Project Overview
Arctic Spas had built a decades-long reputation for manufacturing world-class cold-climate spas, but by 2018, their hot tub lineup was showing its age. While their engineering excellence remained unmatched, the aesthetic appeal needed to evolve to attract contemporary homeowners in an increasingly competitive market.
Arctic Spas partnered with Onetwosix Design to completely refresh their product line, without sacrificing the quality they were known for- leading to significant sales increases.
Services Provided
We approach product redesign through a combination of digital modelling, user validation, ergonomic optimization, and integrated feature development.
Product redesign and aesthetic enhancement
3D scanning and advanced surface modelling
Ergonomic optimization through user testing
Prototyping and user validation
Component integration and feature redesign
Before the Partnership
Arctic Spas faced the classic challenge of an established manufacturer with superior technical capabilities but limited design expertise:
Aging aesthetics that no longer appealed to contemporary homeowners despite superior functionality
Competitive pressure from visually appealing designs with potentially inferior build quality
Internal capability gap as a manufacturing-focused company lacking specialized industrial design expertise
Complex integration of numerous existing features (controls, jets, filters, headrests) while maintaining efficiency
Manufacturing constraints requiring solutions that worked within existing production capabilities
The company needed partners who could bridge the gap between their deep understanding of curling and the specialized design expertise required to create a truly differentiated product. Most critically, they needed designs that would be production-ready from day one- no expensive manufacturing revisions or delays.
What We Did
Onetwosix Design approached the project as design partners who understood the industrial design needs, while respecting the engineering requirements:
3D scanned existing product line to understand current geometries and manufacturing limitations
Analyzed ergonomic improvement opportunities through user research
Created conceptual sketches balancing rugged sophistication with contemporary appeal
Developed advanced 3D surface models improving both aesthetics and ergonomics
Redesigned integrated components (controls, jets, filters, headrests) for visual consistency
Built scale mock-ups and full-sized foam prototypes for comprehensive user testing
Conducted iterative testing to ensure comfort improvements met expectations
Collaborative Partnership Approach
The project exemplified working as an extension of Arctic Spas' team rather than an external vendor. This collaborative approach ensured creative solutions always considered manufacturing feasibility, cost implications, and production requirements.
Proven Results
The redesigned Arctic Spas 2020 lineup successfully delivered both aesthetic modernization and measurable business results:
Significant sales increase and improved customer sentiment with the launch of the brand refresh in 2020
Enhanced competitive positioning through distinctive aesthetic that differentiated Arctic Spas from competitors
Improved ergonomics and comfort validated through user testing while maintaining manufacturing efficiency
Consistent visual lineage across the entire product line that preserved brand reputation while expanding appeal to contemporary market segments
