As Owl Labs designed their new Meeting Owl 4+, they came to Fresco to support their CMF (color, material, finish) decision-making process. We constructed looks-like models with swappable components, enabling comprehensive comparisons of color, finish, fabrics, graphics, and more.
Our goal was to help Owl Labs compare different product components, finishes, and graphics. We took a modular approach, designing interchangeable and magnetic model parts so that Owl Labs could easily test and review their options. They could mix and match the different elements to decide which configuration they liked best.
We began by creating high-resolution 3D-printed resin parts and painting them in various shades of black. We started with standard colors and eventually achieved a custom mix that satisfied the client. Once the desired color was reached, we applied paint texture to mimic in-mold texture. Finally, we explored different levels of gloss, from matte to satin to high gloss. To accurately simulate button icons and graphics, we used Pantone-accurate ink transfers before committing to production printing methods.
Along with these models, we also created large flat paint samples to ensure accurate reproduction of color, texture, and gloss level in manufacturing.
Product CAD often has to be rethought when building a prototype, depending on materials and function. CAD with only outer surfaces lacks sufficient detail, while fully detailed CAD assemblies have too much detail for prototyping.
For this project, we simplified and consolidated production CAD to create an assembly suitable for the CMF iteration process. We merged the model into a single solid (removing all internal components) and re-split the model based on how we planned to 3D print, CNC machine, assemble, paint, and create removable elements.
