The Tiller+ Tiller design for the recently launched Everdure Neo Barbeque has proved to be a success. Tiller + Tiller’s delivery was a seamless and professional design tour de force with Everdure reaping the bottom line benefits of having used good design to create an impact on the market. Sales for its new Neo barbeque range have increased. Tiller +Tiller is one of Australia’s leading industrial design agencies with an in house manufacturing capability.
Managing Director of Tiller + Tiller Mr. Robert Tiller: “Tiller + Tiller thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and many challenges in working with Everdure on what is one of the great Australian lifestyle products, the design of the outdoor barbeque. Neo was a very exciting design project, which we are very proud to have been associated with.”
The initiative to develop the new Neo range was a decision taken by Everdure’s CEO Mike Westrup. It was based on market research which identified opportunities to expand the Everdure product range.
Product Development and Marketing Manager at Everdure Edgi Vega: “The Neo range has vindicated our decision to use design to create innovation and success through design. Its success confirms our research findings that smart design is where the difference exists for the consumer.”
He comments on the industrial designers for Neo: “Tiller + Tiller offered us a highly professional service but relaxed relationship and platform where all parties including manufacturer and toolmakers were able to benefit from the feedback and research generated from all parties. We had a remarkable free flowing interaction of ideas, which continued through to design reviews and those times in the project when necessary readjustments to drawings had to take place. Every part of the design and delivery process went smoothly. Modifications were easily done. We loved their new thinking and their fantastic understanding of contemporary design. We were particularly impressed with their work ethic, solutions and respect for timelines and deadlines. They understood the need to speed up when manufacturer placed left of field deadlines on the process of delivery.”
The brand names selected, Neo, Figura, Curva and Piano were Italian inspired to link them to the style aspirations of good Italian design. Piano ( flat), Curva (curved) and Figura ( shape). Tiller + Tiller’s brief was to make the products stylish and easy to use.
The result has been a success. The Neo range is lightweight and compact. It is easy to transport and assemble after purchase and has the added bonus of a sliding draw for outdoor utensil storage and a flexible base form to which other units such as a rotisserie motor or cupboard can be added later on.
At the entry point level, the Neo Piano is a no frills product with a flat 4 burner function and no hood. Breaking new ground, this model as well as the two others, feature a contemporary feel, defined by a combination of steels, powder coated, aluminum plated and hard wearing enameled product. They are fabricated in varying shapes and combinations for the barbeque frame which is contoured by elegant minimalist line and curvilinear form. Mindful of making the product environmentally sustainable, the steels were chosen wisely through applying a careful analysis of the product requirements. A win-win outcome, Tiller + Tiller was able to reduce the amount of steel required which not only produced cost savings but made the product much lighter and so reduced shipping costs.
Trolley wheels are fabricated from hard wearing UV protected plastics and the large precision control gas knobs are made from plastics with a brushed stainless steel fitting. Another feature is the addition of a slide out draw on one of the servery wings.
The design process was undertaken using Pro Engineer to generate the first concept sketches which upon finalization were rendered in 3 D and then finished in a series of 2 D drawings for toolmakers and manufacturers.