Yardhaus: Sprout Studios
The YARDHAUS® Pillar Pro Deck System is a stylish and modern solution for hanging string lights, designed to enhance the look of outdoor spaces while making installation effortless. The system consists of the Crown Elite anchor and Pillar Pro pole, both crafted from durable 3-piece extruded aluminum with a powder-coated finish for superior weather resistance.
The poles are securely held in place by twin injection-moulded brackets made from high-impact resin, offering outstanding UV and moisture protection. This combination of sleek design and robust materials creates a highly functional and visually striking solution that stands up to the elements. Perfect for upgrading decks, patios, or gardens, the YARDHAUS® Pillar Pro Deck System provides a reliable and elegant way to display outdoor lighting.
The Importance of Process
Yardhaus was the first project where I was asked to assume a design leadership position. I was the main contact for the client and also the one implementing process. With guidance from more senior designers and the principal of my studio, I led the client through our process which was derived from the class Double Diamond.
I consider my experience in the fast pace and constantly changing consultancy enviroment critical to my development as a designer. It taught me to rely on process even at speed. The military mantra of "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" really applies to this environment as well. The 5 stage process of; Research, Explore,Examine,Extract, and Execute allows the design team to move very quickly between concepts and find the most elegant and simple solution possible.
The results speak for themselves. Our effort and creativity was rewarded in 2024 with a Red Dot Design Award, one of the highest accolades a product designer can achieve.
Post Process: Engineering & Tooling
After I exited, the Sprout team worked with the client and their manufacturers in China to develop tooling to mass manufacture the Pillar Pro and Crown Elite products. This process is almost always accompanied by changes to geometry and materials. Sprout, having an in house grpahic design arm of the business, also developed an entire branding and packaging suite for the Yardhaus products as well. Below are images of how the final product changed from the orginal design that was pitched by myself and the team at Sprout.
