In today's global market place, products are increasingly similar in their technology, quality, cost and service – brand and design are all that differentiate one from another.
Good design connects with users on profoundly emotional and functional levels to clearly position and differentiate products, releasing them from competing on price and specification.
For many companies the design of their products is the most significant manifestation of their brand in users’ day-to-day experience.
PA utilises the power of design to translate technology and service solutions into profitable products. Our multidisciplinary approach and culture facilitate fresh thinking and speed to market, ensuring that the clarity of an original vision is rapidly translated into the production item.
Although an integral part of PA’s total development process, product design is offered as a distinct service for clients with in-house resources (marketing, engineering, production, etc) who need design and/or external inspiration.
Asking the right question is only half the answer
Concept generation is the fuel of innovation. PA's imagination, cross-market insights, breadth of experience and enthusiasm allow us to explore the possibilities and challenge the assumptions. Our reputation is built not only on being able to repeatedly generate numerous innovative ideas, but on being able to identify, assess and articulate the winners.
Our concept development services include:
- 'ideation' and concept generation
- concept management
- concept visualisation
- feasibility studies
- VirtualTyping.
The delight is in the detail
Design development is about specification and speed of iteration. Our extensive use of 3D CAD and prototyping allows our designers to rapidly generate, refine and communicate complex 3D forms and details while the development process progresses. This ensures that none of the subtlety and magic is lost as the design is refined and translated into production data.
The related tools that PA uses include:
- animation
- rapid prototyping.
The shape of things to come
Product identity is a discrete service to help companies manage, develop and evolve the language of their product portfolio. It articulates brand values through form and function, balancing aesthetic, sensory and emotional impact to make each product an authentic brand experience.
Love at first sight
Appearance design/styling (the conception and definition of form, colour, texture, graphics, user interface, etc) plays a pivotal role in attracting specific customers and penetrating crowded markets. While styling per se has had a bad press, for some products it is just what is needed to generate that ‘wow’ factor, be it a struggling current development or an existing product that requires repositioning.
The perfect finish
Our Chromashape service differentiates new products and repositions/unifies existing ranges through a range of Finish strategies (the specification of colourways, surface effects, texture, graphics, icons, etc). It combines our creativity, knowledge of brands, trends and cultural context with a deep understanding of the technical constraints, to create products that look stunning and are economical to produce.
Keep the noise down
Interaction design is all about reducing noise and increasing understanding. Consumers’ frantic lives have forced them to multi-task, generating new modes of interaction between products, environments, brands, services and society. User interface design and the understanding of the context within which products are used has never been more important, whether it be a matter of life and death or pure, simple pleasure.
PA's interaction design services include:
- user interface design
- user interface and experience prototyping
- animation.
Further information
For further information on PA's industrial design capabilities, please e-mail: innovation@paconsulting.com or call +44 1763 267492
