Tristan Christianson

Hi-Vis Series Pendulum Levels. Concept, Industrial Design, Project Development, Management, 2012 Planned Introduction. Pitched as a co-development project with a major hardware retailer in 2011, the High Visibility (HiVis) Level projects looked to target a growing aging range of DIY'ers and worksite needs for easier to see and read instruments. The design approach looked to find appeal in taking cues from aircraft instrumentation with big gauge-like detailing, ruggedized metal and plastics assemblies and bright, contrasting day-glo colors. A variety of versions were reviewed for high/low-end offerings using fluid and dry pendulums, and passive e-ink/LCD elements coupled with multi-axis accelerometers. Future versions looked to combine bubble level, slope gauges and other features into an expanded line of product to make for a series of very versatile multi-taskers.

After being well received in two major hardware retailer reviews, the design concept was expanded and applied to a pop-out style 3-inch level design in 12, 24, and 36-inch bar lengths, a right angle combination angle/slope calculator gauge, and larger-read 4-inch and smaller 2-inch pocket instruments using air-sealed pendulums.