solution that delivers the exceptional user experience Seton’s brand demanded.
Seton approached us, a design house that solves real workplace safety challenges, to streamline the tooling requirements and make things simpler for their users.
Designing out complexity is our speciality, so we were ready for the challenge.
Working directly with Seton’s manufacturers, we used digitally generated photorealistic renders to share our vision for the new, improved EasyProtect.
Following this collaboration, we conducted a radical rethink to design a fundamentally different approach. As a result we simplified the construction whilst also improving product effectiveness. The revised design offered numerous advantages for users:
A fast and easy full height barrier: When in use, eight barrier panels clip together to form a 5.8 metre safety barrier. When packed away, the eight panels sit securely within the central A-frame ready to transport elsewhere. Additional panels can also be fitted.
Quick assembly and disassembly: The EasyProtect can be assembled in minutes. Everything a user needs to construct the barrier is contained within the central unit. Simply secure the panels into the A-frame, clip together and they’re ready to go.
Highly portable and compact storage: For quick transitions between locations (e.g. down a corridor), we integrated durable castors and added a flexible clip down the A-frame’s centre. This allows users to push it easily by hand, while keeping parts securely in place. When packing away, the modular system makes it convenient to manoeuvre. Unlike traditional barriers, it’s also space-saving to stack.
Highly versatile: EasyProtect’s compact, portable design makes it suitable for many different environments. Custom A4 safety signage can be added to each panel using single push web-and-lock clips. Whilst off-centre integrated feet (to minimise trip hazards) make it an attractive product for high-footfall areas.
Using human-centred design principles, our design expertise made a good product great – and substantially simplified its tooling requirements. Fewer components made it less labour-intensive to produce, saving Seton significant time and money.
With an Occupational Health & Safety New Product of the Year Award already under its belt, EasyProtect is a shining example of continuous product improvement to keep employees safe.
“We have now worked with Simple Design Works on numerous projects with varying degrees of complexity. The professional, proactive and creative approach they take to each task has led to many excellent solutions, which has led us to develop and introduce successful products into the market. Always accommodating and a delight to work with, we look forward to working with Simple Design Works again in the future.”
