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FESTOOL Dextro
a subcompact saw for professional craftspeople
Introduction
In 2024, I was challenged to design a handheld powertool expanding on FESTOOL's specialty tool collection.
The final product: Dextro, a portable, multi-material saw that excels at quick cuts, designed with guidance from professional craftsmen and contractors.
project overview
Role Product designer (Student)
Duration 12 Weeks
Skills Brand alignment, user research, product design, CAD
Research Overview
user research
Field Interviews Local experts were observed and interviewed about their powertool usage habits in their typical work environments.
FESTOOL Enthusiast Survey Using insights from field interviews, enthusiasts on the FESTOOL forum were surveyed about their tool collection, FESTOOL brand perception, and experience with FESTOOL products.
“It’s a real handy little saw. You don’t have to carry those big saws around like the one I showed you, you can do almost just as much with this as you can with any of those other saws.” – Mac, Construction Contractor
brand and market research
Brand Research Studying the FESTOOL visual brand language, identifying FESTOOL enthusiast’s needs.
Market Research Analyzing FESTOOL's product catalog for gaps, benchmarking competitor products
Design Target: Subcompact Handheld Circular Saw
design goals
Versatility Multiple materials, easily manuverable
Quality of life improvements Address problematic areas of competitor tools, identified by target users
Niche/Opportunity Area More convenient than using a track saw for short, quick cuts, but faster than using manual saw
Concept Development
sketched iterations
3D iterations
Foam prototyping Allowed for hands on testing of ergonomic and safety features
CAD refinement DEXTRO was modeled in Fusion360 over 60 iterations.
surface study model
A physical model was made using CNC milling and 3D printing. The model was used for ergonomics validation, surface study, and a presentation visual aid.
Design Solution
core features
The final powertool is designed to be used by craftspeople for quick cuts across a variety of different materials. It features:
Variable Speed Capacitive trigger
Work Light Automatic on-off with trigger
FESTOOL Ecosystem 18V 4.0 Ah battery compatible
Multi-material Swapabble 3" blades
Blade Guard (Removable)
thank you!
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