Case Study — Product Design
2018 to 2021
I helped Dyno Nobel build Nobel Fire, a tool that lets blast engineers design, simulate, and document blast patterns digitally instead of on paper. I traveled to Perth to work directly with blast engineers, mapping their existing process and prototyping a system that keeps every site's plan compliant, repeatable, and easy to hand off across global teams in Bosnia, Australia, and the US.
$5M+
ADDITIONAL MONTHLY REVENUE
~5x
ROI FOR NOBEL FIRE MINES
18%
INTERNAL COST SAVINGS
The Problem
An Australian mining operation we worked with was losing roughly $1M an hour every time oversized material jammed the crusher and shut down production. When we traced the root cause, it wasn't the crusher at all — it was decisions made much earlier, back in the drilling and loading phase, where blast plans were still designed on paper with no way to predict how the rock would actually fragment.
That gap between planning and outcome was the real opportunity: the operation already had the data needed to simulate a blast before it happened. Nobody had built the tool to use it.
The Solution
Nobel Fire turns a mine's own operational data into a digital simulation of the blast before a single hole is drilled — mobile and web tools, built to work on and offline, that optimize fragment sizing and mining efficiency instead of just documenting a plan after the fact.
The How
I worked directly with experienced mining professionals in the US and Australia to shape the product, then designed and directed an offshore development team to build it — blast optimization for predictable fragment sizing, data-driven forecasting, mine planning, automated compliance documentation for both US and Australian regulators, and faster planning workflows so a smaller team could take on more sites. Everything had to run on desktop and tablet in extreme field conditions, not just in an office.
Understanding the problem meant getting out to the sites themselves — seeing how blast engineers actually worked with drilling and loading crews, not just how the process looked on paper.
Next, I got to work on building a robust design system founded on Material Design principles. I had just transitioned from using Sketch App to Figma and quickly got comfortable with its toolset.
From long-term planning through drilling, loading, and detonation, every stage needed to feed the next with the right data — and produce a digitally verified record at the end instead of a paper trail.
The core of the tool is the blast pattern editor — engineers lay out and adjust hole patterns visually, with timing, delays, and product loads validated as they work.
Presenting a more finished version of Nobel Fire on site in Miami, walking blasters through the timing and pattern tools directly.
Mine Expo, Las Vegas, NV
Outcome
Cutting costs across labor and production downtime, reducing material waste with a real environmental benefit, and giving adopting sites a competitive edge all drove strong uptake. It also laid the foundation for additional optimization tools built on the same platform, with multi-million-dollar savings still on the table.
What are others saying about Richard Kimball?
Jasmina Karahan
Program Manager
It was always a real pleasure working with Richard. He is an extremely talented designer, but what sets him apart are his great communication skills and understanding of business and users. As a frontend engineer I had a great experience working with Richard and I truly believe he would be a great asset to every team.
Mar 3, 2022
Anida Mumic
Senior Client Partner
Over the period of 1.5 yrs I have worked with Richard on building a unique product. I am proud to say that I have learned so much about his role and how having a brilliant designer, who is also a team player, can make a huge impact on delivery. Richard was always on top of communication between the development and product team, always seeking simple and effective solutions and working closely with everyone to overcome impediments. On top of this, he always brought a positive spirit and made our work a true joy. With his skills and attitude, any team will be lucky to have him.
Oct 19, 2021
Admir Pehratović
Solution Architect | Head of Software Engineering
Richard is a truly amazing person to work with, always with a positive attitude. He is a hardworking person who pays a lot of attention to details. He has a great sense of the product and was the bridge between PO and technical teams. Great asset for every team.
Oct 18, 2021
Anis Zuko
Software Engineer
I'm glad I had a chance to work with Richard (also known as Figma Guru), and as a frontend engineer, learn new design skills from him. He's a hard and passionate worker. He pays attention to details and is an amazing person for collaboration and always ready to hear new ideas. Great asset to every team, for sure. I highly recommend Richard for future projects.
Jun 18, 2021
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