We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Szabolcs Nemeth about their original and creative Compact Fishing Systems design work. Szabolcs Nemeth is an award-winning service designer, that makes our world a better place with their original compact fishing systems works.
Szabolcs Nemeth ("SN") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Wormy Compact Fishing Systems. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
SN : I grew up on Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe. I always wanted a fishing rod that I could take with me anywhere, one that was unbreakable and universal. I have broken a lot of fishing rods in my life, so I bought as few as possible. I also hated carrying them. Wanted something straightforward and universal that I could use right away or put in my pocket if I had to go. A compact fishing rod has to meet the same challenges as any multi-tool or as a Swiss army knife: to be multifunctional, small, and durable. The goal was to design a system that has several ways of usage with the smallest possible size and minimum weight for the sake of durability.
SN : I wanted it to work equally well with both top and bottom mounted reels. Its central element is an aluminum, CNC-machined reel seat from which the trigger can be pulled down, making it suitable to receive lower-positioned reels besides upper-positioned ones. There is a threaded shaft hole at the end of the centerpiece into which we can screw in various types of handles. Different spring poles can be fitted in the socket at the other end of the reel seats' axis. The original package can be extended at any time with additional spring poles and grips.
SN : The Classic Range uses stainless steel spring rods, CNC-machined seawater-resistant 6061 T6 aluminum reel seat, and hardwood handles. The result is a truly unbreakable, portable fishing rod that is built to last for decades. The Black Range ONE will soon be launched, with cork composite handles and a carbon composite reel seat unit that is injection-molded for mass production. It is resistant to salt water, alkalis, and UV radiation. This large-scale series creates a significantly more affordable product, which further expands the range of customers and applications.
SN : The concept won the Hungarian Design Award in 2015, followed by another nine years of product development and international patenting.
SN : This concept and the system developed from it are the realization of my desire. I have loved nature and water since I was a child, and design is my other love and also my profession.
SN : I also organized the production of the original version of the product myself. The components produced in various sectors are assembled in my own company's workshop and then released to the market.
SN : What primarily motivated me to create the system was that I couldn't find a device for my market that was tiny, easy to use, and modular, so it could be used for a wide variety of fishing methods at all times of the year.
SN : Of course, every solution that has emerged in the fishing industry today has an impact on the designer who thinks in a unique design. If we look at the reels available on the market, we are talking about a lot of technologies and mechanisms. I had to thoroughly test (fish) every type and size and shape my product based on these experiences.
SN : The target customer group is far from just typical anglers, but everyone who wants an easy-to-obtain fishing experience with an ultra-compact, portable, durable, modular device.
SN : Previously, no other compact fishing rod could accommodate both bottom and top-mounted reels with flawless operation, both in casting and spinning modes. This makes it uniquely versatile. It can be used in all seasons, from a shore, boat, kayak, or SUP, on ice, and even underwater (snorkel fishing). All this is achieved with the detachable reel seat unit, which is the pillar of the system and the patent. The nearly 9-year, complex examination process of the patenting ended with the granting of the patent in every country applied for. Thus, the concept has become a true invention, protected in the world's largest markets until 2037.
SN : The word wor.my probably means a type of live bait for everyone in fishing, but it also refers to the shape of the coiled spring. At the same time, the diminutive suffix refers to the tiny nature of the device, The wo.my logo is a registered trademark in the world's largest markets. I designed the logo and the entire corporate identity myself based on my own idea. The domain of the official website could not be more striking: https://wor.my
SN : It may seem funny to many, but I drew the prototype plans by hand, and I created the first copy completely without digitalization. This specifically means that, for example, I first modeled the pistol grip in sculptor's wax, and then, when I considered its grip/ergonomics and appearance to be appropriate, I carved it out of wood with a knife based on the model. The aluminum prototype of the reel seat unit was made based on my vector drawings, but on a fully mechanical cutting machine in the workshop of an old professional friend of mine. For years(!) I went to a spring factory that worked with fully mechanical machines: when a sample spring was made based on my drawing, I took it to fish with it, to test it. I had to try out a lot of spring steel, training methods, and bending before I got to the final springs.
SN : Uniquely versatile. It can be used in all seasons, from a shore, boat, kayak, or SUP, on ice, and even underwater (snorkel fishing).
SN : Of course, after the prototype, all the design was done with the help of digital technologies. I have made 3D models of all components, and the fine tuning has already been done on these. The components of the Classic Range are made by CNC machining, which we assemble in our workshop. My new Black Range ONE series, which is made with a carbon composite reel seat, is now made using injection molding technology. The cork grips are also reproduced in large-scale production using professional molds. Stainless steel springs are made on a digital, high-performance, fully automated production line. The processes above show how many different industries had to be involved in the design and production of the product.
SN : Regardless of which product line we are talking about, product design, product development and cost-effective series production are unthinkable without the use of today’s technologies.
SN : The research began with the assumption that there was a fishing rod that could be varied to suit the widest range of methods and locations. Extensive research, conducted with the help of a patent attorney, led to the realization that there was no reel seat with a removable trigger. The design therefore focused on creating such a detachable reel seat that could accommodate spring rods with different mechanical properties at one end, and grips with different ergonomics at the other.
SN : In design and production, it is natural to be uncertain and even take the wrong path several times. But this is exactly what makes us develop. That is why it never bothered me, because this is the nature of design, and this is what makes this profession beautiful. What bothered me was the administrative and financial burden of the international patenting process, which took 9 years. In the end, the process was completely successful, but I didn't find it fun to go through it at all.
SN : After almost a decade of patenting, I received a final decision from the patent offices of several countries around the world stating that I had invented something. This encouraged me to present it in an international design competition.
SN : I really enjoy this journey because it's about a subject that's close to my heart. I could also say that I designed it for myself, but it turned out so well that I have to share it with everyone I can. I have come into contact with many industries (CNC production, pressure molding, etc.). The other miracle is that as a visual communication designer, I also take care of the corporate image and branding and build it as my own.
SN : The above did not mention how easy the system is to use: Using it is roughly the same as using conventional rods, except that the body's functioning is ensured by a stainless steel spring. We can use interchangeable springs with different mechanical properties depending on the casting weights and the method we use. The spring pole arcs at the same time serve as a line-leading ring. The small size of the device allows you to cast not only from above but also from the side or bottom. The spring, like a catapult, launches the bait.
