Creative Concept Development

We delve into the topic area with the help of market and target group analyses, expert interviews, and touchpoint assessments. This allows us to understand users' pain points. We have identified the needs regarding interdental brushes and broken them down into three areas:

• Basic function - reaching the interdental spaces, safety, and hygiene

• Effectiveness - cleaning effect and material use

• Experience and Value

In the ideation phase, there are initially hardly any limits. With the help of a concept map, the broken-down building blocks can be reassembled and various concepts can be roughly conceived. It's not just about redesigning known solutions, but about finding new principles. Sketches support the process and can highlight the approaches of the various concepts.

A key part of concept development is the manufacturing of the product. For interdental brushes, guiding the material through tight spaces is a basic function, which presents a major challenge in manufacturing. Here, too, we analyzed existing manufacturing processes and combined them in new ways.

3D-printed mockups come into play in the concept development process, as well as in testing and optimizing the usability of our various ideas. This allows us to test the dimensions and interaction elements for further iterations.

Our team has developed seven different and new concepts for interdental brushes and is now comparing them. A cost-benefit analysis helps to find a new focus for a concept. Evaluation criteria such as interdental accessibility and sustainability are used for the analysis, and so-called cost-benefits are assigned to each concept based on these criteria. The strongest concept can be selected and refined mathematically.

The favored "Floss x Brush" approach uses the principle of a wire with a guide cord, creating a combination of dental floss and a brush. The floss guides a conical brush between the teeth from the outside and inside, offering a solution for a wide range of interdental spaces. Many users are familiar with the handling of the dental floss, and bending the wire is no longer a problem. During production, folded bristles are woven into the yarn until they form a spiral. The bristles are then fixed to the yarn by melting a thermoplastic coating and cut into the symmetrical conical shape. From start to finish – the user experience encompasses more than just flossing. Therefore, the usability and sustainability of the packaging are also a central component of the concept.