Third-Year University industry Project with Kingfisher PLC
Duration: 15 Weeks
Duration: 15 Weeks
Brief Developed in partnership with Kingfisher, Loop responds to first-time DIYers, especially renters and new homeowners, who want to personalise, repair and improve their homes but often don't know where to start.
The problem isn't that they don't want to do DIY. It is the fear of getting it wrong. Damaging the wall, using the wrong setting, losing control of the drill, or simply not knowing what to do next.
The challenge was to design a capable cordless drill that makes starting less intimidating, giving people enough control and reassurance to learn by doing.
DescriptionA cordless drill designed to build confidence through use.
Rather than making a power tool that looks and feels like it belongs to an expert, Loop uses its form and interactions to make the first experience easier to understand.
The loop-shaped grip gives the user a stable hold, while the repositionable secondary handle supports controlled two-handed use. A thumb-operated joystick replaces the conventional trigger, and light-based feedback helps users align the drill without having to stop and read instructions.
The result is a drill that feels stable, understandable and forgiving.
Because sometimes the hardest part of DIY is just having the confidence to start.
Brand identity
The product was only part of the project. Explore the visual identity, packaging and brand system developed around Loop.
→ View brand identity
Video of Use
Colours
Features
Process
The first question was simple: what should this thing actually feel like in your hand?
I made three very different grip forms and fitted them with a motor so I could test more than just the shape. The weight, balance and size all changed how the drill felt to use.
The middle ground worked best. It kept the slimness of one form without becoming as bulky as the other. Testing also showed something more useful. Across different orientations, the thumb naturally returned to the same area on the top surface.
That became the starting point for the interface.
The thumb became the control.
Rather than adding another trigger where a power drill is expected to have one, I explored how the hand already wanted to sit on the tool. The joystick lets the thumb control direction and speed without changing grip.
The aim was to make the interaction feel like part of holding the drill, rather than another thing the user has to learn.
More testing exposed another problem.
The main grip could make the drill feel comfortable, but once people actually started using it, one hand was not always enough. A second point of contact made the drill more stable and gave users more control over where the force went.
So the secondary handle became adjustable rather than fixed. It can move around the drill to support different ways of using it.
The final round of testing focused on how the loop behaved once people actually started using it.
The loop needed to feel secure without needing a tight grip, so I added ribs to the outside of the grip to stop it twisting in the hand.
Testing quickly showed that the same approach did not work on the inside. The ribs pressed into the fingers and became uncomfortable, so they were removed from the inside of the loop.
The result was a grip that stays stable in the hand without getting in the way of it.
why