Designing Irons
Some projects that illustrate the work and the processes used in the design of steam irons and generators for Tefal.
Tefal has been a client for Seymourpowell for over 30 years, when I joined in 2004 the design of irons was the exclusive domain of Dick Powell and Richard Smith. Dick describes irons and one of the most difficult things to design. Complicated surfaces combined with water and electricity. When Richard Smith left Seymourpowell, the baton was handed to me. I spent 10 years designing irons and generators with Dick. Over the years we were able to speed up the process by jumping into surfacing and cutting foam models very early in the process.
Projects tend to follow two formats with Tefal, we are either developing an evolution to the design language of their irons and generators or applying a new design language across the range. The pre-concept phase is used to look at any new features that may be added to a product and how they may manifest themselves on the product. Tefal will look at the solutions we come up with and build them into the technical package. After an aesthetic route is chosen we will be in constant communication with Tefal's engineering team at Pont Evec to ensure the technical requirements are achieved.
