Introduction

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 Goals

Creating a Subcompact Handheld Circular Saw

Based on the challenges (time as a luxury, chaotic routine, and cost) identified in the research phase, the design will need to solve:

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.

3D Iterations

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)