2012 Galleries

Galleries // 2012 Spark:Concept // Immersive Exercise Pod

Immersive Exercise Pod

Winner - Bronze

Competition: Spark:Concept
Designer: Mr. Steven Ward - Director of Industrial Design
Design Type: Commercial Fitness

IEP features: • Panoramic curved Screen display is sized and positioned for optimum viewing • Premium directional sound • Airflow and scent via non-blade fan system • Self-powered “green” functionality offsetting power consumption • Entertainment options via provider or personal device • Controls intuitively placed at hand grips with on-screen feedback. • Singular workouts, or group sessions for competitions and classes • Easy entry and exit (step-through design, assist handles, auto-lift enclosure lid) • Advanced Connectivity via network and cloud The Challenge Two of the biggest challenges for commercial gyms is first, attracting and maintaining members and second, generating on-going revenues beyond membership fees. Since the use of indoor fitness machines can be a mundane and boring experience, many existing club members and new prospects find the typical routine uninteresting. After a couple of months gym drop-out rate is high. Research indicates that many 18 - 28 year old fitness enthusiasts find the gym particularly unappealing. At the age when they are out of school sponsored sports programs, they seek more social centered fitness options and outdoor activities like cycling, running or sports league teams. Clubs have a hard time attracting this segment. In terms of ongoing revenue beyond membership fees, it is a challenge to find new value-rich products and services to appeal to existing customers. Solution Benefits The IEP offers club members an enticing avenue of distraction, challenge, incentives and fun while realizing fitness goals to improve quality of life. It offers gym managers a way to present desirable fee-based options for customers in a “captive audience” venue. This product could help the commercial clubs attract the elusive 18 - 28 year old demographic and retain current members with several hooks: • Aesthetic Disruption: Visual cues were inspired by the emotionally charged forms of transportation design. This unexpected aesthetic excites the senses, offering a visual break from the “sea” of typical machine forms, inviting the user to step closer and engage with this intriguing, pod-like ride. • Techno-connectivity Appeal: Leveraging current social trends and technology has a huge appeal factor, especially to the youth segment. This design represents a configuration of existing production technology in new combinations of use for the health and fitness business. It utilizes both provider content and users personal electronics for entertainment sources (music, net browsers, games, movies and TV) • Social Interaction: The youth segment is highly connected to social trends like group sporting events, gaming and social media (Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare etc.) • Novelty & Variety: Many club members are looking for the new “next ride” to shake up their gym routine. • Pain Abatement: The notion of engaging the senses in a total body experience combined with a fun, interest-grabbing activity is a huge distraction from the discomfort of exercise. • Club Business Gains: Revenue can be generated by various means while the member is using the IEP including merchandizing incentives for reaching fitness goals, fees for group classes or group gaming and competitions etc. • Green Technology: The self powered Hybrid feature tells the user when they are helping to power the machine via resistance and RPM levels. It also provides a workout summary with the total energy savings. All materials and processes pass environmental regulations, are 90% recyclable. This equipment is built to last with long product life cycles and refurbishment incentives. The longevity of equipment is often measured in terms of decades keeping the end-of-life product units out of landfills. Size / Dimensions • Approx 75”L x 46”W x 65”H Proposed Production Methods and Materials • Injection molded ABS shrouds • Welded and bolted steel tube frames • Structural foam injection molded larger parts • Heat-formed polycarbonate sheet for transparent shroud bubble • Various metal castings (pedals and internal structure) • Powder coated metal and wet painted plastic finishes