TECHNOLOGY Meets Design
Dyson unveils the revolutionary V8 Carbon Fibre. At the Southeast Asian launch in Bangkok, Mia Borromeo talks to Advanced Design Engineer Sam Twist about the technology behind the UK brand’s most powerful cord-free vacuum yet
Dyson is acclaimed for its state-of-the art vacuums. What was the impetus for yet another model not long after the last Dyson V8?
As engineers, we always try and question the way things work, and ask if they could work better. Our own technology is no exception. It’s thanks to Dyson’s continuous research and development, and the fact that we spend £7million a week in this area and employ more than 4,000 engineers and scientists worldwide, that we are able to keep making our cordfree vacuum cleaners even better.
Building on 10 years of cord-free technology and 20 years of motor expertise, the Dyson V8 Carbon Fibre cord-free vacuum cleaner provides the strongest suction power among current Dyson cord-free machines. Together, the Dyson V8 and V8 Carbon Fibre cord-free vacuum cleaners are a powerful line up of the only machines you’ll need to clean your home.
You were the lead Design Engineer for this product. Could you share something about the design process? How involved was your founder James Dyson?
James is always involved in the day to day running and now more so his son Jake. They do not set out to redesign a particular object. Their passion for inventing stems from frustration and hunger to develop something that works better. At Dyson we are developing a wealth of technologies that ultimately solve problems and make people’s lives easier.
What key features set the Dyson V8 Carbon Fibre apart from any other cord-free vacuum on the market today?
Thanks to the unique Dyson digital motor inside the machine, the Dyson V8 Carbon Fibre guarantees powerful cleaning and no loss of suction. Since 1999, Dyson has spent more than £350 million developing motors, specifically for cord-free vacuums. More than 240 engineers at Dyson work on digital motors alone. Additionally, the new Dyson V8 Carbon Fibre has an increased AW (air watt) by 30%, compared to the Dyson V8 cord-free vacuum.
Aside from their game-changing technology, Dyson products also stand out for their unique and nontraditional design features. In your view, how do you achieve the right balance between technological innovation and design?
At Dyson we obsess over each machine and all its components and only consider something beautiful when it works properly. You quickly fall out of love with something that’s easy to the eye, but doesn’t do the job. Our approach to design values function over form.
The technology inside the Dyson V8 Carbon Fibre cord-free vacuum dictates how it looks. The cyclone pack in the machine may give it a futuristic look, but its function is to accommodate cyclones which are able to separate dust and dirt.
At Dyson we ARE Developing A wealth of
technologies
that Ultimately
solve problems AND MAKE people’s LIVES EASIER
It’s no secret that Asia represents the fastest growing sector today. How does the Asian market impact Dyson’s decision on what to produce next?
Dyson sells machines in over 75 markets but the ethos is always the same. Our goal is to make things work better. Other companies are usually out to make quick money by making minor tweaks to their products. We think revolutionary technology starts with research, which requires long-term thinking; something engineers are ingrained with. It’s a simple ethos but it’s one that pushes us forward.
Asia is an exciting region and my impression is the people here like Dyson machines because they want technology that works better. The Dyson V8 cord-free vacuum for example shows constant suction performance—even when the bin is full. Conventional cord-free vacuum cleaners can be inefficient and loose suction over time—we’ve solved these problems and that’s why this technology is being embraced across Asia and all over the world.