Mobile Pixels, founded by graduates from MIT and Northeastern University, is an innovator in enhancing mobile productivity. Their first product, the Duex portable notebook expansion screen, launched in 2016, was a market success. It allowed users to add a second or third screen to a single laptop, a feature highly desired by professionals in finance, design, and data fields.

However, the founders faced a significant challenge: the high cost of the first-generation Duex. Lacking expertise in electronics and production, they struggled to optimize the design for manufacturability and cost-efficiency. To scale their business, they needed a partner to engineer a superior, more affordable successor.

For the second-generation product, Duex Pro, Mobile Pixels partnered with LKK Design with clear objectives:

• Reduce Cost: Optimize mechanical and PCBA design to achieve a competitive bill of materials.

• Enhance Reliability: Solve the screen flickering issue and improve the magnetic attachment system.

• Improve User Experience: Upgrade the IPS display resolution and ensure a seamless, robust user experience.

• Ensure Manufacturability: Design for efficient mass production and scalable supply chain management.

LKK Design managed the entire project from design to manufacturing, employing a comprehensive, phase-gated process.

1. Design Research
Our team began by analyzing user feedback from the first-generation Duex. We identified key pain points: unstable screen signals, a weak magnetic attachment, and high production costs. This informed our core design strategy: a high-resolution IPS panel, a robust magnetic system, and a cost-optimized PCBA.

2. Industrial Design
The Duex Pro was designed with a minimalist and portable aesthetic. The focus was on creating a slim profile that could seamlessly integrate with any laptop model without compromising on durability or visual appeal.

3. Mechanical Structure Design
The initial magnetic adhesion was insufficient. Our engineers conducted over 200 reliability tests to identify the perfect magnetic material and bonding method, ensuring the screen stays securely attached to the back of any laptop. We also optimized the hinge mechanism and heat dissipation for long-term reliability.

4. Prototyping and Testing
Multiple functional prototypes were built and put through rigorous tests. The screen flickering issue, rooted in the original PCBA design, was a critical focus. Our electronics team redesigned the circuit board from the ground up. After a month of intensive testing and validation, the issue was completely resolved, ensuring a stable and flicker-free display.

5. Mold Development
Following prototype validation, we advanced to the mold development phase. Our engineering team employed DFM (Design for Manufacturability) analysis to optimize tooling design and part geometry. This comprehensive approach ensured dimensional accuracy, streamlined production, and maintained consistent quality while minimizing manufacturing costs.

6. Mass Production
LKK Design managed the entire supply chain for mass production, including component sourcing, production line setup, quality control, and global logistics. Our end-to-end project management ensured the Duex Pro was delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

The collaboration between Mobile Pixels and LKK Design yielded exceptional results, transforming the Duex Pro into a market-leading product.

• Successful Market Launch: The redesigned Duex Pro launched on a popular US crowdfunding platform, where it achieved tremendous success, vastly exceeding its funding goals and validating the product-market fit.

• Unprecedented Sales Performance: Following its successful crowdfunding campaign, the Duex Pro became the sales champion in its category, solidifying Mobile Pixels' position as a leader in portable computing solutions.

• Significant Cost Reduction: Through mechanical and electronic design optimization, we significantly reduced the product's cost, making the Duex Pro more affordable and accessible to a broader audience.

• Enhanced Product Reliability: The screen flickering issue was completely eliminated, and the reinforced magnetic attachment system provided a flawless and reliable user experience.

• Efficient Time-to-Market: Our integrated design and manufacturing management streamlined the process, accelerating the product's journey from the design stage to global customers.