Services
Two paths, one principle: start early.
Strategic consulting or product design – choose the entry point that fits your current task.
A small share of the development budget determines the largest share of the later unit costs – long before they appear in any costing.
This is why we start early, where changes cost little and achieve much.
→ The argument in brief: short version of the keynote “Design Decides Value and Cost” (PDF)
The full keynote is also available for your management team. → Enquire
Strategy and system
Platforms · portfolios · global product systems
1. Strategic design review
Typical timeframe: 4–8 weeks
Use Case: Before significant investment or directional decisions – when clarity about product strategy, portfolio structure and competitive positioning is required.
Service: We analyse product strategy, portfolio structure and design differentiation – and identify risk, cost and complexity drivers. From this we derive concrete courses of action that are immediately ready for decision-making.
Result: A robust basis for decisions with reduced variants, clear prioritisation and greater planning reliability – equally viable for management, development and implementation.
2. Accelerating product development (NPI)
Typical timeframe: 4–12 weeks
Use Case: In cases of delays, iterative loops or lack of alignment between design, engineering and market requirements – when development processes need to be brought back on track.
Service: We integrate design, engineering and market requirements in a structured process – clarify the target state and product architecture and create the foundation for stable, reproducible development workflows.
Result: Shorter development cycles, fewer iterations and robust processes – with a direct effect on time-to-market and development costs.
3. Product and portfolio strategy
Typical timeframe: 4–12 weeks
Use Case: When building new product lines or repositioning existing portfolios – when technology, brand and cost structure need to be strategically aligned with each other.
Service: We define platform and differentiation rules and systematically align technology, brand and cost structure with each other – with the goal of reducing complexity and strengthening brand impact. Target costs for each platform and variant are set according to Design to Cost.
Result: A clear portfolio architecture with reduced variant diversity, stronger brand differentiation and a viable foundation for investment and development decisions.
Do you have a strategic product decision to make?
Form and identity
Design language · product character · brand context
4. Product design – form, aesthetics and usability
Typical timeframe: 4–16 weeks (depending on the brief and the complexity of the product)
Use Case: When a specific product is to be developed or redesigned – and design language, aesthetics, material feel and intuitive use are the primary focus. No strategic overhead – the result goes directly to senior management as a basis for decisions.
Service: We develop product ideas and translate them into fully elaborated design concepts – aesthetically compelling, functionally considered, market-oriented and designed for cost-efficient manufacturing. Design language, proportions, surfaces and operating logic are developed so that the product succeeds: in appearance, to the touch and in use. This is the core service of industrial design – a discipline of its own that complements engineering and commercial expertise.
Result: A decision-ready design proposal for senior management – with a distinctive design language, clear market orientation and a robust foundation for economic implementation.
5. Design development through to design freeze
Typical timeframe: 8–24 weeks (depending on concept depth and number of variants)
Use Case: When selected design concepts are to be developed into an approval-ready design – with full elaboration of all design parameters through to approval by the client.
Service: We elaborate the design in all design-relevant dimensions: material proposals, detailing, surfaces and colours, taking into account the package space of the components specified by the client and the intended manufacturing processes – in close alignment with engineering, finance and marketing. This includes Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) – before design freeze, while changes still cost little. The goal is a coordinated design, approved by the client, as the basis for engineering and production.
Result: An approved design at design freeze – with complete design documentation and the client's written approval for engineering and production.
6. Design support through to start of production
Timeframe: dependent on manufacturing planning, supply chain and external deadlines (trade fairs, market launch, internal milestones)
Use Case: When the approved design needs to be carried through engineering, production and the supply chain – so that its design quality is maintained through to start of production, including corrections after the first trade fair presentation and ahead of the pilot series.
Service: We support the manufacturer's engineering, production, sourcing and supply chain on all design-relevant aspects – form, surfaces, colour and brand impact. Deviations from the approved design are identified early and flagged for correction before they take effect in series production.
Result: Products that implement the approved design consistently in form, appearance and brand impact.
Do you have a product idea you want to bring to life?
