Renowned designer will join the Boston-based home security company after 20 years at IDEO
BOSTON, April 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SimpliSafe®, maker of award-winning home security systems, today announced the hire of a new Head of Product Design, Dirk Ahlgrim. Formerly a Design Director at global design company IDEO, Ahlgrim joins SimpliSafe to oversee the company’s product and experience design and build out its design team.
IDEO and SimpliSafe first collaborated on the complete redesign of SimpliSafe’s flagship home security system, which was released in January of 2018. Ahlgrim and the IDEO team updated 15 system components, bringing a stylish, unobtrusive aesthetic to everything from the keypad, base station and cameras to the entry, motion and water sensors. The result, a comprehensively revamped third-generation system called “the all new SimpliSafe,” has been met with rave reviews from critics, who called it a "sleek and modern" upgrade (PC Mag) that "looks better than ever" (CNET).
"Quality, user experience, and design have always been front and center in our mission to make every home secure," said Chad Laurans, CEO and co-founder of SimpliSafe. “Dirk's work on the all-new SimpliSafe proved that he's right there with us. He brings real heft to our efforts to bring an increasingly intuitive and effective security experience to our customers, and to continue outperforming all of our old and new competitors."
Over his 20 years with IDEO, Ahlgrim designed products for Eli Lilly, Kobo, Target, Intel and more. As Head of Product Design at SimpliSafe, Dirk is charged with building and leading a world-class team through the conception, design and manufacture of products. His team will focus on creating new home security experiences by integrating hardware, software and services, aiming to deliver unrivaled reliability and performance for SimpliSafe's customers.
"SimpliSafe has a fundamental understanding of design, and the vital role it plays in how a product is ultimately used by its customers," said Ahlgrim. "They know that design is a security feature—the more people enjoy using their systems, the safer they will be. I feel connected to the company’s ethos, its people, and its approach to product design, and I am excited to contribute to its mission.”
Ahlgrim steps into his new role immediately, and he will be based in Boston where the company is headquartered.
About SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe fundamentally changed the alarm industry, pioneering a new way to make home the safest place on earth for everyone. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe was the first to offer homeowners professional-grade monitored home security with no long-term contracts and at radically fair prices. SimpliSafe now protects over 3 million people. The company remains committed to its founding goal: to make every home secure.
SimpliSafe and the SimpliSafe logo are the registered trademarks of SimpliSafe, Inc. in the US and other countries.
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