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Designing a user-centred squeegee system for the Numatic 220NX.

Designing a user-centred squeegee system for the Numatic 220NX.

Designing a user-centred squeegee system for the Numatic 220NX.

Led the design of the squeegee assembly and lift mechanism for the commercial 220NX scrubber dryer, balancing usability, maintenance, manufacturing, and cost requirements.

Led the design of the squeegee assembly and lift mechanism for the commercial 220NX scrubber dryer, balancing usability, maintenance, manufacturing, and cost requirements.

Role — Product Designer

Methods — Market research, Journey mapping, Contextual enquiry, Functional testing, Usability testing

User-centred Design

Operator requirements & workflow analysis

User-centred Design

Operator requirements & workflow analysis

Design for Manufacture

Balancing usability, durability & cost

Design for Manufacture

Balancing usability, durability & cost

Functional Testing

Usability, life & functional validation

Functional Testing

Usability, life & functional validation

Commercial Delivery

Production-ready mechanical solution

Commercial Delivery

Production-ready mechanical solution

DEFINING DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Designing for real cleaning workflows.

Designing for real cleaning workflows.

Designing for real cleaning workflows.

Full time cleaning company staff

Uses the machine daily and is highly familiar with its operation. Prioritises efficiency and is responsible for routine maintenance.

Uses the machine daily and is highly familiar with its operation. Prioritises efficiency and is responsible for routine maintenance.

Contextual constraints:


Minimise physical effort – Frequent use requires low-force interactions and comfortable working postures.
Simple maintenance – Routine cleaning and servicing tasks must be quick and accessible.
Reliable operation – The machine must withstand intensive daily use with minimal disruption.

Contextual constraints:


Minimise physical effort – Frequent use requires low-force interactions and comfortable working postures.
Simple maintenance – Routine cleaning and servicing tasks must be quick and accessible.
Reliable operation – The machine must withstand intensive daily use with minimal disruption.

Contract cleaner

Contract cleaner

An experienced cleaner who works across multiple sites and uses different equipment. Requires familiar, easy-to-understand interactions and quick maintenance procedures.

An experienced cleaner who works across multiple sites and uses different equipment. Requires familiar, easy-to-understand interactions and quick maintenance procedures.

Contextual constraints:


Minimise physical effort – Frequent transportation between sites increases physical fatigue.

Recognisable interactions – Controls and mechanisms should be easy to understand without extensive training.

Fast maintenance – Cleaning and servicing tasks must be quick and straightforward.

Facilities or Maintenance team

Facilities or Maintenance team

An occasional user with limited machine experience. Requires clear operation, confidence-building feedback, and a durable design that tolerates misuse.

An occasional user with limited machine experience. Requires clear operation, confidence-building feedback, and a durable design that tolerates misuse.

Contextual constraints:


Low machine familiarity – Operating modes and machine status must be immediately understandable.

Confidence through clarity – Interactions should provide clear visual and physical feedback.

Resistant to misuse – Components must be durable enough to withstand occasional incorrect operation.

Three primary user groups were analysed to define usability requirements and inform key design decisions throughout development.

A workflow analysis was conducted to understand how operators interact with the machine during cleaning, transport, and maintenance activities.

KEY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

KEY DESIGN REQUIREMENTS:

Low-force deployment and lifting

Reduced the physical effort required to deploy and retract the squeegee during daily operation.

Clear differentiation between operating modes

Distinct interaction states helped operators confidently transition between cleaning, transport, and parked modes.

Durable components for infrequent users

Robust materials and intuitive interactions ensured reliable operation, even with limited user experience.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Translating user requirements into engineering solutions.

Translating user requirements into engineering solutions.

Translating user requirements into engineering solutions.

CORE PRODUCT FEATURES:

CORE PRODUCT FEATURES:

Durable impact-resistant construction

Polypropylene and Acetal components provide a durable, lightweight solution capable of withstanding demanding commercial environments.

TOOL-FREE MAINTENANCE

Frequently serviced components can be removed without tools, reducing maintenance time and machine downtime.

Foot-operated deployment

Reduces effort and avoids contact with dirty components during daily tasks.

POSITIVE LOCKING

Audible and tactile feedback confirms secure engagement.

FINAL SOLUTION

Delivering a production-ready mechanism.

Delivering a production-ready mechanism.

Delivering a production-ready mechanism.

USER IMPACT

Reduced physical effort through foot-operated deployment and lifting


Faster routine maintenance with tool-free access to serviceable components


Clear operating states increased confidence during daily use


Durable construction supported reliable operation in demanding commercial environments

• Reduced physical effort through foot-operated deployment and lifting


• Faster routine maintenance with tool-free access to serviceable components


• Clear operating states increased confidence during daily use


• Durable construction supported reliable operation in demanding commercial environments

PRODUCT IMPACT

Balanced usability, durability, and manufacturability within a production-ready design


Modular construction simplified assembly and component replacement


Successfully translated user requirements into a commercially manufacturable mechanism


Contributed to the development of the production 220NX scrubber dryer

• Balanced usability, durability, and manufacturability within a production-ready design


• Modular construction simplified assembly and component replacement


• Successfully translated user requirements into a commercially manufacturable mechanism


• Contributed to the development of the production 220NX scrubber dryer

BUSINESS IMPACT

Delivered a production-ready solution for a commercially launched product


Contributed to Numatic's expanding NX300 cordless platform


Helped support Numatic's focus on professional cleaning productivity, improved cleaning performance, and reduced labour costs


The 220NX is marketed internationally and is available across multiple countries, demonstrating successful commercial deployment beyond the UK




• Delivered a production-ready solution for a commercially launched product


• Contributed to Numatic's expanding NX300 cordless platform


• Helped support Numatic's focus on professional cleaning productivity, improved cleaning performance, and reduced labour costs


• The 220NX is marketed internationally and is available across multiple countries, demonstrating successful commercial deployment beyond the UK




EVALUATION

Reflecting on the Process

Reflecting on the Process

Reflecting on the Process

This project gave me first-hand experience of taking a product from concept through to commercial delivery. It reinforced the importance of understanding different users and operating contexts, and applying user-centred design principles to create meaningful solutions.


Collaborating closely with engineering teams taught me how to balance usability with manufacturing and production constraints, while ensuring the final design remained commercially viable.


Overall, it strengthened my understanding of how successful products are delivered through cross-functional collaboration and informed design decision-making.

Contact

Interested in working together?

I'm always happy to chat about research-led product design, UX opportunities, or simply exchange ideas about building better products. If my work resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.

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