Projects - Pillar Product Design

Pillar worked with XOOT from product inception through development of prototypes to create their innovative XOOT Pro Arm system for tablet displays. The goal was a purpose-built solution for digital artists using large pen displays, something that actually addressed the real ergonomic shortcomings of the generic monitor arms that were already out there on the market. The result was the XOOT Pro, a heavy-duty steel arm system with electromagnetic locking, full tilt and rotation adjustability, integrated cable management, and sliding feet that let users reposition the whole display across their desk with minimal effort.

Pillar was brought in at the very beginning of the MUi leash, and we stayed with it all the way through to production. The central design challenge was developing an original magnetic locking mechanism from scratch, something that hadn't really been done before in this space. What came out of that process was a patented dual-magnet system built into a heavy-duty climbing rope leash, letting owners clip in one-handed without fumbling with a traditional clasp. Simple idea, but getting the hardware right took real engineering work to nail down.

Closeup of MUi Magnetic Leash Product In Use

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Pillar worked with PPG / Homax to redesign their aerosol nozzle system from scratch, creating something that looked and felt distinct from the rest of the existing product line. The TexPro has the new cap rotated from lock to spray, stacked flat on pallets, and used color coding to differentiate product types. It was a cleaner, more modern direction overall. On the functional side, the nozzle delivered three spray settings: coarse, medium, and fine, which brought a lot more consistency to the broader Homax aerosol line as a whole. The whole assembly came in at just four total parts with interchangeable orifice components, which kept manufacturing costs down and made the thing considerably more durable and reliable than what was out there before it. The Homax TexPro texture gun is sold in major hardware stores nationwide.

Ignik came to Pillar with a concept and a hard deadline tied to a major retail launch. Pillar took it from there, leading industrial design, CAD, and all the iterative development work needed to get the product ready for manufacturing. The FireCan was designed to give people a real campfire experience wherever a wood fire wasn't an option, folding down compact with the regulator hose tucked inside when not in use. The design worked well enough that Ignik built out two more models around it, keeping the same language consistent across the whole line.

Ignik's new product design burns propane to heat campers

Ignik FireCan safely burns propane during a burn ban

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

Components of Barbell Rescue Product Design

The 3Dio Omni binaural microphone is specifically designed to provide professional binaural audio for Virtual Reality & 360º camera applications. Binaural recording allows audio to be captured in the same way the human ear hears sound. This produces the most natural sounding audio that creates three-dimensional sound, transporting the user to the recording site. Pillar assisted 3Dio through their product development journey, reverse engineering the complex 3D ear models for both the 2 and 4-position binaural microphone systems and developing the housing with methodically laid out user controls and inputs. In response to higher demand, Pillar also helped scale up their logistical supply chain and production, located overseas and in the Portland area, and find a quality silicone casting manufacturer that could handle the intricate ear shape.

3Dio Omni Binaural Microphone Product in Use

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

Mackie CR-X Series studio monitors sit on desk in recording studio

CR-X Mackie Home Audio System Designed by Pillar Design

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

SousVcart product in use in professional kitchen

SousVCart Product Designed by Pillar Design in Seattle

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

Outdoor Products Engineered by Pillar Design in Seattle

Pillar worked with Celestron's Styrka brand to redesign the visual language of their outdoor optics lines. This included multiple lines of binoculars rifle scopes, and spotting scopes. Pillar worked to retool Styrka's offering into a more cohesive line across their S3, S6, and S9 products, retaining features and visual cues across the product line.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

The LSI Action Sports Prosthetic Knee is an entry level prosthetic for above the knee (AK) amputees with a focus on outdoor activity and action sports. The knee is designed to get people out there participating in the activities they enjoyed before their amputation. The simple bio mimicry of the product helps with natural knee bends associated with athletic activity such as skiing, snowboarding, cycling, swimming, surfing, and hiking. Awarded the 2017 Core77 Notable Consumer Product Award.

Pillar partnered with Ilich Vahimi to design and engineer the acQuaMD, the first device purpose-built to safely remove trapped water from the ear canal. The project involved deep research and competitive analysis up front, mapping the shortcomings of existing products before committing to a design direction. From there, the focus was on building something that was genuinely safe, cleanable, and simple enough for a wide range of users, from young children to adults. The core engineering challenge was developing interchangeable silicone tips, similar in concept to a doctor's otoscope, that vibrate at both low and high frequencies to dislodge water without irritating or damaging the ear. All exposed surfaces were designed for easy cleaning to prevent bacterial buildup, with enclosed electronics and no crevices where dirt or germs could collect. The final product is comfortable, clinically tested for ages 2 through 65+, and meets FDA safety requirements.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ut risus non arcu porta porttitor. Nam ac tempus diam, nec ornare justo. Pellentesque eleifend at nunc quis auctor. Curabitur pellentesque bibendum volutpat. Fusce sit amet turpis elementum erat fermentum luctus. Vestibulum at lectus pulvinar, condimentum felis ut, posuere tortor. Mauris faucibus eros vitae metus tincidunt, non ullamcorper nisl consequat. Sed sit amet libero justo. Proin eleifend erat in orci fermentum venenatis. Suspendisse rutrum maximus turpis id vulputate. Fusce sit amet massa pulvinar, placerat orci eu, malesuada quam. Nunc ut turpis at augue aliquam tristique. Donec purus eros, fringilla vel nisl id, facilisis cursus enim. Nam nec egestas libero. Fusce enim neque, egestas id porta at, lacinia vel diam.

Mackie Free Play 2 Speak Designed By Pillar in Seattle

Mackie Free Play 2 Product Designed by Pillar

Pillar worked closely with Kyle Hart at Rhino Camera Gear over several years on a number of products, and the Rhino Rig was among the most involved. It's a fully modular shoulder-mounted camera rig designed around the ergonomics of the human body, built from a suite of custom-engineered components that took considerable design and engineering work to get right. The signature element is a nine-point articulating shoulder rest that distributes the weight of the rig evenly across the shooter's body. The system is fully camera-agnostic and can be configured anywhere from a minimal base kit up to a complete cage and rail setup depending on the shoot. It launched on Kickstarter and hit its funding goal in just 11 hours, going on to become one of Rhino's most recognized products.

Photography Rig Prototyped and Ergonomically Engineered by Pillar Design in Seattle