Product Design
This project required close collaboration with the engineering team to develop a functional air grate that met strict performance requirements. Design constraints included maintaining maximum airflow through a limited surface area while creating connecting structures that preserved the grate's strength and prevented bending under use. These technical requirements significantly narrowed the range of viable design solutions.
After exploring and refining multiple concepts, I developed several approved designs that successfully balanced performance, durability, and brand integration. The final product included an NCS-branded version as well as a custom-approved design for Mister Car Wash®. Installed as part of customer-facing dryer systems, these air grates demonstrate how thoughtful product design can merge engineering requirements with brand identity.
MacNeil DryForce™ Logo + Systems
In addition to the product design, I developed the visual identity and naming architecture for the system. The project required navigating trademark and competitive market considerations, which ultimately led to positioning the product as an extension of the MacNeil brand. This approach leveraged existing brand equity while creating a scalable system that aligned with the broader NCS portfolio.
The identity was built using MacNeil's established typography and featured a tiered product structure—Flex, Max, and Ultra—to clearly communicate performance levels. This naming strategy also aligned with NCS's broader "Good, Better, Best" product framework, creating consistency across sales materials, trade show experiences, and customer-facing communications.
