Every step of the way

Our clients come to us at all stages of their product journey. From the very beginnings of an idea to a need for rapid prototyping or mechanical design. We listen and then we apply our expertise and in-depth knowledge to make their vision real.

Research

DesignEdge can work with you from the start of your product development programme. We can plan, identify milestones, key design phases and define a detailed product requirement specification. Our expertise can be used in research, competitor analysis and emerging technologies to identify development opportunities. We can access our extensive human factors and anthropometric database to optimise any ergonomics input. We know the impact of materials and production can have on the perceived value of your product in the market place and you can benefit from this knowledge.

Product requirement specification (PRS)
Detailed research and planning
Key competitor analysis to identify development opportunities
Future trend awareness, product strategy and feasibility
Ergonomics, anthropometrics and human factors
IP (Intellectual Property) assessment and development
Advise on suitable materials and manufacturing processes

Concepts

DesignEdge excels at producing fast, accurate and realistic concepts to explore a wide range of design ideas both mechanically and aesthetically. We provide design-led innovation across a wide range of industry sectors, generating design ideas using digital sketching techniques or 3D CAD models. Our powerful rendering software generates exciting, photo-realistic visuals and can easily apply a variety of materials, colours, surface finishes and graphics to create visuals to bring your ideas to life.

Innovation teamworking
Opportunity planning
Product architecture and component configuration
Concept brainstorming and ideation
Market research
Technology implementation
3D CAD modelling and high quality photo-realistic renderings
Full product animation
Mechanical and mechanism concepts
Digital concept visualisation sketches and idea generation
Evaluation, brand exploration and development
User interface experience approach and proposals

Industrial Design

With DesignEdge you can be confident that your design will not only look fantastic, but will be realistic and cost-effective every time. Our industrial design team combines rapid development techniques with an in-depth knowledge of aesthetics, human factors, materials and processes, developing production intent products from concept to full commercialisation. We will not waste your time with unrealistic concepts, taking exciting initial sketches to detailed parts ready for manufacture without sacrificing style.

Our designers and engineers use SolidWorks and years of experience to get your products rolling off the production line – on time and on budget.

Research suitable materials, processes and technologies
Concept refinement and evaluation with the client
Rapidly produced form models to allow for 3D evaluation
Accurate internal 3-D geometry assemblies
Detailed parts design and 2D critical drawings
Interference detection and component draft analysis
Technical detail for manufacture, BoM and RFQ data pack
Assembly sequence documentation
Branding development, product graphics
Labelling and production ready artwork
User interface development
Silicone rubber keypad design
Colour, material and finish (CMF) trends

Mechanical Engineering

As well as developing your product on an aesthetic level we provide an integral electro-mechanical engineering service, supporting in-house skills with complex mechanisms and test fixture design.

SolidWorks Simulation allows our product engineers to evaluate structural performance under a range of physical scenarios.

The powerful virtual testing environment enables engineers to determine thermal models, finite element analysis, product mechanical resistance, product durability and test heat transfer.

Using Simulation early in the design process allows our clients to maximize product quality and reduce costs, optimising products based on a range of physical and geometrical parameters.

Regulatory compliance, CE-marking and FDA approval support
Mechanism development, analysis and testing
Proof-of-principle, stress and tolerance studies
3D CAD, computer simulation and physical test rigs to allow constant validation
Concurrent and value engineering to reduce costs and improve performance
Design for manufacture, high volume automated or low volume manual
Design for assembly and disassembly to suit the WEEE directive

Prototyping

Deciding which type of process to use per project, needs an understanding of what the prototype is to be used for and is a great way to refine the design. We utilise the latest rapid prototyping techniques such as stereo lithography, selective laser sintering and DMLS. We can test and evaluate the design with overall space models for touch and feel purposes, through to ergonomic rigs and small batch production runs. Small batch vacuum castings of real working products can also be produced to assist with client presentations. We can also provide sheet metal working, CNC machining, thermoforming, labelling and painting finishes.

Foam models, functional prototypes or non-working visual models
Test rigs, engineering jigs and fixtures
Rapid prototypes, SLA, SLS, DMLS
CNC machining
Vacuum casting batch production using silicone tooling
Short run low cost injection moulding
Zinc or aluminium die casting and extrusions
Short run keypads and labels
Sheet metal fabrications
Spray painting and finishing
Hand assembly and finishing
Evaluation, testing and inspection

Production

We offer manufacturing support to our customers all the way through to product launch and beyond. We have a proven track record in successful award-winning product development.

Our extensive supplier and manufacturer network means we can help you source components and set-up manufacture, both in the UK or the Far East. We can also help with prototyping, low volume production, packaging and quality control to ensure your product looks and performs exactly as expected.

Vendor research, tooling and contract manufacturer selection
Contract negotiations – price negotiations
BoM, exploded view diagrams and AVL documentation
Version and change control procedures
Quality matters, manufacturing and test plan
Supporting toolmakers, analysis of 1st shot parts and problem solving
Supply chain, logistics set-up and regulatory approvals liaison

Process