Designworks brings talcum powder into the 21st century…
Dec 2011.
DRI SPORT is a blue-sky concept that showcases our unique innovation process, running from market strategy and consumer research through to design and development.
We felt that the best way to explain this process to was to put it in context - and so we took up the considerable challenge of bringing talcum powder into the 21st century, creating a disruptive proposition that would engage with a new consumer market.
For too long, talcum powder has been perceived by consumers as messy, inconvenient and sold as a low value, commodity product; gradually losing shelf presence and disappearing from bathrooms in the UK. We believe that with new positioning, packaging and proposition, talc can become a high-value product again.
After an insightful discovery phase, we developed a talc-based sports product with a difference – a highly portable, no-mess solution that takes talcum powder from being an unexciting commodity product and transforms it into something that’s more valuable to the consumer.
Interactive model making at designworks
Nov 2011.
Designworks model making team have successfully delivered three interactive models for a new exhibition designed by Easy Tiger Creative to promote sustainable building practices at The National Trust’s Morden Hall Park, Surrey.
A scaled, kinetic cross-section model of Morden Hall’s Water Mill, a hydro powered Archimedes Screw and a Solar Energy interactive all communicate Morden Hall’s means of generating power from past to present day.
We are proud to present our model making and engineering skills to the exhibition, museum and retail display sectors. The results are both educational and delightful!
BBC’s Young Apprentice - Monday 31st October, 9 pm Episode 2 of 8: Parent and Baby
Oct 2011.
Lord Sugar’s teenage entrepreneurs of the not so distant future descended once more on Designworks. This time challenged to design a product for babies and new mums. Now a tradition, the Designworks crew got stuck in on the best all nighter in Windsor to realise Lord Sugar’s young apprentice’s concepts into a prototype reality.
See us in action this Monday 31st October on BBC 1 and check back here soon for exclusive behind the scenes footage and images.
Innovative Microphone Device recognised for Design Excellence.
Jul 2011.
Dev-Audio and Designworks were recognised at the Australian International Design Awards ceremony in Melbourne last Friday night, when Dev-Audio's Microcone product was selected as one of three Design Award winners in the Business and Technology category.
Microcone is an innovative multi-directional microphone device designed specifically for group conversations, such as in meetings and teleconferences. It uses unique microphone array technology to distinguish voices based on the location of people around a table, as well as reducing background noise and reverberation.
Presented by Good Design Australia, the Australian International Design Awards is Australia's foremost design endorsement scheme, rewarding companies that differentiate their products and services through design. This year, 232 Australian and internationally-designed products were physically assessed by a panel of international design experts, with 127 making the Finals. Of the Finalists, 47 products were awarded a Design Award™ in recognition of design and innovation excellence.
"Award winners are the result of unwavering dedication to good design and commitment to a professional design process. Innovation, creativity and attention to detail are clearly at the heart of each project," Brandon Gien, Managing Director of Good Design Australia said.
Dev-Audio's managing director, Dr Iain McCowan, acknowledged the work done by Alex Wall and Warren Schroder of Designworks in Brisbane to design and manufacture the Microcone device enclosure and packaging. The Design Award recognises their achievement in exceeding the five criteria for good design (form, function, quality, safety and sustainability) and additionally, meeting the criterion for design excellence, innovation, in the expert opinion of the Design Awards judges. The Microcone citation from the judging panel read: “A great idea in an unobtrusive package. I can see this technology being applied to every boardroom across all public companies. Well done”.
THE APPRENTICE at designworks – Series 7 ‘Biscuit’
Jun 2011.
Now in our seventh year of involvement with the BBC’s flagship show....we’re back. See us this Wednesday 29th June 2011 on BBC1 & BBC1HD at 9pm (UK only), assisting the team’s latest task to make, brand and pitch a new type of upmarket biscuit.
Designer horse hoof heels – Cheltenham Festival 2011
Mar 2011.
Leading PR agency Mischief approached Designworks to create 3 pairs of horse hoof boots, commissioned by online gaming company ‘Betfair’ to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cheltenham Festival. Stiletto shoes were used (including a men’s size 11 pair !) to transform into the anthropomorphic footwear. The shoes were auctioned at the festival earlier this month with proceeds going to charity.
Bespoke Corsa headphones - Vauxhall Beat Box Championships 2011
Feb 2011.
To launch the Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championships 2011, the annual event that celebrates the UK's most talented beatboxers, Vauxhall Motors commissioned a pair of unique and fully functioning Corsa-shaped headphones.
Designworks were appointed by Mischief (the supporting PR agency for the event) to design and fabricate the Corsa shaped ear buds, assembling them to Skullcandy in-ear headphones. Pictured are the one-of-a-kind Corsa headphones.
Monopoly revolutions makes top 10 toy list 2010
Dec 2010.
Designworks have been working closely with Hasbro’s Monopoly team for many years. Due to the strength of the game and it’s global appeal the brand has been extending into many new and exciting product areas. We were challenged with bringing monopoly into the digital age, yet still retaining its core board game appeal.
The Toy Retailers Association has recently revealed its Dream Toys listing for of what it believes will be the top selling toys for Christmas 2010. Hasbro' s monopoly revolutions recently designed by designworks has made that list.
designworks helps out on bbc's the Apprentice Series 6
Oct 2010.
designworks appears again on British reality television series The Apprentice as product design specialists. Contestants called on designworks' product development and industrial design skills to help create beach products. All products and prototypes were indeed create inhouse overnight.
designworks develop Clarks retail space for China market.
Jun 2010.
designworks have developed a department store in store retail space for Clarks from concept through to final unit production drawing. The retail design was used to launch Clarks in the Chinese market.
designworks created an individual store experience with a range of units that could ultimately be placed in an infinite number of ways within a department store. The retail design integrated premium leather hides alongside the core originals imagery.
designworks meets The Gadget Show Toy Challenge
Apr 2010.
designworks & The Gadget Show teamed up to design and prototype two incredible, gadget-inspired products earlier this month (transmission date April 5th). In case you missed the show, follow this link to see how we helped presenters Jason & Ortis realize their dream concepts. Using our latest acquisition, a hand-held optical white light 3D scanner, we transformed the two presenters into Miniature Cyborg robot versions of themselves and created a truly innovative ‘go-anywhere’ video camera.
Dev-Audio Microcone wins the Telstra Innovation Challenge.
Mar 2010.
Dev-Audio Microcone has been selected as one of five companies to receive support from the inaugural Telstra External Research and Development Program. The Microcone designed by designworks' Brisbane industrial design studio is an intelligent microphone device for use in group conversations.
Blunderbuss creates a bang.
Jan 2010.
We are pleased to show a special preview of one of our latest props. A Steam Punk inspired Blunderbuss fire arm. Constructed from a combination of bespoke parts and sourced componentry, this larger than life prop will make its debut in an upcoming film production currently being filmed on location in West London.
Flatt ride for NSPCC + Rugby Tots.
Dec 2009.
Chris Flatt, our Manufacturing Director, is cycling to Paris in May with 30 other amateur riders, on behalf of Rugbytots in aid of the NSPCC. Chris will be cycling a distance of over 300km from Central London to the Eiffel Tower! designworks are sponsoring Chris, you can follow his progress on the designworks blog and www.justgiving.com/CFlatt .
designworks produces bespoke trophies for Freedom to Create Prize.
Dec 2009.
designworks has produced three bespoke trophies for the annual Freedom to Create Prize, recently held at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. The Award seeks to promote that “the Freedom to Create is a fundamental requirement of any thriving, prosperous society. Societies must be free from violence, oppression, disease, censorship and disenfranchisement in order for creative vitality to be stimulated and allowed to flourish. It is this creativity that drives prosperity and social change.”
designworks replicated the "Freedom to Create" identity in etched steel, which was then lifted to reveal the logo’s colour and reflect the light that fell on it. The bespoke trophy was fabricated with acrylic components that allowed ambient light to filter through and illuminate the identity.
For more information please see www.freedomtocreateprize.com
designworks exhibits at Time Compression Technology - TCT Live 2009
Oct 2009.
Ever wondered exactly how Designworks achieve those award winning consumer product prototypes, or incredible model Jet Fighters and those amazingly detailed, ‘don’t I recognise you?’ action figures? Or how intelligent design can be used to develop precision ophthalmic equipment? Or do you simply yearn to be blown away by a refreshing, cost effective, 1st class solution to fulfil your product design brief?
Whatever your agenda, make sure you’ve got a date with us, on stand H13 at TCT Live 2009 in the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 20th – 21st October 2009. We would be delighted to have a chat with you over a coffee or beer (depending on the time of day you plan to visit!) and discuss your ideas for current or future projects. You can even get your head 3D scanned & a lucky recipient will be immortalised in glorious 3D.....NO really! PS. It doesn’t hurt!.
So come along to find out more about the Designworks service; product development, prototyping and digital magic. We use state-of-the-art technologies; 3D scanning, CAD, digital sculpting, 3D printing all in-house and presided over by our ‘crème de la crème’ team of designers, model makers, engineers and sculptors. A visit to the Designworks stand may not shorten your commute to work or win England the world cup finals next year, but it will certainly change your life.
We look forward to seeing you at the TCT Live 2009.
Brisbane’s Designworks Wins 2009 Australian International Design Award
June 2009.
The Triasx iHA Companion has claimed an Australian International Design Award in the Business & Technology category at the Gala Event held in Melbourne on Friday 29 May.
Judges were impressed with the high level of design show in a product category where it is often neglected. "Excellent application of industrial design to a professional tool. This demonstrates a giant leap from existing conventional testing devices."
The product was also part of the 2009 Powerhouse Museum Selection and will be on exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney from August 2009.
Earth Hour 2009: The Giant Switch Off
Mar 2009.
designworks has produced several giant switches for the WWF to help raise awareness of Earth Hour 2009 the global environmental event.
Earth Hour 2009 aims to reach more than one billion people on 1000 cities around the world, inviting people to switch off their lights for an hour.
The Earth Hour Giant switches were produced by the designworks uk model shop team.
Gunnebo Secure Pod safe wins red dot award 2009.
Mar 2009.
The innovative rotational moulded Secure Pod safe has won a red dot award: product design 2009 in the office equipment category.
The exterior case of this safe made of rotationally moulded polyethylene is a striking design feature. In combination with the latest barrier materials and a reinforced, over-moulded mesh construction, product advantages like cost savings, weight reduction, and sufficient safety become apparent. Softly rounded edges at the outside, convenient internal illumination, and shelves of translucent plastics facilitate handling. The safe is offered in a wide range of colours.
designworks helps out on bbc's Comic Relief Does the Apprentice
Mar 2009.
designworks appears again on British reality television series Comic Relief Does the Apprentice helping out celebrities as toy design specialists. designworks helped celebrities design, develop, prototype and sculpt toy designs. Designworks worked with various celebrities on the show and worked non stop through the night to completed all the work in under 24hrs.
BBC's Comic Relief Does the Apprentice was a charity event raising money for various projects both in Britain and abroad.
designworks dresses up for Red Nose Day 2009
Mar 2009.
designworks got into the spirit of Comic Relief by dressing up on Red Nose Day 2009.
Rowergo BRace on The New Inventors.
Feb 2009.
Rowergo BRace training tool designed specifically to improve rowing posture on ergo rowing machines features on abc's The New Inventors.
Armed Forces Action Figures a Winner!
Jan 2009.
Her Majesty's Armed Forces Action Figures won the "Best action figure and accessories" award at this years UK Toy Fair. The new range developed for Character was sculpted by designworks.
Her Majesty's Armed Forces Action Figures sculpting gallery ››
R+D Facility Opens in Far East Office.
Jan 2009.
Due to increased demand designworks has opened a Hong Kong office enabling a dedicated production team to provide a well managed path to high quality manufacturing.
Rowergo + Triasx progress in Australian Design Awards.
Dec 2008.
The Rowergo Brace + Triasx iHA are up for and Australian International Design Award. The awards are currently at the Final Round Assessment with winners to be announced soon.
designworks Fights Piracy at Christmas.
Dec 2008.
The uk office celebrate christmas with a pirate party.
BB Pod set for Large-Scale Field Trials
Nov 2008.
BB Pod, an interactive electronic device for babies, is set to start extensive trials in the near future. designworks developed the device for baby interact.
DITTO set for medica launch
Nov 2008.
Monopoly Here & Now:The World Edition Released
Oct 2008.
designworks was involved in the design of the first-ever international Monopoly edition board game Monopoly Here & Now:The World Edition
Rowergo launches at national rowing conference.
Oct 2008.
ROWERGO International has showcased BRace, the essential accessory for ergometers, at the Sykes Racing 2008 Rowing Australia Coaches Conference with a fantastic response.
Buggyboot appears on bbc's dragons den
Aug 2008.
Buggyboot creators Charlotte Evans and Carolyn Jarvis appeared in episode four of the sixth series of Dragons' Den, broadcast on 11 August 2008 on BBC2 in the UK.
Australia studio moves.
Jul 2008.
The designworks brisbane studio has moved into a new building in inner city auchenflower.
New Production Office Opens in Hong Kong.
Feb 2008.
Due to increased demand designworks has opened a Hong Kong office enabling a dedicated production team to provide a well managed path to high quality manufacturing.
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