Blue Monkey Template Level

An innovative template for easier mark-up of power outlets and light switches.

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A user focused design solution that improves accuracy and saves time

The Blue Monkey Template Level is a must-have tool when marking out openings for power points and light switches. This clever template is easy to use and includes a built-in levelling indicator. Manual marking and levelling can be repetitive and time consuming and may lead to loss of quality. Blue Monkey speeds up mark-out operations, improving accuracy and reducing re-work, making the job of an electrician easier and safer, and reduces the time required to fit out a building.

Blue Monkey provided a springboard for Spears Pacific to enter the professional trade tools market. This project established a high level of interest in the electrical wholesale sector, with its fresh approach helping it to secure distribution with a major channel.

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2014 Good Design Selection

2013 Premier's Design Award Finalist

Focus Areas

User Insights and Design Strategy
Industrial Design
Product Engineering
Prototyping
Testing and Evaluation
Animation and Product Visualisation
Tooling liaison

Year

2014

Client

Spears Pacific

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Design Outcomes

Ease of Use

User-friendly

Design for Manufacture

Design language

Sized to suit standard plug points and light switches, the template allows users to quickly and accurately mark walls for C-bracket cutouts. An innovative grip with overhang allows for various user grip positions

Vertical and horizontal levels integrated with the housing along with clear centre mark positioning. Re-profiled opening for clearer viewing

Designed for mass production and to minimise assembly time. Innovative injection moulded plastic design that clips together without fasteners

A distinctive visual design language has been achieved using a combination of translucent and opaque parts, bold colours and intentional yet precise form

The Team We believe good design happens by expert people working as a team.

Warwick Brown

Andrew Fanning

James Hayes

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Mark-out jigs for this application have existed in the past, and despite strong demand they haven’t been successful due to a high cost of manufacturing and poor functional design. Cobalt were engaged to bring a professional design approach to iron out these issues, resulting in a relevant and easy-to-use product, with reduced manufacturing and assembly costs.

An innovative approach was required when designing the centre grip to avoid finger position interfering with pencil path. A ‘floating’ grip was crafted without compromise to the overall size of the product, allowing for various holding positions, resolving the issue.

To align with trade aesthetics, Cobalt engineered the product into two parts clicking together for simple assembly. This discarded the need for any screws or glue and allowed for the ability to click in various international sized base plates. Injection moulding process also eliminated subsequent manufacturing operations and therefore minimised assembly time.