Project Overview
The concept centred on a simple but sensitive consumer need: helping caregivers measure baby formula accurately as part of an everyday preparation routine. Any product in this context needs to be intuitive, trustworthy, easy to clean, easy to assemble and visually aligned with the parent brand.
Denovi’s role was to rapidly realise the concept as a working prototype. This involved developing a Bluetooth-enabled scale from scratch, including the physical casing, custom electronics, PCB design, battery management, RF communication and firmware needed to integrate with a phone app.
The prototype was not just a technology demonstrator. It had to fit into the consumer process and physically interlock with the original product packaging in a way that felt seamless rather than forced.
The Technical Challenge
The challenge was to integrate precision measurement into an existing packaging-led consumer routine. The scale needed to feel like an extension of the product experience, not an additional piece of technical equipment.
This created several overlapping design constraints. The casing had to be rapidly manufactured but still robust, easy to assemble and compatible with the original packaging geometry. The electronics needed to support reliable weight measurement, Bluetooth communication, battery operation and firmware behaviour within a compact footprint.
Because the product related to baby formula preparation, user confidence was critical. The interaction had to feel clear, controlled and reassuring, with the physical design and connected experience supporting accurate measurement rather than adding complexity.
Design and Engineering Approach
Denovi developed the casing around both brand alignment and practical use. The physical form needed to interlock with the existing packaging while still containing the scale mechanism, electronics and battery system.
Rapid CAD development and manufacturing methods were used to produce a custom casing that could be assembled quickly and tested as part of the prototype workflow. The design process considered tolerances, assembly order, access to internal components and the way the prototype would sit within the wider product presentation.
The electronics work included custom PCB development, battery management and RF communication. Firmware was developed to capture scale data and support communication with a mobile application, creating a connected product experience that linked the physical measurement process to the digital interface.
The project required close integration between mechanical design, electronics and app behaviour. Each part of the system needed to support the same user journey: prepare, measure, confirm and continue with confidence.
Outcome
The project produced a working connected scale prototype that allowed the concept to be evaluated in a realistic product context. It demonstrated how a precise measurement function could be integrated into a branded consumer product system while preserving usability, packaging relationship and connected digital interaction.
For Denovi, the project is a strong example of rapid consumer product prototyping where physical design, electronics, firmware and user experience must be developed together.