WePlay–Everyday
Improving the Concept-Design Process of a Playground Equipment Manufacturer
Ilkka Kettunen, Professor Industrial Design | University of Lapland
Introduction
The National Technology Agency of Finland is the funding source for the Lappset project that we have titled WePlay. Our aim is to create a new collection of playground equipment that will be launched in 2006. Along the way, we will introduce and implement a new phase into Lappset’s product- development process, which has been missing almost totally so far—the concept design phase. The project’s aim is to improve the company’s product-development processes and, therefore, increase its innovativeness and completeness.
The main result so far is that the implementation of ideas for what Keinonen et al. (2003) refer to as visioning the concept by the management and R&D arms of the company, was succeed by means of a proposed concept design phase, similar to methods used in larger companies.
 Rhys Newman |
 Philip Remedios |
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 Rick Roeder |
 Tim McKeown |
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