We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Michael Chijoff about their original and creative Bottle opener design work. Michael Chijoff is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original bottle opener works.
Michael Chijoff ("MC") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Tactica One Bottle opener. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
MC : We wanted to create a new way for people to experience their premium drinking moments. All too often sub standard bottle openers are used distracting from what should be a moment to cherish. The Tactica One was designed to reconnect users with the their premium experience from the moment they pick it up.
MC : The aim was to create a precision tool that merged technology and design. The design had to be unique in appearance whilst delivering functional performance time and time again. Ultimately it needed to perfectly marry with the premium drinking experience.
MC : Currently the Tactica One is aimed at release through a variety of premium design outlets worldwide. In addition due to the ability to do in mold branding we are also focusing on select partnerships with premium corporate brands.
MC : The design development process took approximately 6 months from the initial idea through to production tooling.
MC : The development was self initiated and formed the basis of our brand Tactica. This concept was pursued as we wanted it to embody our brand and demonstrate how technology, materials and design merge.
MC : The Tactica One is currently being manufactured for distribution by our company.
MC : Tactica is about creating unique solutions for your everyday carry. We focused on creating a new type of bottle opener as we found that often people used sub standard methods to open their premium drinks. We knew there was a better way, a way that didn't come with a hefty pricetag.
MC : Yes it was a team effort. The other designers involved were: Richard Benson Tom Burford-Orr Astrid Bonfante
MC : Our target customers are consumers of premium beers, ciders or waters
MC : The Tactica One is the first of its type in the world. Its unique suspended design pushes materials and design to the limits to achieve a performance that's unexpected.
MC : Tactica One is named as it is intended to be the only precision tool you'll ever need to open your premium beverages
MC : We used a combination of design research methodologies as well as technical tools such as solidworks in 3D modelling.
MC : Being able to create the cantilevered design which no other composite bottle opener has done before.
MC : Our entire team collaborated to create the Tactica One. They included Richard Benson, Tom Burford-Orr and Astrid Bonfante
MC : We pushed the limits of the material technology to achieve a design that is entirely unique whilst delivering functional performance in a premium package.
MC : We undertook substantial research in the premium beverage market to uncover a number of key findings about the market and the consumers. This information helped inform the design to ensure that it embodied the same premium qualities consumers seek in their beverages.
MC : Finding the right balance between the design and material technology was the most challenging. Through extensive prototyping we were ultimately able to come up with a design that delivered functionally as well as aesthetically.
MC : We were really excited about our approach and design outcome and wanted to take the opportunity to put it out there. As were were winners for another design in last years competition we felt it was a natural fit to do it again this year.
MC : We found that no matter what the challenges that we faced we knew that we would be able to find a way.
