Gold Monster 1000.
Minelab
Minelab
At Katapult we value our long term client relationships above all else. The Gold Monster 1000 represents a continuation of our relationship with global leading metal detector manufacturers, Minelab.Targeted specifically at the low cost, highly ruggedised gold detection market, Gold Monster has a distinctive look, simplified UX and carefully crafted ergonomics to optimise comfort over long periods of professional use.You want to do what?Gold detection is a major market in parts of the developing world, including Africa and Asia. The work involves long, hard days in extreme conditions for teams of people. Gold Monster needed to be ‘tough as nails’ to survive crude treatment.With this in mind, Minelab asked Katapult to design a product that could be repaired in the field with whatever was on hand, even if it meant using a ‘broomstick as a shaft’. We were both surprised and excited by this challenge.The resultant handle assembly is a self-contained technology package that comes on a simple, rugged shaft set. But if the prospectors happen to break the shaft out in the desert they can retro-fit a broom handle in minutes. Job done…
We love sketching.
One of our favourite ways to develop ideas quickly is to work through format and configuration based sketching. The technique involves exploring a range of issues quickly to consider good and bad ideas, inspire our team and the client and hopefully challenge the group’s thinking.As the project progresses, the concepts increase in fidelity and presentation level and are used variously to inform the detailed design, solve specific design headaches and get the client excited about the developing solution.Deeply considered design, commercial success.Designing great products means listening and observing. We worked closely with Minelab and their industry experts to develop a product that passed not only the serious lab testing they specify, but also the harsh real world scenarios that they throw at it.State of the art technology, carefully resolved features, robust product architecture and clever manufacture are brought together in a deeply considered way. The result is a runaway commercial success for Minelab and a great UX for their customers.
Deeply considered design, commercial success.
Designing great products means listening and observing. We worked closely with Minelab and their industry experts to develop a product that passed not only the serious lab testing they specify, but also the harsh real world scenarios that they throw at it.
State of the art technology, carefully resolved features, robust product architecture and clever manufacture are brought together in a deeply considered way. The result is a runaway commercial success for Minelab and a great UX for their customers.
State of the art technology, carefully resolved features, robust product architecture and clever manufacture are brought together in a deeply considered way. The result is a runaway commercial success for Minelab and a great UX for their customers.
Test & refine
We do a lot of prototyping. It is essential to the way we work and think through product innovation. For Gold Monster we started with these crude mockups to explore weight distribution, ergonomics and component layout. These low fidelity test rigs are helpful in quickly validating ideas at scale.Later in the project we build more detailed, realistic prototypes. These operational models allow us and our clients to review fit, function and appearance issues prior to committing to full production.
Simple, but complex
Minelab prides itself on producing products that lead the industry in technology and features. For Gold Monster they not only wanted to deliver a high tech work tool, but they wanted to retain simple operation to support beginners quick transformation into power users.
Significant effort was put into designing a UI that combined ergonomically positioned hard keys with high impact screen graphics to create a cohesive UX. Gold Monster delivers Minelab’s innovative features including automated noise cancelling, ground balance and sensitivity with high accuracy in a simple and intuitive format.
Significant effort was put into designing a UI that combined ergonomically positioned hard keys with high impact screen graphics to create a cohesive UX. Gold Monster delivers Minelab’s innovative features including automated noise cancelling, ground balance and sensitivity with high accuracy in a simple and intuitive format.
