Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel

Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award d'Argent in Articles de Sport Competition Category.

ArgentArticles de Sport· 2023

Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée

by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel

Client: Apnea Sub

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Articles de Sport Category

755,954

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #148412

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The Design

About Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée

Système de lest dorsal pour l'apnée, qui permet un équilibre et une flottabilité ultra précis. Ses atouts, sa capacité de charge modulable et rapide, jusqu'à 6 kg, utilisable dans toutes positions, toutes disciplines d'apnée. Il est équipé d'un système de déclenchement rapide et de boucles de réglage pour s'ajuster à différentes tailles, quel que soit le sexe, offrant un confort incroyable qui fait vite oublier le poids transporté. Son design est issu de la fusion d'animaux marins et d'équipements créés pour la vitesse pour lui donner des lignes très hydrodynamiques et offrir une glisse optimale sous l'eau. Sa polyvalence en fait un concept unique en son genre

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent, une reconnaissance énormément prestigieuse décernée à des designs haut de gamme, superbes et impressionnants. Les lauréats Argent sont des œuvres tout à fait brillantes et extrêmement créatives qui illustrent l'expertise, le talent et la perspicacité remarquables de leurs concepteurs. Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée est censé être une œuvre merveilleuse, une vitrine de savoir-faire, remarquablement professionnelle et profondément innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent est une invention très notable et admirée, qui sert l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. Hydrospine Le Ballast D'apnée est une création très enviée qui éveille les désirs, apporte des sentiments positifs et suscite émerveillement et étonnement.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: It is the only dorsal ballast of this type that can support up to six kilos, the leads distribution in the container which can be quickly and easily modulated. Its assets are, its modularity, its comfort which you forget the weight transported, its hydrodynamic look for an optimal glide. Its safety with its quick release buckle. It can be used in all freediving activities and in all positions. It is undoubtedly the most advanced system to date allowing for ultra-precise buoyancy and neutrality.
Dimensions & Packaging: Storage shell 150mm x 45mm x 370mm
Lead 105mm x 7,5mm x 40mm
Tags: Freediving, apnea, dive, diving, weight, spine, hydrodynamic, lestage, weighting, sport
Production Technology: The materials used are all waterproof, easy to source and inexpensive (elastic and polypropylene straps, plastic buckles, textiles and lead). The shell is made of thermoformed textile with a zipped side opening. The internal structure has slots to fix the leads like a spine and accordion ribs to follow all movements. The leads were designed from a single template, to limit the molds and keep a hydrodynamic structure. Thus covering 98% of user needs. The rear nozzle allows air to escape.
Design Challenge: Many factors need to be taken into account and it has not always been easy for some team members to understand them. A freediving session was necessary to measure the problem. The biggest difficulty was the development of the harness, because it was difficult to hold 6 kg on the back and at the same time not prevent the rib cage from inflating, to be safe with a quick release and to be homologated in competition, to adapt to different morphologies. This required extensive structural and material testing.
Research: Before launching, we inventoried all the solutions available on the market and surveyed a panel of a hundred freedivers.
Next, we listed all the desired requirements for the product, assigning them a degree of importance. As well as the impacts that will occur on the different use cases. We quickly agree to test each hypothesis by prototyping it summarily. It was a principle rich in lessons allowing us to see the gap between the idea and reality while showing what needs to be corrected.
Inspiration: The concept was born out of not having enough practical and comfortable weight. As we would like a different approach, we did not have an established reference. We let our imagination free by relying on other areas. For the design of the shapes, we were inspired by sea animals as well as machines created for speed. Hydrodynamics also influenced the structure. Forcing us to review the structure to keep the modular aspect, and that it can remain flexible to follow the different body movements.
Project Duration: The project started solo in August 2019 in Lille, France. Then continued with the Transalley incubator in Valenciennes, France, from September 2020 to September 2022. Then solo again, with the collaboration of Raoul Morel as product designer.
Operation Flow: The equipment is carried like a backpack. The buckle at the front allows the straps to be adjusted according to size and to instantly release the weight with one hand by simple pressure.
The envelope containing the leads has reception racks to hold the pellets in place which are sandwiched with the upper part of the cover so that they cannot move. Leads can be placed in any order for extremely precise balancing.
Patents: Patent application FR2111503 filed on October 28, 2021. Transformed into a Certificate of Utility on September 07, 2022. Title: Diving equipment for freediver, Possessor: Ludovic Lahccen
Team Members: Creative Designer and Art Director: Ludovic Lahccen
Product Designer: Raoul Morel
Technical and Mechanical Engineer: Steven Pingon
Engineer and technical design office: Charles Pionchon
Tech Designer and prototypes: Alan Philippart
Plastics processing and 3D printing: Olivier Paul
Textile prototypes: Christiane Lefebvre
Image Credits: Main image is Image #1 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #1 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #2 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #3 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #4 Raoul Morel