Tactile and Milwaukee Tool Design Teams · CLIENT: Tactile
Milwaukee Redstick is a digital level for professional construction work. Milwaukee Redstick is one of the first mainstream box levels to use only digital feedback, without spirit vials. Measurements appear on a high-resolution circular display that can be read from the side and from the top, using numeric, color graphic and audio output. The stated accuracy reaches three one-hundredths of a degree. Angle, percent, inch per foot and millimeter per meter modes can be selected, and the sensitivity of each mode can be adjusted. Rechargeable batteries supply the power.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Milwaukee Redstick Digital Level is one of the first mainstream box level products to have only digital feedback (no ‘spirit vials’). Featuring an innovative and user-friendly interface, the Redstick digital levels are the most accurate levels on the market. The circular display is well designed, super easy to read, and can be read from the side and the top.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Milwaukee Redstick Digital Levels use Milwaukee's trademarked Pinpoint Measurement Technology. The Pinpoint high-resolution screen and advanced electronics allow users to view and interact with measurements that follow the screen movement a full 360 degrees. Users also can select how they want those measurements displayed. Once a mode is selected (Angle, Percent, in/ft, or mm/m), users then have the option to change the sensitivity of the mode selected.
- Tags
- User Interface Design, User Experience Design, Interaction Design, Milwaukee Redstick Digital Level, Tactile Inc.
- Production Technology
- The Redstick Digital Level uses Milwaukee’s latest measurement technology, offering accuracy up to three one-hundredths of a degree. Pinpoint provides precision measurement features that can be easily read-out through numeric, graphic color and audio information on a high-resolution circular display. Powered by redlithium usb batteries, Redstick Digital Level is completely rechargeable.
- Design Challenge
- It was a major leap forward in choosing an all-digital system and leaving the traditional spirit vial level behind. However, going from analog to digital came with its own challenges, such as power consumption. Ensuring the new digital levels could keep up with its analog counterpart meant exploring creative solutions to reduce power consumption through input via sensors and gestures.
- Project Duration
- The project was designed in February 2018 in Seattle, Washington, USA and was produced in February 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
- Operation Flow
- Pinpoint measurement technology offers new capabilities that further simplify dialing in measurements on the jobsite, such as a unique pin mode. This mode is an advancement on the ‘hold’ function found on other digital levels. However, instead of ‘taring’ out the level at a given measurement, this pin mode allows users to lock in exact measurements, clearly guiding them towards their measurement through advanced readouts.
- Research
- Throughout the project we built multiple prototypes at varying fidelities to test and prove out the concept. We had the opportunity to join Milwaukee on the job site for user testing with the professionals they build tools for. These opportunities allowed for greater insight into the design space and eventually validation of our design. Continued support for Milwaukee throughout development and up on to launch ensured the best quality product reaches the hands of their customers.
- Inspiration
- Today’s digital box levels are built with the same segmented display design that the very first digital levels were built with decades ago; there’s been no overwhelming change to the technology. Each pixel is burned into the phosphor-based electronic display and can’t shift or deviate, jumping from one measurement to the next. This makes it difficult for users to get a proper read of the measurement depending on the direction they’re viewing the level.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Designer, Milwaukee REDSTICK Digital Level, 2019
Image #2: Designer, Milwaukee REDSTICK Digital Level, 2019
Image #3: Manufacturer, Milwaukee REDSTICK Digital Level, 2018
Image #4: Manufacturer, Milwaukee REDSTICK Digital Level, 2018
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