Cisco Industrial Design Language revamped guidelines is an effort started several years ago and has gone through a couple of versions.
The importance of the design guidelines to take into account manufacturing realities as well as brand identity is crucial for adoption.
The right choice has to be the easy choice for the engineers in order for the effort to succeed. Moreover the design elements have to translate well between lots of product categories, materials and manufacturing processes - from sheet metal to injection moulding and casting.
The right choice has to be the easy choice for the engineers in order for the effort to succeed. Moreover the design elements have to translate well between lots of product categories, materials and manufacturing processes - from sheet metal to injection moulding and casting.
An added challenge is the modularity of the hardware, where legacy components, such as power supplies can be used along with the latest drives and fan trays.
At the end, a successful IDL is a playpen full of different design solutions that can be modularly assembled into a new product without feeling forced. It also communicates the brand values and suggests ways of translating them in order to create new designs.
At the end, a successful IDL is a playpen full of different design solutions that can be modularly assembled into a new product without feeling forced. It also communicates the brand values and suggests ways of translating them in order to create new designs.
Working on hardware colors
Special attention to prehension elements
Advanced surfacing techniques combined with DFM.
Mock-up of a the IDL guide booklet (PDF)
Mock-up of a the IDL guide booklet (PDF)
Independent animation I made to showcase the flexibility and application of Cisco's IDL to flagship products.
