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Soichiro Honda, too, had a strong attachment to the portable generator, and in his enthusiasm for the project, he showered Hatakeyama with requests: "Don't ignore the bottom section. You must pay equal attention to areas that are not exposed." "Give it a warm, accessible look, so that everyone will have a sense of ease." "Reduce the operating sound and minimize vibration." Some of his requests, Hatakeyama recalled, were quite specific.
"Mr. Honda came up with new ideas one after another," said Hatakeyama. "He had a keen interest in the product. We could really sense that he wanted to compete with Honda's rivals by creating something that was new and original."
When at last he saw the completed cubic design, Mr. Honda pointed out that the handle was too long. He suggested that the handle be shortened so that when the generator was carried by a man and a woman, their hands would touch one another. It was shrewd advice, taking into account the user's sensitivities, particularly those of young women. Unfortunately, though, shortening the handle was found to be impractical due to structural limitations inherent in the assurance of fuel supply.
As for the design, consideration was given to small details in order to emphasize the product's "gentle image and ease of use." For example, a round knob design was adopted for all switches. The integrated control that served as both a switch and fuel cock looked exactly like the volume knob of a radio. As for the screws, ideas were incorporated to conceal the head section as much as possible. Throughout its design the project team faithfully reflected the advice given by Mr. Honda, who wanted to minimize mechanical elements and convey an easy-to-use image. |
