designed for Helm @ NewDealDesign / 2017
Helm takes key internet services — email, contacts, calendars — out of the cloud and stores the data in encrypted form within the device. NewDealDesign worked with Helm to design and engineer the device. For a client launching their first piece of hardware, we wanted to build an iconic presence and ensure ease of manufacturing. We wanted a device that would be uncompromising in its toughness and performance, yet feel trustworthy and human.
Heat management of the CPU was a crucial consideration in our design. To keep to device small and quiet, each concept had to incorporate a heatsink.
The home design was chosen for its ability to dissipate heat and stand out in a crowded market. The form also eliminates the tendency of people to stack objects on top of the device.
Challenging the traditional rectangle design of most servers, the split board design creates better airflow while the aluminum base acts as both an anchor and heat sink to keep things cool.