AccuQuilt GO! Bolt
BIG CAPABILITIES IN A SMALL PACKAGE.
Continuing our nearly two-decade relationship, AccuQuilt sought our help in expanding on the success of their GO! line of quilting die cutters. We welcome the most recent product to the family: the GO! Bolt.
As the second motorized die cutter offered by AccuQuilt, the Bolt is optimized for smaller size, low weight and a friendly pricepoint. The look is an evolution of AccuQuilt's previous products, fitting perfectly into the lineup while still feeling current.
Fahrenheit also developed an accessory, the GO! Bolt Die Catcher, which supports dies as they enter and exit the machine.
Services
Research
Product Strategy
Industrial Design
Graphic Design
Color, Material and Finish
Awards
Like other AccuQuilt die cutters, users arrange fabric on a die and feed it through the two metal rollers of the GO! Bolt. The rollers exert thousands of pounds of force, pressing the fabric into the die’s blades and leaving users with perfectly cut shapes.
For cutting out large quantities of the same shape, die cutters are far faster and more accurate than hand tools. AccuQuilt’s motorized cutters also empower users with mobility limitations, such as arthritis — a common concern among quilters, the majority of whom are women over the age of 60.
The Process
There were some big questions going into this project. How small should this cutter be? Should a surface for the dies be built in, as with the GO! Big? How much of a departure will this be from past products aesthetically?
It was up to us to explore answers to these questions and propose solutions.
Product architecture
Based on previous cutters, we had an idea of how much space the internals would occupy.
We experimented with different external features and geometries around these components. Evaluating them at full scale gave us a better understanding of the real-world impact of these features.
Concept development
Once architectures had been narrowed down to just a few, we took them further aesthetically and functionally.
The winner was the smallest possible design, which has no built-in platforms to support dies. While platforms are nice to have, the cutter can be used without them, and they take up space. Knowing not every user will want them, we decided to design them as an accessory instead.
Because this product was meant to be more entry-level than the Big, the friendly aesthetic was appealing as well.
We considered what functions to give the accessory platforms, including storage of the power cable, nesting and the ability to stand upright when not in use.
Several designs were prototyped in detail before a final decision was made.
The single-part design can be offered at a reasonable cost, and occupies minimal space when stowed.
Prototyping
This project was heavy on physical testing. Every touchpoint, mechanical solution and aesthetic feature underwent multiple rounds of mockups and prototyping.
Such models foster dialogue between designers, engineers and users, allowing us to quickly test ideas and make decisions.
The Outcome
The GO! Bolt is compact but packs a punch. At under 10 pounds, it is roughly half the weight of the GO! Big, and can be easily carried with one hand. The lack of built-in platforms means it can be stowed easily.
Despite its stature, it is wide enough to use over 90% of dies offered by AccuQuilt, and cuts up to four layers of fabric.
For the mobile quilter
Though only one consideration at the beginning of the project, portability emerged as a priority during the development process.
This small size makes it easy to move around one’s space, or pack up and take on vacation or to a sewing retreat. Many owners of the GO! Big have added the Bolt to their arsenal for just this purpose.
The optional die tray supports dies as they enter and exit the machine. They’re designed to take up minimal space when put away.
The bottom of the die catcher has a strap system for storing the power cable, a feature users have responded very positively to.
