Bronze Art and Stationery Supplies Design · 2023
Exlicon Multi Shape Compass and Drawing Tool
by Lee Pik Shan
- A' Design Award 2023 Bronze Winner in Art and Stationery Supplies Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: Ddiin Concept Limited
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 678,630
- Verification code E2BC3EFE91 · Verify this award
About Exlicon Multi Shape Compass and Drawing Tool
The traditional compass has a sharp point that can punch a hole in the paper when drawing shapes. Exlicon doesn't have a sharp point so it won't damage paper. The tool also prevents the circle's center from slipping when used to draw. Exlicon consists of a base, long/short ruler, and water drop-shaped ruler. Magnets connect the wings and base for drawing geometries. The tool can precisely and accurately draw ellipses, circles in over 50 dimensions, and over 100 different sizes of arcs.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The traditional compass has a sharp point that can punch a hole in the paper when drawing shapes. Exlicon doesn't have a sharp point so it won't damage paper. The tool also prevents the circle's center from slipping when used to draw. Exlicon consists of a base, long/short ruler, and water drop-shaped ruler. Magnets connect the wings and base for drawing geometries. The tool can precisely and accurately draw ellipses, circles in over 50 dimensions, and over 100 different sizes of arcs. Checked design markings for inches which is highly accurate and error-free drawings. Exlicon is designed to allow users to alter the eccentricity and the dimensions of the major and minor axis of the ellipse. It is a compact tool that allows users to draw ellipses in seconds. The drawing process is simple and easy.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 160mm x Depth 100mm x Height 20mm
- Tags
- Compass, ruler, drawing tool, DIY tool, drawing template, Protractor
- Production Technology
- Exlicon is made from aerospace-grade aluminum and stainless, offering exceptional durability, strength, and lightweight characteristics. The magnetic wings are constructed with high-grade N58 neodymium magnets, providing a sturdy and secure connection to the base with effortless attachment and detachment features. The design incorporates advanced fluid dynamics principles, making it ideal for both left and right-handed users. To ensure precise alignment, we needed to calculate the eccentricity of the ellipse and carefully fit the base and wings to match. This required precise manufacturing techniques, including the use of high-precision CNC machines. Preheating was also necessary for certain applications, such as mass production where it was a challenge to maintain consistency and prevent cracking or distortion during manufacturing, especially for thinner and longer rulers. The final product is meticulously assembled and subjected to rigorous quality and performance testing to meet our standards.
- Design Challenge
- One of the biggest challenges in designing Exlicon was creating a needle-free tool to draw precise and intricate shapes while avoiding damage to the drawing surface. Another challenge was ensuring the magnetic wings were easy to attach to the base. During the development process, we encountered several obstacles, including finding the tool's suitable materials, testing the wings' magnetic strength, and ensuring that the arms could swing smoothly and seamlessly. We so had to balance the need for precision with ease of use and accessibility for many users. Internal factors such as the historical perspective of traditional drawing tools and the social perspective of the need for more eco-friendly and sustainable options also played a role in the design process. Additionally, external factors such as the availability of 3D printing technology and the need to adhere to safety and quality standards were considered. Ultimately, we overcame these challenges through extensive research, prototyping, and testing and created a tool that offered a new and improved way of drawing precise shapes.
- Project Duration
- The project started in Jan 2022 in Hong Kong and finished in Oct 2020 in Hong Kong,
- Operation Flow
- Exlicon is easy to use and versatile drawing tool. The magnetic wings can be easily attached to the base and the arms can swing to draw different shapes smoothly and seamlessly. The wings can be combined to draw ellipses and other multi-shapes. The tool provides better results compared to conventional compasses, as it doesn't have a needle that can damage the drawing surface and it can draw more complex shapes effortlessly. Overall, Exlicon offers an intuitive and efficient way to create precise and intricate designs. The tool can precisely and accurately draw ellipses, circles in over 50 dimensions, and over 100 different sizes of arcs.
- Research
- The research conducted for Exlicon was aimed at designing an innovative drawing tool that could overcome the limitations of conventional compasses, which can puncture paper with their needle. The methodology involved designing prototypes using 3D printing and CNC machining, as well as testing the magnetism and size efficiency. Participants included key opinion leaders from various fields such as artists, mandala artists, graphic designers, architects, and fashion designers. The results showed that Exlicon is a needle-free tool that can draw circles, ellipses, and other shapes with ease. The research insights revealed that this product has the potential to improve the user experience of designers and artists, while also having practical applications in industries such as architecture and engineering.
- Inspiration
- Drawing compasses are used to draw circles. However, it is not desirable that the compass needle perforates the paper. Exlicon is created for drawing circles, ellipses, pentagrams, hexagons as well as geometry with a golden ratio. Exlicon can be fixed on the drawing material by a set of reusable nano stickers. It does not contain a needle, thus leaves no marking on the paper. Ellipse template drawing tools with preset shapes and fixed eccentricity dimensions are used to draw an ellipse.
- Image Credits
- Copyright: PAu 4-086-939 (Ddiin Concept Limited)
- Patents
- Utility Patent in CN: ZL 2020 2 2329108.9
Design Patent in CN: ZL 2020 3 0621990.7
The patent in the US (Pending): #29757182
Colors of Exlicon Multi Shape Compass and Drawing Tool
Design Interview about Exlicon Multi Shape Compass and Drawing Tool
The idea and inspiration behind my design is to create a product that functions more than just a traditional compass without damaging any materials in the process of creation. The idea was to create a versatile and human-centric product that is also inclusive.
Exlicon Multi Shape Drawing Tool was designed to offer a needle-free, versatile, and compact drawing tool that could draw intricate shapes precisely without damaging paper. We focused on providing better results for designers and artists by overcoming the limitations of traditional compasses and creating an easy-to-use, durable, and sustainable tool.
Some of the future plans for the design is to improve the tool and explore potential collaborators with industries that may benefit from our product. We are also considering on expanding our market reach and developing additional designs that could complement Exlicon's capabilities
The design and conceptualization of the product took six months, while another year was spent on developing the prototype, manufacturing, and finalizing the product.
The reason for designing the Exlicon Multi Shape Drawing Tool is to create an innovative and improved drawing tool that could overcome the limitations of traditional compasses. We were inspired to create a versatile needle-free tool compared to a traditional compass.
Our plan is to produce and sell our design by ourselves. Though, we are excited about the potential of our product and it has practical applications in various industries. We will focus on creating a high-quality and durable tool that provides an improved user experience for designers and artists. We are looking for distributors over the world, so feel free to contact us.
We were inspired to create a tool to be able to overcome the limitations of a traditional compass.
We wanted to create a needle-free tool to draw precise and intricate shapes without damaging the drawing surface. We also aimed to design a compact, versatile, and user-friendly tool that could be used by a wide range of users in various industries.
We wanted to create a needle-free tool to draw precise and intricate shapes without damaging the drawing surface. We also aimed to design a compact, versatile, and user-friendly tool that could be used by a wide range of users in various industries.
I was mostly influenced by daily life activities such as the colors and shapes found in nature, the functionality of everyday objects, or the visual aesthetics of architecture and art. By observing and drawing from the world around me, I was able to create designs that are both beautiful and functional, and that resonate with their intended audience.
Our target customers are not limited to designers and artists since Exlicon has practical applications in various fields such as architecture, engineering, students and drawing beginners.
Our product is a needle-free drawing tool that can be used to draw various shapes, like circles, ellipses, and geometries with a golden ratio. It is a versatile, compact, and durable tool that offers improved user experience for designers and artists, with a unique design that sets it apart from traditional compasses and similar concepts.
The Exlicon Multi Shape Drawing Tool's magnetic wings that connect to the base were the inspiration behind its name.
The design team used 3D printing and CNC machining for prototyping, advanced fluid dynamics principles to ensure usability, and high-precision CNC machines for manufacturing to create Exlicon Multi Shape Drawing Tool. The final product was rigorously tested to ensure quality and performance standards were met.
The most unique aspect of the Exlicon Multi Shape drawing tool is its needle-free feature, which prevents damage to the drawing surface. Additionally, its precise and accurate drawing capabilities in over 50 dimensions of ellipses and over 100 different sizes of arcs, and its ability to draw various shapes, including geometries with a golden ratio, make it stand out from traditional compasses and similar concepts.
The Exlicon Multi Shape Drawing Tool was created solely by myself, without any collaboration. This approach allowed me to have complete control and autonomy over the design process, resulting in a unique and personal final product.
We were able to effortlessly create prototypes and design the product on a computer before manufacturing it, thereby enabling us to develop the ideal model and design.
Yes, Exlicon's design was influenced by data and analytical research, including testing prototypes and gathering feedback from key opinion leaders to improve user experience and practical applications. The design team had to balance precision with accessibility while considering factors such as safety and quality standards.
Designing the Exlicon Multi Shape drawing tools presented challenges such as creating a needle-free tool that avoids damage to the drawing surface and ensuring easy attachment of magnetic wings to the base. The development process involved overcoming obstacles such as finding suitable materials, testing magnetic strength, and balancing precision with ease of use, while considering historical and social perspectives, 3D printing technology, and safety and quality standards. Through extensive research, prototyping, and testing, the team created a tool that offers a new and improved way of drawing precise shapes.
We decided to join because we wanted to gain exposure and showcase our work to a wider audience.
Aside from receiving recognition, competitions allow us to receive feedback from experts and potential investors. It also allows us to gain networks with other designers and industry professionals.
Aside from receiving recognition, competitions allow us to receive feedback from experts and potential investors. It also allows us to gain networks with other designers and industry professionals.
During the design process, we acquired a better understanding of the difficulties involved in developing a needle-free drawing tool, which enabled us to enhance our prototyping and testing procedures and expand our knowledge of materials and manufacturing.
As a designer, collaboration with others is essential for creating successful designs, staying up-to-date with the latest design trends and technologies is important, and working with clients and stakeholders can be challenging but rewarding. Personal creativity and inspiration are also critical for success in design.