Design always intrigues, but rarely does it prove to be a lifesaver as in the case of the HomeHero fire extinguisher. Its sexiness is meant to keep you from burying it in a closet like that traditional old red clunker, instead encouraging you to give it pride of place on a kitchen countertop or mounted on a wall (it works on liquid and electrical flare-ups). More important than reducing the eyesore quotient, however, the HomeHero’s design serves a functional purpose: The grip is more ergonomic, and the controls have been placed so the extinguisher can be operated with one hand. [$25; homehero.net]
Interview with Peter Arnell, founder of the Arnell Group and designer of the HomeHero:
What made you decide to redesign the fire extinguisher, of all things?
I took a 100-year-old category without change and redressed the product for the contemporary lifestyle. In my early investigation I studied how Steve Jobs approached the iPod. If you look at it carefully you realize that it was a masterful job of designing and packaging an exterior to house existing technologies. Design matters; design is good business; design differentiates. Good design wins every time.
Why make an extinguisher one-handed?
A few reasons. In an emergency you need another hand free to dial 911. We also designed it so that the HomeHero is balanced. People are unfamiliar holding the nozzle of a tube; it makes the elbow go up, and it’s uncomfortable. So we made it more like a pistol for more precise squirting.
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December 22nd, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hello! Help to find co-ordinates of the manufacturer of fire extinguisher HomeHero please. I live in Russia and at us they are not on sale. Thankful in advance.
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