An aesthetically pleasing container packed with innovative features
Conetiq took on the challenge of designing a recycling bin that addressed the unique needs of people in compact spaces and high-rise buildings.
Services Provided
- Industrial design
- User experience
- Design collaboration
- Photoreal rendering
- Prototyping
- Mold design collaboration
- Manufacturing collaboration
Problem Client Encountered
Recycling at the consumer level will be one of the most significant challenges as the world moves toward a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.
Recycling containers in the home are generally seen as unattractive, bulky, difficult to clean, and cumbersome to use. Many consumers do not want them in their homes, especially if they live in a small space or simply don’t have a convenient storage location.
Also, many consumers are looking for an alternative to using a curbside collection bin in their homes. A more attractive easier to use intermediate bin that would allow the recyclables to be transferred to a larger receptacle for collection by the municipality.
Project Explanation
When our client proposed a new container that would meet the needs of people living in more compact spaces while addressing the ergonomic and aesthetic challenges of the traditional curbside container. The Conetiq team eagerly took on the challenge.
We worked closely with our client to create a design that is easy to clean, ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing, and compact while able to hold a broad range and volume of material.
The concept of a self-stacking bin that also features a large handle is a technical challenge; features such as a handle often get in the way of the ability to stack and nest similar containers. Conetiq’s industrial designers brainstormed and collaborated with our client to create a functional and interesting solution to the problem.
The client chose a solution that nests as well as stacks with some innovative features. Creating a design that is as technically challenging as this container was overcome by our team’s unique skill sets and industry-leading tools at our disposal. From our ability to create accurate 3D CAD models that follow along the iterative process to the photorealistic 3D renderings and true-to-production prototypes, our client was able to hit the ground running with the tools to generate pre-production orders.
Results
The near-production quality prototypes and the photoreal renderings were used to create preproduction orders with one of Canada’s largest retailers.
Conetiq’s client believes that the initial excitement is just the tip of the iceberg; they believe the product is a solution to many different needs, as well municipalities could supply people living in high-rises with a more suitable solution to increase the adoption of recycling programs.