Driven by research – Two displays, one canvas.

We conducted field studies in different markets by observing and analyzing the retail payment process. Markets were chosen based on their progressiveness in payment trends. The field study was created as a tool for business decision making.

One of the key observations from the field study was the inefficiency of the payment user experience. This observation led into the insight of the of secondary display. The dual display design is enabling an intuitive and smooth interaction between merchant and the customer. The displays are designed based on the unique needs of the merchant and customer, yet they acknowledge and complement each other, react to each other and behave as one canvas. The second display can also be used as a promotional platform when in idle mode.

Designing familiarity to the new technology.

According to the field study, there is also a need to shorten the onboarding period for merchants and their employees to learn a new payment system. Making technology familiar and approachable was crucial to shorten onboarding period. The experience and design language needed to be familiar to promote mass market acceptance. To make this happen, we brought in our past experience from the smart phone industry. The unity with the digital and physical design – how the digital interface elements is an extension of the physical device – became a guiding factor. The visual style, haptic feedback, animations and illumination patterns blend into the hardware and accentuate the best-in-class usability and the trustworthiness of the brand promise. The digital and physical act as one entity, enforcing a strong brand experience.

The business opportunity that arose from the field study was for Arcelik to achieve competitive differentiation and brand visibility in high end retail. Typically, the payment technology devices are hidden away when not in use. This observation led us to design the Beko Sardis to adapt to various high-end retail spaces.

The design was inspired by the multisensorial trend that will boost the trust and loyalty to the brands. The finance industry has started to create multi sensorial experiences, where the design needs to address beyond sight as a sense, to design also for the sense of weight, sense of touch and sense of hearing – enabling a strong brand experience. For example Visa’s new sensory style guide spreads into multiple modes of perception to uphold ‘that assurance that Visa is there, and the transaction has gone through’. Payment device body is designed to be smooth in the hand that supports use and mobility. The focus of CMF (colors, materials and finishes design) was to design the smooth metal and polished display glass surfaces together as interesting combination of contrasting elements. Light is used as an immaterial design element that is informative and also bringing the object alive. Body of the device is tailor made graphite colored aluminum.

Result – bold brand statement and design that was awarded by the prestigious CES 2019 Honorary award in the cybersecurity and personal privacy category.

Omuus was contacted to source and validate into production biobased material by Finnish family company Weiste to serve their pioneering Eco Christmas Collection. Weiste history with innovation is extensive with 100 years anniversary in 2024.

The challenge for the project was to serve very different product materiality in the Weiste portfolio, ranging from glass like transparency to more ornamental decorations. The material needed to be suitable for the existing production capabilities, and testing requirements for long lasting product quality.

Omuus material engineer Anne Taitto started the work with Weiste professionals, to analyze the technical requirements and locate the most potential supplier network for the task. The challenge worldwide is that there is much need and interest towards biomaterials, but certain biomaterials are unavailable due to the increase of demand. This was one of the main concerns, to be able to identify material that has longevity and capacity for the future.

The end result: Omuus connected with worldwide supplier network during the few weeks project to identify different material options for test trials. Weiste trials successfully selected a biobased material that met the technical requirements and was visually meeting the product portfolio needs. We are excited for the Weiste for their world’s first biobased Christmas decorations!

Do you want to know more about sustainable materials? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

Elaine examining eggshell quality in the lab.

“We approach circular design not only by optimising the waste material during the production phase but also by optimising the knowledge, technology and skillset.” – Elaine Yan Ling Ng 

OMUUS interviewed Elaine Yan Ling Ng the founder of The Fabrick Lab and also Chief Material Innovator at Nature Squared. In the interview Elaine will talk about alternative waste material, how it can be reused and applied in material design, what is essential in reusing such materials and how Nature Squared plays its part in it.

Sneak peek of Nature Squared marking kit,
Elaine has designed a range of palette that provide pre design tile combination for interior designers to choose from.

The future of material technology has to look towards the type of waste people are producing. Consumption and production inevitably link with each other therefore the focus needs to go into what kind of products we create. It becomes the brands responsibility to produce in a more responsible way. 

For Nature Squared circular design is not only about optimizing the waste material during production but also about understanding the social aspect of using the material. Their factories are located in Cebu, Philippines and for that surrounding eggshell was the obvious material that there is a stable supply off and therefore has a direct impact to its surroundings. Using the eggshell waste benefits the locals through the picking and cleaning process and also improves their environment because the eggshells create both social and health problems when left in landfills.

Go to Omuus IGTV to view the interview.

Moodboard of chlorophyllin tiles.

Do you want to know more about sustainable materials? Contact us and let’s discuss more of your needs!

Annina Verkkomäki +358 40 7680127

annina.verkkomaki@omuus.com

SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE YOUR COMPANY’S CARBON FOOTPRINT. 

Material audit helps you to save 3-5% of your company’s turn over. (Business Finland)  

Material Audit investigates the amount of losses generated by your business operations,  the costs of the losses, and the measures for reducing the losses. The audit decreases the environmental impact of your company’s actions by reducing raw materials use and waste.  

Material efficiency is a concrete action in order to show:   

• The corporate responsibility
• Enhance competitiveness 
• Reduce the carbon footprint.

WHAT IS MATERIAL AUDIT? 

A Material Audit is concrete action for corporate social responsibility with results that can be utilized to plan and maintain an environmental management system. 

The audit uncovers the bottlenecks in the material efficiency, increases the organization’s understanding of its material flows and waste, and identifies measures to improve material efficiency. 

OMUUS is authorized auditor for Business Finland funded Material Audits carried out according to the model by Motiva. After the material audit, the co-operation can be continued in projects related to product design and material optimization. 

MATERIAL AUDIT FUNDING 

50% Funding from Business Finland, average payback time 1,5months.  

Business Finland funds 50% of Material Audit costs up till 15 000€. In addition to the auditor’s fees and expenses, Material Audit funding may cover a calculated sum of up to 20% of other costs.  

Business Finland may grant up to 15,000 euros of funding for each audit.  

The funding covers the auditor’s fees and other expenses (such as travel expenses) incurred in the audit by an expert auditor who has attended Motiva’s material audit training. 

In addition to the auditor’s fees and expenses, Material Audit funding may cover a calculated sum of up to 20 per cent of other costs. Other costs consist of labor and travel expenses and material and supplies costs incurred by the audited company for the purpose of carrying out the audit. These costs do not need to be specified.

Material Audit funding is offered to SMEs, mid cap companies and large corporations. 

Contact Omuus official Material Auditor anne.taitto@omuus.com for more info, or call Annina Verkkomäki 0407680127.

Corensis® Medical Kiosk from Arçelik is a medical measurement terminal. It offers automated hospital registration and medical measurements. This is enabled with high precision medical sensors, advanced algorithms, and AI assistance (Artifical Intelligence).

Omuus created the concept design, CMF design (Colors, Material, Finishing), industrial design, and visual UI concept (User Interface) of the Medical Kiosk.

Medical Kiosk improves efficiency when medical staff can focus on healthcare. It provides contactless interaction, a new demand raised by COVID-19. Antimicrobial materials and sanitation of the contact surfaces were part of the concept from the beginning.

In detail

The medical measurement process is guided on a large touch-screen, where an AI assistant shows the actions. In the concept, life size real people were considered most approachable. The screen may include private information. Sidebars and handles block the view from others, and private information can be found at the bottom of the screen, blocked by the user.

Medical Kiosk is used by people of different sizes and ages, including users with physical disabilities. Users sit and stand at different stages of the medical measurement process. These requirements set a challenge for ergonomics design. Manually adjustable settings would be too complicated. Automated adjustability was considered expensive and fragile to implement. Therefore automation was considered only for a blood pressure monitor that needs to stay at heart level. Side handles and ECG handle bar on the front help to sit down and get up, as well as to rest hand while blood oxygen is measured in the finger hole on front.

Medical Kiosk includes several sensors for the medical measurement. Their positioning for different users was concepted and tested with the client. In the concept, the floor and seat were a combined weight scale, so a disabled user does not have to stand up for weight measuring if it is difficult. Measuring the length of the user requires momentary standing. Fixed seat with arched front enables medical measurements while seated, as well as the standing position. There are grooves in the seat to prevent slipping. Backrest was considered, but without it is easier to sit down.

Use in hospital also regulates materials. Medical Kiosk is not used in invasive care, yet it has to be easy to clean, and stand strong detergents. Antimicrobial materials and sanitation of the contact surfaces were part of the concept. The materials used in consumer products were considered more approachable than clinical materials. New natural and natural imitating materials were studied during the design process. Materials with a softer appearance were implemented in the seat and as accent materials.

Medical Kiosk has a long service life. The design and materials are expected to be long-lasting. Timeless geometric forms are created with extruded aluminum pillars on corners. They are created from one mold. Sheet metal is used in the maintenance door and below the screen to ensure privacy while seated. Maintenance door on the back of the Medical Kiosk can be used as an information board. Sheet metal on the floor is textured to avoid slipperiness. Side handles are also created from one mold. Parts are replaceable and economical to manufacture.

Collaboration between Arçelik and Omuus started in 2016. Together we have created products like Smart Assistant speaker Arçelik Asista, awarded Point-of-Sales device Beko Sardis, webdesign for Token Inc., as well as Research and Marketing.

Corensis® Medical Kiosk has received multiple awards:

 A’ Design Award & Competition – Bronze A’ Design Award

Medical Devices and Medical Equipment Design Category

• The World’s largest, most prestigious and influential design accolade, the highest achievement in design. 

 Doktorclub Awards 2020 –  R&D / Innovation Practice of the Year

• The Pioneer of Digital Transformation in Healthcare, and the Leading Phycisians – Only Platform in Turkey.

 MedTech Breakthrough Awards – Best IoT Healthcare Platform 2020

• Recognize the top companies, people, platforms and products in the health, fitness and medical technology industries today.

Arçelik works for a sustainable future through technology, human resources and production power. As Europe’s fourth-biggest white goods company, Arçelik operates in 146 countries with 12 brands (arcelikglobal.com).

Omuus is a strategic, material driven technology design agency based in Helsinki, London and Beijing. We are rooted in Nordic design sensibility with knowledge of global market preferences with sensitivity to business.

Inquiries: info(at)omuus.com