Product benefit - the human being in focus
studiokurbos designed the exoskeleton "Apogee" together with the robotics company German Bionic, which celebrated its world premiere at the CES 2023 in Las Vegas.
Exoskeletons are used in industry to support people in all manual activities. Thus, operations such as lifting, carrying, loading, unloading and walking are actively relieved by up to 30 kg. "Apogee" directly translates to "earth distance" and gets to the heart of the product's benefits.
studiokurbos has consistently geared the design to the wearer's needs in terms of comfort and operation.
The draft - functional and futuristic
With this product, the focus is clearly on people. Consequently, the handling has to be user-friendly and the operation as intuitive as possible. In the design process our specialist departments worked closely together. As a result, all functional areas are clearly demarcated by color. Although the design looks futuristic, it never appears cold and forbidding, but always functional and user centered.
The construction design – reduced to the max
Three complex challenges have been optimally solved by designers, technicians and model makers in close cooperation. The different components (back section, vest and hip section with construction straps) are seemingly invisibly connected to each other. The battery is so elegantly integrated into the form that it is hardly noticeable. The Apogee exoskeleton must be extremely stable on the one hand and at the same time as light as possible in order to optimally support the user. To this end, the lightweight construction was provided with targeted cutouts to save material and thus weight.
Visualization - Bringing Design to Life
The functionality of the exoskeleton is best understood in the context of its dynamics. To optimize the display of material and surface qualities, light was intentionally used in the visualization. The resulting CGI animation was finally shown at the CES 2023 world premiere in Las Vegas, allowing the exoskeleton to be experienced in action.
Colors, materials and surfaces - functionality meets contrast
The contrast of smooth materials on the outside and structured, breathable textiles on the inside characterize the design. The surfaces merge seamlessly and form a functional unit. Integrated lighting elements lead directly from the company logo on the outside to the respective function and visually structure the surfaces. The neutral-technical colors underline the functionality and pick up on the manufacturer's corporate design with the bright contrasting colors.
image sources: German Bionic Systems GmbH and studiokurbos GmbH
