DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
DAP : I was inspired to make this particular design by a dream I had while I was working on it.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
DAP : I wanted the doorbell to be very unique and really capture peoples attention. after all it is one of the very first things a visitor interacts with when approaching your home.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
DAP : I would like to find a manufacturers representative or distributors that could help me get this product design into retail stores or mail order catalogs.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
DAP : I worked on this design concept on and off for about two years, making revisions and refinements.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
DAP : I was trying to come up with a useful product design that was unique and could be used in or on the home, a product I could use to help start my business. This doorbell design has gone through many changes and refinements.
The final design is based on a dream I had about the doorbell.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
DAP : I plan on manufacturing the product myself but will consider leasing the production right to other companies.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
DAP : I wanted to design a product for the home.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
DAP : Many things helped influence the design of this doorbell such as new and old European and American Architectural details. The final design is modeled after a dream I had.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
DAP : Middle to upper middle class home owners.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
DAP : Im not sure I know of any resembling designs for a doorbell but this doorbell is also unique in that it is cylindrical and projected out slightly from the home, where most doorbells lay flat against the wall.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
DAP : Since this design incorporates spears I chose "Alikos" for this model which means "Defender of man kind" and symbolically defends your home. I used Guidepost Doorbells because it is shaped like a post and with it's light guides the way to your door.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
DAP : I like to design with my imagination and then do a few sketches and finally do technical drawings by hand.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
DAP : I think the slim cylindrical spear shaped design incorporating an illuminated glass cylinder is very unique for a doorbell.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
DAP : I worked with a highly skilled retired machine shop owner. "Tom Scott" who machined my prototypes for me on his manual lathe.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
DAP : The technology is simple incorporating a G4 LED and sub-miniature switch.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
DAP : Before finalizing designs making my prototypes I showed the designs to friends and family to get some feedback.
Since making the prototypes I have showed them to many store owners and have gotten allot of positive feedback from them.
I did a fair amount of research on the internet to find the correct glass and electronic components I used.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
DAP : One challenge was getting the mounting plate, back nut and nipple just right, so it would function the way I wanted it to and at the same time look good.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
DAP : I entered my design into the competition to hopefully get some recognition and publicity.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
DAP : I have learned allot about micro and mini switches and other components that are in the doorbells and have made some good supply contact. I have also learned allot about small LEDs. And I learned I needed to communicate very precise directions for the glass manufacturers and machinist to get everything just right.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
DAP : The finish I will be using on the doorbells is a proprietary water based patina applied by hand and then sprayed with a super hard UV resistant coating, creating a beutiful appearance.
