TWIST – balance of sun and shadow

Elevating Outdoor Living with Sustainable Wellbeing

12/2024
Relevance
As climate changes, central Europe will become hotter and sunnier. Mediterranean sun culture will spread northward, creating a greater need for shade to protect from UV rays and heat. Parasols have complicated folding mechanisms that put the emotional experience in the background. To enhance user experience, we aim for a simpler mechanism and a product design that evokes positive emotions, promoting wellbeing and security.
Research
Design Strategy
Industrial Design
CMFP
Visual Brand Language
Class A Surfacing
User Journey
Storytelling
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Challenge

Translating relaxation into smooth user experience with minimalistic design

Our primary goal was to hide the technical complexity of the product, preserving the pure feeling of summer without being blocked by technical details. Instead of concealing the mechanics, our challenge lay in celebrating them and achieving beauty through technology. TWIST is a perfect fusion of form and functionality, not just in the open or closed state but all transitional steps. Every joint and connection was thoughtfully reimagined. Our mission was to create parasols and craft an experience through sleek product design, translating the essence of relaxation and the feeling of long-lasting summer into a minimalistic form and its usability.

Twist mid-pole sunshade CMF and product design.
Twist mid-pole sunshade CMF and product design with simple and innovative mechanism.
Twist mid-pole sunshade product design with simple and innovative mechanism.
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Impact

Innovative product design for your last parasol

TWIST aims to meet the growing demand for outdoor spaces that promote physical and mental well-being. It transforms indoor and outdoor areas into harmonious living spaces. We significantly reduced the product weight by balancing aesthetics and functionality in product design. We prioritised sustainability by selecting a timeless design language, focusing on longevity over trends, and ensuring robustness and repairability. The replaceable fabric roofing and durable construction are designed to extend the product’s life cycle.

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Twist mid-pole sunshade product design with durable structure with simple mechanism.

Collaboration

Implementation

Twist innovative parasol design for perfect shade

Simple operation, smooth turns and high-quality appearance characterise the TWIST. The automatic folding design has allowed the crank to be large enough and avoids visually disrupting the overall appearance. The integrated and adjustable quick-release mechanism allows the height of the parasol to be adjusted. The long lever action provides comfortable locking and unlocking. The roof can be tilted according to the sun's height by an effortless turn (twist) and provides the perfect shade. The mast is no longer inserted into the base stand but is held in place by an internal mast holder. The product is designed so that the base is mounted on casters for quick and comfortable shifting or fixed shade placement. A flush integrated button unlocks the casters to ensure easy use.

Twist parasol product design with a relaxing user experience brought to homes.
"The true meaning of a product always transcends its function. We aim to express this strong emotional value through bespoke aesthetics and a memorable user experience, thus reflecting the uniqueness of Glatz as a premium brand."
Pablo Bernal, Principal Designer
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