Project Brief
Design a lock box that opens with your phone. Meeting the specific needs of real estate professionals, contractors, Airbnb owners, and home owners. The Lock Box must accent the curb appeal of the home while maintaining a high-tech appearance.
My Role
I was the sole Industrial Designer on this project, working with a multi-functional team to bring the product to market.
Opportunity Research
Real Estate professionals are the largest market opportunity for a connected lock box. With this in mind we spent many hours interviewing Real Estate professionals learning about the product they currently use, what they like, do not like, and observing them interact with the product. From our interviews we learned that what is most important to Professionals in Real Estate is keeping a professional appearance in front of their clients. Current Products are difficult to use and not reliable, this creates a poor first impression to their clients. We also found Real Estate Professionals want a product that looks impressive to the client. The competitive products are clunky and awkward looking. Real Estate professionals want a product to function and look as professional as they present themselves.
Concept Development
From our research we identified what the key features the lock box needed
From these requirements I began to develop concepts of the product and application
- Easy to use
- Reliable
- High security
- Back-up keypad with the ability to see in the dark
- The ability to grant and remove access to guests
- Audit of entry
- High-tech professional appearance
- Large internal capacity to hold mortise key, key cards, key ring, and car key fob
- Protect what the lock box is mounted to from damage
- Back-up entry if the battery dies
- Must fit between the front door and the storm door
From these requirements I began to develop concepts of the product and application
Concept Sketching
Concept Sketching
App Function Sketches
CAD Sketches
Consumer Validation
While developing concepts we tested our theories and prototypes with consumers. Click through the images to learn more about the tests performed.
Fitment testing between front door and storm door. Testing was conducted on wide variety of doors and door handles to ensure fitment.
Competitive durability testing
We tested the back-lit keypad with multiple consumers in three different lighting conditions, full sun, indoor, and dark to ensure visibility.
Shackle application testing. we pulled a large group of people together to test the ease of instillation and the impression of security.
Final Concept Development
After testing the concepts final refinements and details were applied the selected design.
Shackle Design to suggest the direction the shackle needs to be inserted
Top View
Battery Jump Terminal
Grips for easy opening
Ergonomic grips to lead the user to door opening
Grip refinement, bringing the black plate out at an angle to bring the eye naturally to the grip points to open the lock box
CAD Development
Packaging design
Final Design
