SMART SAFETY, NOT JUST SUCTION

Allen Sports didn’t come to TOOL asking for a suction cup. They came with a challenge: reimagine how people trust suction-mounted gear racks. The stakes were high: if the mount fails, bikes fall. Our job was to make that fear obsolete.

DESIGNING TRUST INTO A PLATFORM

TOOL led the charge across industrial design, mechanical development, and UX strategy. We started by mapping the edge cases: vibration, shock, temperature swings, human error. Then we turned to the core problem: create a compact, durable, sensor-integrated module that didn’t just hold tight, but communicated. Multiple design concepts explored how users would interact with the system, from the tactile feel of the housing to the clarity of alerts on a smartphone app. The final design had to hit usability, aesthetics, and manufacturability, while housing sensitive electronics.
Parallel to hardware, our UX and visual design team tackled the mobile experience. We built user profiles, outlined task flows, and prototyped interfaces that would deliver peace of mind in a glance. From wireframes to full-color UI, TOOL delivered a visual language aligned with Allen Sports’ brand and outdoor ethos. Our design handoff included a full GUI spec and asset pack for seamless development.

READY FOR THE ROAD

Throughout the engagement, TOOL acted as both design partner and development strategist, building bridges between ID, engineering, and manufacturing. We delivered not just files and drawings, but a complete product platform: production-ready CAD, prototyping support, and DFM consultation. The result? A rugged, sensor-enabled mounting system that quietly monitors suction and loudly communicates reliability. Riders now have one less thing to worry about, and Allen Sports has a powerful new tool in their product lineup.