Core77

Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting award-winning projects and ideas from this year's Core77 Design Awards 2012! For full details on the project, jury commenting and more information about the awards program, go to Core77DesignAwards.com

• EasiDrive Electric Screwdriver
• Designer: Alastair Warren
• Location: Umeå Institute of Design
• Category: Consumer Products
• Award: Student Runner up

The EasiDrive is an electric screwdriver for people unfamiliar with DIY and power tools, for people who just want to hang a painting, assemble a side table, or attach a coat hook. EasiDrive features the functional enhancements of an easy-alignment tool for drilling and screwing straight, a simple direction toggle for understanding what EasiDrive will do, and depth markers for drilling. Ease of use is improved with focused lighting for better vision, a debris catcher to reduce the mess, and the ability to stand while charging (and with a screw-bit in), to both save space and prevent scratching surfaces.

How did you learn that you had been recognized by the jury?
Excitedly checking the awards page at work, resulting in a bit of celebration!

What's the latest news or development with your project?
This project was a short CAD and manufacturing skills project at university, and I haven't pushed it further at this stage. I designed it to fit Kärcher's emerging Home Line sub-brand, so I intend to show it to them—I'd love to see the ideas taken into production.

What is one quick anecdote about your project?
When we started this project, we were given only sixteen hours to complete the design. That time excluded CAD, manufacturing details and presentation, but it's fair to say there was a fair bit of skepticism in the room!

However, it was truly eye-opening. Selecting a brand (Kärcher's emerging Home Line) and research took two hours, followed by sketch, foam model, sketch, cardboard-foam model, photograph, overlay-sketch, repeat, in short sprint sessions, which was great fun. Our class produced a lot of amazing work, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable projects I've undertaken. I have to particularly thank my awesome class at Umeå for some brilliant, short and sharp feedback sessions—in this time limit it made all the difference.

What was an "a-ha" moment from this project?
About halfway through, I was busy designing the sliding alignment tool, and brainstorming for other possible features. At some point I realized the slider could also catch debris and provide a really effective way of distributing light around the drilling/screwing location. I knew I was onto something, and kept shaking the tree until it yielded simple, practical functionality.