OXO Good Grips Tools for Staples:
Redesigning the push pin… well, almost!

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Staples enlisted OXO’s help to create a new line of office tools that brings together the principles of Universal Design and the wide appeal of the Good Grips brand – synonymous with quality, comfort, and ease-of-use. As OXO’s design partner, we worked with the OXO and Staples teams to re-think these traditionally commodity-driven products into a line that would meet consumer’s high expectations for the OXO brand.

After researching people in a range of their work environments, our team developed a set of guiding principles that would drive the design of every product in the line – make these everyday work tasks easier, more comfortable, and more efficient. Of the 25 products created, the stapler has become a flagship example of the kind of thinking that went into the whole line. It uses an innovative parallel squeeze motion that allows people to use all of their fingers while applying pressure, thus making it easier to get a staple through 20 sheets of paper. A tough task with any other stapler. Also, the contoured rubber grips are sized so users with smaller hands will be comfortable. The line which includes punches, tape dispensers, rulers, and push pins is further differentiated by a signature design language communicating innovative functionality, inviting comfort, and quality through the use of materials.