Designing next generation excellence
With continuous improvement as a guiding principle, the Work Sharp team recognize the value of innovation collaboration. In fact, their relationship with legendary knife maker, Ken Onion, perfectly reflects how longstanding partnerships bring value to not only current projects, but Work Sharp’s product generations for years to come. Design Central is proud to have also built a connection with Work Sharp through the years, giving us a deep understanding of their brand, customer, and vision. So, when it came time to bring the second generation of the Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener to life, the Work Sharp team looked to Design Central as a trusted partner.
Client
- Work Sharp Tools
Industry
- Consumer
Capabilities
- Strategy
- Product Design
- Engineering
- Prototyping
Objective: Advance the Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener to the next generation of design and engineering delivering improved performance and functionality.
Brainstorming and ideation
When Design Central first began working with Work Sharp, we were involved in original brainstorming sessions for their powered tool sharpener line. These early collaborative sessions and the insights derived laid the groundwork for how we approach each project. Work Sharp appreciates our ability to contribute fresh ideas, insights, and strategic innovation - qualities that prove essential in achieving their goals for the Gen 2 sharpener.
User experience drives engineering innovation
We began by working with the Work Sharp team to modernize the overall design aesthetic, apply new branding elements, and incorporate customer feedback. The voice of the customer revealed users wanted more intuitive and precise control over the sharpening speed. To tackle this, our electrical and mechanical team developed a closed-loop speed control hardware solution and associated mechanical speed controls. Additionally, we created early-stage aesthetic/functional prototypes to bring these concepts to life for design and usability evaluation, as well as functional evaluation of the speed control system. These high-precision prototypes validated the critical new systems and paved the way to bring the Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener Mk.2™ to market and subsequent user accolades.
Achieving precision
Design Central also provided engineering support to increase user edge control. The updated precision angle adjustment dial offers users greater flexibility to sharpen various tools, directly addressing Work Sharp customers' feedback. Design Central worked with the Work Sharp team to develop and prototype a highly accurate edge angle setting mechanism that provides high accuracy and edge control.
The Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener Mk.2™ is a testament to the power of long-term, tactical collaboration and innovation. By working closely with Work Sharp over a long period, we helped the Work Sharp team deliver a product that embodies both cutting-edge design and practical functionality, reinforcing their brand's reputation for quality and user satisfaction.