Design For Consumers
Cool paintbrushes, great-looking cosmetic accessories, fun pens, heavy duty work gloves, and efficacious toothbrushes are just some of the consumer products that we designed which have changed markets and increased revenues & shareholder value. Make a connection with your customer by putting our innovative consumer research, product design services, consumer product development and ergonomic product design expertise to work to develop your best consumer product designs. To see our consumer case studies up-close, click on a specific product to the left.
Yurtopia, Yurbud Earbud Enhancers
Yurbuds™ are personally-sized earbud enhancers that work in conjunction with your favorite earbuds. Yurbuds™ won’t fall out, are comfortable for hours, and provide crystal clear sound quality.
A. Yurbuds channel sound into the ear for extended listening at lower volumes.
B. Stay-In Treads prevent Yurbuds from falling out, even during the most vigorous activities.
C. Crus relief is specifically designed to avoid key pain areas and provide comfort over long periods. Yurbuds™ provide users with an affordable and comfortable solution for your earbuds, so you can truly enjoy your iPod, Bluetooth or any other mobile player device.
Papermate, Biodegradable Writing Instruments
Metaphase’s breakthrough design of the Biodegradable pen for PaperMate represents the first biodegradable, environmentally-friendly writing instrument.
Metaphase’s expert knowledge in handheld products, ergonomics & design combines to make this pen feel good in both your heart and your hand! The majority of the pens’ components are made of corn sugar, an annually renewable resource that naturally decomposes in soil or your home compost pile.
A. Ergonomic comfort grip was scaled to fit 5th to 95th percentile fingers.
B. The pen clip allows users to quickly slip the pen securely into a pocket without catching or folding pocket fabric.
Renovo, Laptop Concepts
Demonstrating just how captivating ergonomics can be, Metaphase designed the Optimus and Onyx advanced concepts for notebook computing.
Inventive and inspirational, the concepts exploit the power of ergonomics in the future of laptop designs featuring raised displays for improved neck posture, re-positioned keyboards for improved arm posture & reduced tissue compression, and increased display areas for reduced paging or scrolling.
A. The Optimus concept is sleek and versatile. It features a dual touchscreen display that operates as a traditional laptop screen or opens into two side-by-side screens operated by a wireless keyboard, which slides out from the body.
B. The Onyx concept is smooth and luxurious. It features an upward-sliding screen exposing a touchscreen multimedia interface, a laser-etched keyboard with raised soft gel letters, and high-end leather accents.
Shur-Line, Paintbrushes
Metaphase helped Shur-Line create the First Ergonomically Designed Paintbrushes.
After extensive research with professional and do-it-yourself painters, Metaphase experts in ergonomics and design developed grips that encourage you to paint like a pro. The patented rubberized grip minimizes common stress and strain in the forearm and fingers of painters while offering increased precision and control.
A. An ergonomic tri-lateral pencil grip design places your hand in the best posture for “trimming out”, painting the trim, with ease.
B. Our research also led to the development of an innovative new brush for painting tight spots. Its rubberized “handle-less” form plugs directly into your palm with lateral scoops for your thumb and opposing fingertips, providing controlled painting in all those hard-to-reach places. A stroke of genius!
Solo, Grips
Metaphase brings ergonomics to the dinner table with an ergonomically designed line of disposable dinnerware for Solo.
Solo “Grips” the new ergonomically designed line of disposable dinnerware, defines a new premium category of disposable dinnerware. Based on extensive research on the Ergonomics of Eating©, Metaphase experts combined functionality, performance & aesthetic elegance to create cups, plates and bowls that look & feel like nothing before.
A. The innovative patented ergonomic grip is designed to fit the thumb, and located in positions that are both intuitive & biomechanically perfect.
B. Shapes were designed to optimize structural integrity to eliminate the age-old problem of a plate loaded with food failing, and dumping your meal on the floor.
C. The bold embossed Solo name goes beyond traditional branding techniques by creating a bold and exciting statement that also acts as a texture that gives users a positive grip with less squeeze force.
Revlon, Slant-Tip Platinum Tweezer
Metaphase conducted extensive, in-depth research and interviews with high-end salons, beauty experts, and luxury day spas, all over New York City.
We talked with beauty experts, eyebrow experts, and consumers, asking them about what the “perfect tweezer” would feel like, and what they really wanted in a tweezer. Every detail of the design of “The Slant Tip Platinum Tweezer” was based on extensive, in-depth ergonomic research. It provides flawless fingertip control, the perfect amount of squeeze force, and the best tip size and shape. Whether tweezing fine eyebrow hairs or splinters, tweezing is achieved perfectly with the “The Slant Tip Platinum Tweezer”.
A. The anatomic shaped grips with integral rubber texture accommodate fingernails of all lengths, and provide a secure, comfortable grip for tweezing.
B. The attention to tip shape and anvil size combined with surgical precision allows users to easily and accurately tweeze individual hairs as small as 80-100 microns in diameter with minimal grip force.
Johnson & Johnson,
REACH One Ultimate Clean Toothbrush
Johnson & Johnson asked Metaphase to help them innovate by bringing ergonomics and design to a toothbrush built for performance, by bringing together high-tech materials and structures which would enhance comfort, control in the hand, and efficacy in the mouth.
A. The Ergonomic handle, thumb-grip points have been optimized to support expert recommended brushing techniques.
B. Ergonomic flexibility in grip location accommodate different hand sizes and brushing techniques.
C. Ergonomic flexibility in grip zone location accommodate different brushing orientations inside the mouth.
Microsoft, Mouse 2.0
Metaphase worked with Microsoft to design The First Ergonomic Mouse, which set the standard and changed the perception of mouse design.
Metaphase conducted intensive and extensive human performance testing on more than 100 computer users. We measured grip force, ergonomic comfort and anatomic compatibility. Metaphase worked with Microsoft designers to develop the most successful mouse in history.
A. The raised back conforms to palm and supports some weight of the upper extremity, minimizing stress.
B. The asymmetric form works equally well for both left- and right-handed users.
C. Mouse scale and form optimize thumb-fingertip opposition & simultaneous key clicks throughout a routine day of use.
Bayer, Microlet & Breeze Meter
Metaphase set new standards in 1999 with the revolutionary design of Bayer’s “Microlet” lancing device.
It allows better control and a virtually painless stick. The “Microlet”TM was a financial success for Bayer increasing revenues 258% and receiving a prestigious DESIGN of the DECADE award. This success was matched with the introduction of the new “Ascensia Breeze”TM ergonomic blood glucose meter which has increased sales of disposables more than 50% per month.
A. Fingertip control for lance depth allows users to ease the pain with precision.
B. One-touch start, large display, and ergonomic controls & grip allow diabetic hands to easily grasp, hold, and use the meter.
