HP G6 Thunderbolt4 Dock
About
The HP 6G docking station offers a range of tiers, from entry-level to high-end. The entry and mid-tier models are HP's mainstream docks, providing 100W of power output, while the high-end model is designed for professionals and creatives, delivering 230W of power to the laptop. All models feature multiple ports for display and data transfer, maximizing productivity
Design Goal
The aim of this project is to reduce manufacturing complexity through strategic planning, while enhancing cable management for a cleaner desk setup and improving serviceability to support the product’s long-term sustainability.
Team
HP CMIT Notebook Design
Year
2023 - 2024
Designer
Chris Cho
Contribution
Design Lead
Concept Development
Design Research
User Experience
CMF Exploration
Design for Manufacture
New premium color metallic grey added to differentiate USB3 and Thunderbolt4
Design Trend
By the end of 2021, 51% of workers have started to work remotely and 73% of workers want to work hybrid. Shifting to hybrid work will impact an increase of demand for equipment. The global docking station market size is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2023 to 2030.
Workers want products which feel fit for their homes, not just ones transplanted from an office into the home. Therefore, our goal was to design a docking station that fits into consumer environment with an approachable form.
Sketches
Design Process
Research to mass production involves close collaboration with the product marketing and engineering teams to transform the concept into reality, with a problem-solving design that emphasizes attention to detail.
Form exploration - Surface detail
Inlet ventilation pattern exploration
Bottom cover removal icon exploration
Leveraging plan - HP G6 USB3 / Thunderbolt4 Dock 121mm x 121mm x 49.5mm
Leveraging Plan
By standardizing design and dimensions, we successfully optimized components across all three SKUs, enhancing both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
As a result, the implementation of our leverage plan led to a 30% reduction in complexity
Leveraging plan - Sharing internal PCB, fan, ports, bottom and top cover across all SKUs
Cable management - HP G6 Dock / USB C
User Experience & Sustainability
The HP G6 docking station features enhanced cable management and improved port accessibility, creating a cleaner and more organized desk setup. Additionally, its improved serviceability ensures long-lasting product performance.
Cable management (Under cover cable chamber) - HP G6 Dock
Serviceability (screwless bottom cover) - HP G5 Dock vs HP G6 Dock
Accessibility (Improved port placement) - HP G5 Dock vs HP G6 Dock
Sustainability - Increased PCR 30% from 2% compared to previous gen
