Best 50+ Product Design Companies & New Prototype Development Services Firms in the US

Every invention, innovative solution to a problem, or improvement over an existing product starts as an idea. Once the idea is fully formed and conceptualized, then the real hard work begins. And believe it or not, in this day and age, a big portion of the hard work is to decide which product design company to partner with.

There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of them out there, offering various specializations such as CAD visualization, prototyping, market research, and more. This is one of those situations where having more options doesn’t make things easier. In most cases, the advisable thing to do is to partner with a turnkey product development company. Take, for example, Cad Crowd; the California-based agency offers a comprehensive range of product design services and is backed by a network of professional engineers and designers from all over the world.

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Design companies you might want to know about

One of the main reasons to choose a turkey product development company is the full-spectrum capability to transform a product into reality. If a company has what it takes to handle the entirety of the project workflow, naturally, it can also specialize in a particular task within the scope of the development, including prototyping. That being said, there is nothing wrong with taking a closer look at the available options. Some of those are listed below.

RELATED: Why electronics product prototyping is important for successful product development at PCB design companies

Cad Crowd

Starting with the obvious choice, Cad Crowd is a design agency/freelancing platform based in California, United States. While it essentially offers a turnkey product development service–from concept and idea generation to prototyping and mass production–the agency also provides design consultancy at any stage of the development workflow. For example, if the client already has a working idea about how the new product will work, Cad Crowd can help create the CAD documentation and photorealistic visualization.

In the event that the client only needs prototyping design engineering services or design validation, the agency is happy to deliver the relevant assistance. As a platform, Cad Crowd basically functions as a project manager; the actual tasks will be handled by designers and engineers best qualified for the jobs. It has a network of hundreds of mechanical engineers, industrial designers, electrical/electronic engineers, prototype makers, and manufacturing partners in the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

IDEO

A top-tier innovation and design company, IDEO is known for its collaboration-first approach to product development. The company serves a broad range of industries, from consumer goods to education and healthcare. One of their most celebrated works is the wearable breast pump, developed in collaboration with Willow.

The finished product turned out to be the first cordless, bottle-free, all-in-one device of its kind that fits inside any typical bra. It’s a discreet, mobile, hands-free, innovative solution to help mothers achieve breastfeeding goals without disrupting their day-to-day activities. IDEO also played a massive role in the development of the Fotile Sink Dishwasher designed for China’s market. Thanks to the design, Fotile became the top-selling brand in the segment as of 2023.

Frog Design

Frog Design’s extensive experience in product prototyping and strong track record in producing accurate market research have brought it to prominence in today’s global design consulting industry. Among the company’s most notable achievements in the consumer product firm category is Lumen’s personal CO2 monitor, which enables users to determine their CO2 concentration simply by breathing through the small handheld device. Frog Design’s collaboration with Heatworks also produced at least two smart products: the MODEL 3 water heater and the Duo Carafe countertop appliance. In a joint effort with Budweiser and BETC, Frog Design demonstrated its value and expertise by helping the partners develop a mechanism to cool perishables without the need for electricity.

Smart Design

One of the biggest selling points of Smart Design is its ability to understand target consumers’ behaviors and effectively utilize the data in product development. Take, for example, the OXO Rapid Brewer; the conventional method of cold brew takes at least 12 hours to prepare, but the Rapid Brewer cuts the preparation time significantly to just 5 minutes. Smart Design also worked with PepsiCo to design the Gx Pods and Bottles. In 2023, the product became the best-selling item at one of the US’s biggest sporting goods retailers. Another popular product developed by Smart Design is the EDJY adaptable nail clipper, showcasing the company’s ability to think outside the box and reimagine a design that has remained virtually unchanged since the 19th century.

RELATED: Cost breakdown or 3D rendering services: Pricing & rate highlights for 3D design services in 2025 & 2026

Design 1st

The product development services from Design 1st cover almost the entirety of the design lifecycle, including concept generation and validation, engineering, CAD modeling design services, prototyping, functionality testing, and full-scale manufacturing. One of the company’s success stories is the FoodCube, a food container system developed on behalf of Travelway Group. The core idea behind the product is to take the most common points of failure observed in existing containers and solve them all in a single product. The result is an innovative, durable food container that’s microwave and dishwasher-safe and equipped with reliable hinges. Another fine example is the pump equipment developed for Armstrong, which won the Smart Product Industry of the Year in 2021 at the Pump Industry Awards.

Protolabs

Primarily an on-demand manufacturing service and a rapid prototyping company, Protolabs specializes in low-volume production and also provides design consultancy services. One of its most notable achievements is its collaboration with HP for the development of a new line of inkjet printers and cartridges. HP turned to Protolabs to help reduce the design cycle time because the supplier was able to deliver the required parts more quickly than expected. By working closely with HP designers and engineers, Protolabs successfully reduced the design cycle time from the standard 8 weeks to just 15 days. Protolabs has also produced prototypes for Sonos and contributed a generative design framework to NASA for the Artemis mission.

LA NPDT

From testing product ideas and industrial design consultancy to engineering and prototyping, LA NDPT covers it all. This is evident in the range of physical products the company has developed so far. One of them is the BluElement, developed for AtmoSpark. Unlike a typical filtration system or pump that requires water to function, the device can generate potable water from humidity. Another creative example is the GoNutz razor, designed with unique ergonomics to ensure comfort, safety, and ease of use simultaneously. LA NDPT has also worked with ICBX, a Louisiana-based commercial refrigeration company, to develop a cooler box (and the accessories) to be used in automobiles.

Speck Design

Remember Google’s Project Tango, everyone? It’s an ambitious Google project to put sensors and cameras on a tablet so that the device can map space in real time and know its location inside that space. Speck Design actually played a role in the project, pouring its industrial design, mechanical engineering services, and electrical engineering expertise to assist with the development of the tablet. The project came to an end in 208, but that’s not the only story with Speck Design. The Clean Water Machine by Aquasana was developed in collaboration with Speck Design, and so was the Runner Smart pizza delivery bag. PopSockets, the simple yet useful mobile phone accessory that quickly became a global phenomenon, was also developed through a partnership with Speck Design.

Outdesign Co

With a comprehensive range of services, from mechanical engineering to prototyping, Outdesign Co caters to both small businesses and established brands, as you can see from the highlighted projects in the company’s portfolio. You probably didn’t know that Outdesign Co. was the company behind the packaging for Samsung’s Strap Studio; it also took part in the development of the award-winning Bioesse Technologies inhalation patch for pets, and the all-metal 3D printer (the E-Bot). Another praiseworthy achievement is the Humble Rice Cooker, designed to drain out the excess starch water from the cooking process and help mitigate health risks like diabetes and obesity. Outdesign Co has also managed to build the world’s first smart yoga mat that features real-time alignment and posture feedback.

GID Company

Based in California, United States, GID Company offers a turnkey product development service from concept generation to launch. Among its most successful projects are The Advanced Tree, a mechanical sitting support device designed for bow hunters. It features a “claw” arm and a dual-ratcheting system, providing comfort, safety, and ease of use in a single product. There’s also the Peltia smart trash bin equipped with UV lamps to kill bacteria and remove odor; the trash bin is completely touchless and fully automatic as well. GID was apparently involved in the development of ARGCO Holemaster, which is essentially an assortment of piping tools and fittings proven to increase installation efficiency by up to 50%.

KC Proto

Everything about KC Proto seems to be pretty straightforward. It offers product development services, including 3D CAD design, electrical engineering services, and small-batch prototyping. Their main target market includes startups, small businesses, and advertising agencies. Over the years, KC Proto has developed a handful of products for YOLOtek, a company specializing in fishing accessories, including the popular Power Stick, which plugs into a boat and functions as a power pass-through for GoPro cameras. KC Proto also developed the Arduino/RFID drawer lock mechanism, which won the Hacker Challenge at Lifehacker. Another project in the portfolio is the Birdie Bath golf ball cleaner, currently still available on Amazon.

NPD

Operating from London, Manchester, and Preston in the United Kingdom, NPD Design Studio specializes in “technical” product development services. This is the company behind the FLEX-ESS off-grid energy storage system, housed in an enclosure made of a stainless steel substrate and glass-reinforced plastic, which maximizes thermal regulation while optimizing energy density. NPD also played a role in the design of thinAir’s oxygen therapy device and Doori’s outdoor cooking equipment, featuring a removable lid and skewers. Furthermore, NPD contributed to the development of LUUX’s sustainable sunglasses, which are made of FSC-certified materials. It even made the Callie Smart Jewellery (equipped with GPS and silent panic alarm activation) for Safepoint.

Bluefrog Design

A product development consultant in the UK, Bluefrog Design, deserves much of the credit for the creation of AXIS-CXi, which is basically an advanced cabinet used for X-ray inspection purposes. It was developed for 3DX-Ray and launched at the Total Security Summit in 2020. AXIS-Cxi ended up receiving a European Product Design Honours Award that same year. Bluefrog Design also collaborated with EarthSense to create the Zephyr Air Quality Sensor and with Guidance Automation to produce the first prototype of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR). The BIKEhud system, which earned the title of the world’s first head-up display for motorcycles, was the brainchild of a joint effort between BIKEsystems and Bluefrog Design.

D2M

Founded in 2010, D2M first emerged when comprehensive, start-to-finish design services were scarce in the UK. Now that companies offering turnkey product development are all over the business landscape, D2M still manages to stand out from the crowd by employing not only engineers and expert designers but also commercially aware creatives. The ability to understand the market, target consumers, pricing strategies, and value proposition leads the company to a number of successful projects, such as the Magnetic fine liners (Magnetips) developed for Typica, the Grip Taper Pallet Wrap Dispenser designed on behalf of All Pack Packaging, the Anvery Trimmer and Guillotine Range designed for Anvery Dennison, and the Riut Backpack for Sarah Giblin, to name a few.

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Prototype Projects

Unfortunately, Prototype Projects does not list any products in its portfolio on the website. In fact, it doesn’t even have a portfolio page. It’s a family-owned design company operating from Royston (about 25 minutes southeast of Cambridge), specializing in product prototype development and low-volume production runs. It provides three main services including CNC machining for plastic and metal components using both 3-axis and 5-axis milling, CAD-based model making, laser cutting, and vacuum (urethane) casting. Prototype Projects offers various finishing options, including dye coloring, surface smoothing, spray painting, and lacquering. Production speed is one of the company’s noteworthy capabilities; it can handle overnight production for 3D printed parts and 3 working days for both CNC machined and 3D printed components.

TG0

The design and prototyping works of TG0 mainly focus on developing intelligent or smart physical devices and consumer electronics devices design services equipped with their sensor technology. One of the company’s most successful products is the pair of handlebars developed for the Zwift Ride Indoor Fitness Bike. The handlebars are touch-sensitive with integrated controls, allowing for easy speed adjustment, virtual route navigation, and intuitive use of Zwift’s own immersive 3D courses. They’re also waterproof and suitable for an intense workout. Another popular product designed by TG0 is the Finger Sensing and Thumbpad Development Kit based on eteeController; it’s actually the first TG0-branded product to have been mass-manufactured.

Hobs 3D

A turnkey product development service, Hobs 3D stands as one of the most reputable 3D printing and rapid prototyping companies across the United Kingdom, mainly for two projects. First, the highly detailed 3D models of the entirety of the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City Football Club, including the entrances of the training facility. Hobs 3D produced two models, each measuring two meters square, visualizing an 80-acre area of campus. The finished models are now sunk into the ground and covered with glass, allowing the visitors to walk over them. Second, the 3D model of the CastleBrook High School, located in Warrington. The model was constructed on behalf of Galliford Try, a leading construction company in the UK. It was an interactive 3D model that helped the company win a £32 million contract. Also, Hobs 3D created a full-size sarcophagus model for Assassin’s Creed Origins on behalf of Ubisoft.

Simple Design Works

Practicality has always been the main driving force behind Simple Design Work’s approach. Despite the name, however, very few of what they’ve done so far might qualify as “simple.” Take, for example, the fridge frame design commissioned by Budweiser during one of the beer brand’s campaigns for a limited-edition can; the collaboration also involved the English pop artist Sir Peter Thomas Blake. Building a frame for a can display seemed simple enough indeed, but the main challenge was that the frame had to actually work like a normal fridge, so it could keep the beer cool. Simple Design Works nailed the design, earning Budweiser a 22% sales increase in the following month. Some other products in the company’s portfolio include the Hush Air Purifier, the Knotty Ash console furniture, and the Direct Line breathalyzer toothbrush.

FLYNN

Based in Bristol and Exeter, with a meeting space in London, FLYNN is a design consultancy specializing in lifestyle and leisure products, including audio equipment, consumer medical devices design, eco-tech, and yacht and boating equipment. One of FLYNN’s most praiseworthy designs is the camera ball developed for Standard Chartered & Liverpool FC. It probably doesn’t sound like much, indeed, but it strikes differently when you realize it’s the first ever 60fps 4K version of its kind. The camera system is rugged enough to withstand 90G without exceeding the maximum weight of 445 grams for the ball. Other products in the portfolio include the Strøm C1 EV charger, the TONE 01 personal amplifier, the Topl reusable coffee cup, and the Mekamon Robot accessory packaging.

Materialise

Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and with branch offices located throughout Europe, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas, Materialise offers a comprehensive range of advanced 3D printing and custom rapid prototyping services. Over the years, Materialise has worked with various internationally recognized companies, including Philips Lighting, specifically when the company was in need of redesigning two manufacturing devices; Materialise successfully helped the company save nearly €90,000 in annual operational costs. Materialise also contributed to the development of binocular smart glasses with a 3D-printed titanium bridge for Vuzix. In a collaboration with AeroDelft, an ambitious company pioneering zero-emission aviation, Materialise was commissioned to 3D print aerospace-grade components.

Shapeways

A global 3D printing service based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Shapeways is recognized for its diverse range of additive manufacturing technologies, serving a broad spectrum of customers, from individual users to large enterprises. Shapeways doesn’t like to limit itself in terms of the business sectors it serves. The services cover various industries, including architecture, automotive, healthcare, aerospace, and semiconductors. Shapeways’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities can handle a wide range of additive manufacturing procedures, including but not limited to Multi-Jet Fusion, Selective Laser Sintering, Binder Jetting, and BASF. It can produce high-quality products and components from 90 different materials with professional-grade finishes. The company operates in accordance with the IATF 16949, as well as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

Accenture (Designaffairs)

The German-based company describes itself as a design-oriented product development agency. Designaffairs emerged in 1997 and went on to become an award-winning agency, operating in Munich, Erlangen, and Shanghai. It focused on physical product engineering services, including consumer electronics, household appliances, and laboratory equipment. Designaffairs was a relatively big company, employing more than 80 employees before it became part of Accenture in 2018. Accenture is a much bigger Fortune Global 500 company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Designaffairs’ main role in the parent company is to strengthen its smart product design division.

BUSSE Design+Engineering

Not to be confused with the similarly named “Busse Design” firm that deals mainly with UX products, BUSSE Design+Engineering specializes in the development of physical products through industrial design practices, including engineering and prototyping. It boldly claims to be the only product development company to offer the biggest combined expertise in product design, powered by 60 in-house experts. Throughout its history, BUSSE has played a crucial role in creating various power saw products for STIHL, rechargeable wireless speakers and cordless vacuum cleaners for WÜRTH, modular automatic powder coating guns for WAGNER, electric rollators for Romiro, electro-hydraulic disc brakes for Ringspann, and high-pressure cleaners for Krunzle, among others.

FROLIC studio

By emphasizing sustainability in its design approach, FROLIC studio prioritizes environmentally conscious product development projects and utilizes eco-friendly materials wherever possible. The company’s portfolio features numerous projects completed over the years, and at least three of them are worth highlighting. First, the WestJet Flight Light; it appears to be a simple battery-powered airplane toy at first glance, but it houses an interesting combination of electronics that display the projection of celestial objects while tracking live flight data. The idea is to allow children to see their parents’ flight path at any given moment. Next is the Klassewerk, a bespoke camera attachment meant to be mounted on a standard safety helmet. It’s intended to be worn by a professional to teach students how to perform a specific task. Third, the Vattenfall zero fossil crib is manufactured to industry standard without using a single gram of oil, gas, or coal at any stage of production and distribution.

Let’s Prototype

Based in Madrid, Spain, Let’s Prototype claims to be the first ISO 9001:2015-certified engineering firm that specializes in prototyping and pre-series products. In January 2025, the firm was awarded the keys to Miami-Dade by Daniella Levine Cava, the current Mayor of Miami-Dade County, for its contribution to the prototyping industry in the city. In fact, for more than two years now, the firm has been operating one of Florida’s most advanced electronic prototype manufacturing facilities. Throughout its history, it has delivered a substantial volume of prototypes, comprising more than 200 manufactured projects, including a Plastic Container Recycling Machine, a Water Remineralization Machine, a self-cleaning juicer, and a smartphone cleaning robot, among others.

3D Systems

Co-founded by Charles “Chuck” Hull, one of the inventors of the original SLA 3D printer, 3D Systems became the first company to commercialize the SLA-1 machine. The company has been in the business for more than three decades, providing additive manufacturing solutions across various industries, including aerospace, defense, healthcare, automotive, jewelry, motorsports, household products, and semiconductors. Backed by big pioneer and a long-stretch of experience, 3D systems has collaborated with plenty of major brands and studios to create such innovative products as the Steam Lounge Chair using pellet extrusion method, the radiator air intake duct for the Brumos Racing Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport, the Figure 4 eggshell molding solution for the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team, the Ankle PSI surgical guides for Exactech’s Vantage Total Ankle Solution, the wax 3D printing solution for jewelry production, and high-fidelity 3D printed speakers for Node-Audio.

Stratasys

Unlike most design agencies listed here, Stratasys isn’t actually a product development company. Instead, its main business models are selling and installing advanced 3D printing machines. That said, it does offer an on-demand additive manufacturing service for when you need to have parts, components, or even an entire product prototype made quickly. Stratasys has a massive fleet of an in-house prototyping facility, consisting of more than 200 industrial-grade 3D printers and an extensive supply of at least 50 different engineering-grade materials. The company is based in Minnesota, United States, but it has an established presence in various countries worldwide, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and China.

Formlabs

While it’s true that Formlabs doesn’t offer the typical product development services, the company provides easy access to its on-demand factory where clients can prototype and even build full physical products using additive manufacturing technologies. And it’s available regardless of the production goals, whether 1,000 or even 100,000 per month throughput.

Despite the lack of comprehensive design consultancy services, Formlabs’ team of engineers works closely with the clients to determine the best possible design (hardware) configuration for your product before printing it. Formlabs is probably best known for its collaboration with the footwear brand New Balance in the invention of Rebound Resin material. It’s a completely new footwear material developed from scratch, designed to withstand manufacturing treatment and end-user applications while maintaining optimum performance. Formlabs actually said that New Balance’s Rebound Resin has a much higher tear strength, energy return, and elongation properties than its own SLA resin–a testament to their professionalism. Formlabs has also collaborated with TaylorMade to create the SIM Fairway set of golf clubs and with Peak Design to design the Everyday Backpack.

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Weerg

Based in Venice, Italy, Weerg is much like the previously mentioned Stratasys in the sense that they offer rapid prototyping services (3D printing and CNC machine) rather than being traditional design agencies. Weerg is also similar to Formlabs because they provide assistance with production oversight to make sure that your files are optimized for the specific manufacturing method. The oversight also includes quality checks at the end of the process. For every prototyping run, Weerg offers a dedicated engineer in the facility to make sure the final product is exactly as desired. The company offers a selection of more than 50 materials and 20 finishes, all of which are produced in-house without the involvement of any third-party vendors.

UltiMaker

Still on the subject of companies that primarily focus on prototype-making rather than design consultancy services, UltiMaker provides the technology, specifically 3D printing machines, to clients worldwide. The company is headquartered in Geldermalsen, Netherlands, and it has a main branch office in New York, US. UltiMaker is most popularly known for its long-term collaboration with and support for the Royal Netherlands Navy; each ship in the fleet is equipped with the UltiMaker S7 Pro Bundle, a compact 3D printer featuring broad compatibility with a wide range of materials and automatic material management. Companies such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, LEGO, Heineken, P&G, Ben & Jerry’s, Schubert, and Trivium have also integrated UltiMaker’s 3D printing solutions into their automatic packaging processes in some of their facilities.

TriMech Design Solutions

What was once known as MAKO Design + Invent is now part of the TriMech Group and officially called the TriMech Design Solutions. Despite the changes in ownership and naming, it’s reassuring to know that the new company still offers and maintains its turnkey product development professionals. TriMech Design Solutions is based in Richmond, Virginia, with over 50 branch offices located throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Some of the most popular products in the company’s portfolio include the CarGenerator (earning $100,000 investment on Dragon’s Den), the Moonlite Smartphone Image Projector, the ViFi Wireless Speaker, the Comfycup (the first cupholder designed specifically for trains and buses), the GoFish CAM underwater camera, and the CleanintUV smartphone sterilization device, to name a few.

Tangent Design Engineering

Having been in operation since 2005, Tangent Design Engineering has delivered a diverse range of products across various categories, including consumer electronics, industrial equipment, medical devices, and aerospace. The company’s in-house team of professionals comprises more than 35 designers, engineers, and project managers, who work together in a collaborative environment to optimize results. For example, Tangent provided compliance support for Meggitt, a UK-based aerospace company, regarding refueling equipment in Class 1 Division 1 flammability zones. It has also developed a range of innovative physical products, such as the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 42 Health Sensors, a near-field spectrum visualization for EmScan, an infrared ground heater for industrial applications, and an electronic whiteboard with touch-sensitive panels.

Fuseproject

Anyone who has worked in the design industry in the last decade is familiar with Fuseproject, a product development agency that gained prominence in 2012 with a Kickstarter project for OUYA, an open-source game console running the Android 4.1 operating system. Fuseproject made international news in 2017 in relation to a new project: the Juicero juicer, infamous for its high price and limited functionality. Despite the circumstances, Fuseproject has gradually regained its reputation as a capable design agency. In fact, it was involved in high-profile projects such as the Mini Jambox (for Jawbone), the Frame TV (in collaboration with Samsung), the world’s first robotic bassinet (Snoo), the Sayl Chair (with Herman Miller), and the TELO Trucks MT1.

Delve

Over the course of 55 years, Delve has garnered at least 200 design awards and more than 1,500 patents to its name. It’s a multidisciplinary product development firm based in four cities all across the United States: San Francisco, Philadelphia, Madison, and Boston. The decades of experience are, of course, sprinkled with an impressive portfolio of innovative products for various applications through their new open innovation services. One of them is the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) device developed by Dexcom; it’s built from the ground up with the intention of making an otherwise complex medical procedure feel friendly to the user. The result is an intuitive and safe device while maintaining compliance with Class II medical device requirements. Delve was also involved in the development of the TIKI-branded outdoor fire pit for Lamplight and the Elite OS electronic locks for Onity.

Ammunition

Ammunition, a product and packaging design company, was founded in 2007. It is currently based in San Francisco, California, and Brooklyn, New York. Throughout its eighteen-year history, the company has collaborated with numerous prominent brands from diverse industries. For instance, Ammunition collaborated with Terra Kaffe to create the TK-02 automatic espresso machine, which received a Core77 Design Award in the Home & Living category in 2024. Ammunition also built the Cafe X automatic/robotic coffee bar, a self-contained retailer serving espresso. The company has been in an ongoing partnership with Polaroid to continually improve the lineup of digital photography products, particularly from the Cube, Snap, and Zip series. In collaboration with Beats Electronics, Ammunition developed the Powerbeats Pro 2, currently one of the most advanced earbuds from the audio brand. It’s worth mentioning that Ammunition made the packaging designs for some of the NOOK tablets and e-readers, too.

Designworks

This is the product development company everybody knows, and not only because it’s owned by BMW, but for the variety of projects it has been involved with. Designworks wasn’t always part of the automaker. It was founded as an independent company in 1972 and only became wholly owned by BMW about 23 years later. The main office is located in Santa Monica, California, United States, and it has branch studios in Munich, Germany, and Shanghai, China. Some of its most famous works include the Asus ROG Face Off concept laptop, designed to strike a balance between an immersive gaming experience and premium aesthetic appeal for the gaming community and beyond. Designworks also built the FUTURELIGHT Camper Concept, utilizing the high-performance and waterproof nano-fibers made by The North Face. Another praiseworthy project is Spoke, a portable device that combines the functionalities of a server, a Bluetooth speaker, a camera, and a projector developed for Konica Minolta.

Beyond Design

The Chicago-based product development firm, Beyond Design, specializes in NPD (New Product Development) services and engineering for the manufacturing design industry. This is the company behind Wilson’s BLX Racket, Fisher Price’s My First Cassette Player of the Tuff Stuff collection, Husqvarna’s robust TS-60 wet tile saw with water containment feature, and Rayovac’s professional-grade Yellow Industrial Flashlights. Beyond Design has collaborated with Hamilton Beach to develop a range of breakfast products for the brand as well. It also collaborated with Aries Manufacturing to develop a Bluetooth speaker (under CAT license); the result is a shockproof, water-resistant, and dustproof speaker that is resilient enough for even the toughest construction sites. Another highlight-worthy brainchild of Beyond Design is the line of EQ electronic faucets developed for Chicago Faucets.

StudioRed

For over 40 years, StudioRed has been busy creating more than 4,000 successful projects and winning at least 200 international design awards for the prototypes and products it has developed. The company’s in-house rapid prototyping facility is packed with SLA and FDM 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutting devices, and advanced urethane casting equipment. From simple component fabrication and pre-production models to complex engineering prototypes with tight tolerances, StudioRed has the expertise to deliver the job. In fact, StudioRed was involved in the development of the first mass-produced VR systems for Virtuality Group in 1996, more than a decade before the Oculus Rift went mainstream. In recent years, StudioRed developed the Hakkei HX-S mechanical keyboard, which won the 2021 Good Design Award. It also played a key role in reviving the Prophet-5 synthesizer for Sequential.

Concepto Studios

A full-scale product development company, Concepto Studios handles everything from early concept design research services and 3D visualization to prototyping and manufacturing–basically everything necessary to bring a product to market. The company was founded in 2007 and now operates from three main locations: Miami and San Francisco in the United States, and Beijing in China. In 2014, Concepto Studios proved its worth in the consumer goods landscape by developing Remington’s HyperFlex rotary shaver, which won not one, not two, but three Red Dot Awards for best design. About two years later, it collaborated with Philips to create the Zenit 5.1 Speaker System, which also earned a Red Dot Design Award. It also developed the Ativa premium shredder for Office Depot. And for 16 years, the company has collaborated with Black & Decker to create top-selling products in various categories, including garment care, toasters, and ovens.

Whipsaw

Engineering and design have been the core of everything that Whipsaw does. It offers a broad range of services from design ideation and prototyping to DFMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) and real-world product testing. Whipsaw is probably best known for its role in creating the concept for the Ravenchord Piano. Although it remains a concept at this point, the design itself has convinced the International Design Excellence (IDEA), the Chicago Athenaeum, and Red Dot to award the design. The Owala FreeSip water bottle, which earned a place in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, is one of Whipsaw’s creations, too. The company also developed Gridstack’s modular off-cloud NAS, Life360’s Tile Bluetooth Trackers, and DG Takano’s Melior Water Faucet.

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Therefore

The interestingly named design company, Therefore, is another full-spectrum product design company with a track record of more than 1,000 successful projects spanning 30 years in the industry. It’s based in the center of London, where it operates in a fully equipped workshop featuring CNC machines, 3D printers, and a wide range of textile equipment. The company emphasizes a holistic approach to every project, from ideation to production. It even offers product strategy and manufacturing liaison services. Some of its most popular products in the portfolio include the Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, developed for Sharp, and the Moto Buds 450, designed for Motorola. In 2013, Therefore designed two classic alarm clocks for Braun and a retro radio alarm clock for Genus in 2006. More recently, the company designed the AirPOD concept for Rimac (2016) and the Astro Slide smartphone for Planet Computers (2020).

Spanner

A product development firm specializing in mechanical engineering professionals and design works, Spanner has worked with partners of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. It has two studios located in California, filled with a team of veterans, including former Apple and Google engineers. The expertise is truly evident in the firm’s portfolio. For example, Spanner played a key role in the development of Omron’s Viper robots. While Spanner wasn’t deeply involved with the mechanism and inner workings of the device, the firm created the complex 3D CAD models that would become the foundation for the final unit. Spanner also lent their knowledge to train Omron engineers to leverage the source model for future iterations. The firm also helped Fitbit improve the self-locking clasp for the Charge HR 2.

Kickr Design

One of the biggest selling points of Kickr Design is how it handles every single product development project with “flexibility” in mind, allowing the company to work with startups, inventors, major corporations, and government organizations. Kickr Design is actually the company behind the revamped version of the USDA calipers, used for measuring animal skin reactions to specific chemicals. Because the old device was no longer available on the market, Kickr Design had to reverse-engineer the existing specimen and build a completely new version based on the process. The company also built a fully functional lawnmower prototype with an embedded system that is controllable via an app for Greenzie in just a few months.

Idea Reality

The UK-based turnkey product design company has been around since 2013. Its main office is located in Andover, Hampshire, but it has a meeting location in central London. Over the course of its business run, Idea Reality has completed numerous notable projects, including the bespoke enclosure for the LuminAir drone, the innovative Dome Bowl for Hing, and the Active Commute Bag in collaboration with MotionLab. Idea Reality also designed the StudioBox, which is a small form-factor laptop primarily built for video conferencing. The camera is embedded behind the display and positioned at eye level to reduce strain during long conversations. In 2022, StudioBox won the European Product Design Award.

DGCD

The multidisciplinary team of electrical engineers, PCB layout designers, and firmware developers at DGCD specializes in transforming early electronics concepts into fully functional products. The company also offers outsourced expertise in related industries; for instance, DGCD provided consultancy services for EDM when the latter was modernizing the PhaseTrakker product. Woodward, a Colorado-based innovation company serving the aerospace, energy, and automotive industries, has also teamed up with DGCD to develop a cost-effective solution that increases design capacity. In a collaboration with Agilent Technologies to enhance their storage area network capabilities, DGCD handled the feasibility studies, PCB layout design, prototyping, and production process for the project. The company also worked together with SenseTech to develop the electronics for the ICEdot smart helmet.

219 Design

Mechanical and electrical engineering are the primary capabilities of 219 Design, but the company also develops software when required by the project. The company has worked on multiple projects for DuPont, primarily to develop products that showcase the latter’s range of advanced materials. Some of the most notable results from the partnership are DuPont’s Custom Quadcopter Drone prototype and a solar-charging electric scooter. In a joint design effort with Allergy Amulet, 219 Design spearheaded the design work to transform the allergen-detection technology into a production-ready device. It also helped Motion Capture create the wireless, battery-powered version of the CyberGlove.

Tact

Apart from providing physical product design experts, Tact also offers manufacturing operation consultancy backed by a worldwide supply chain management. The base of operation is located in Redwood City, California. It has worked with Logitech on several projects, including the Litra Glow adjustable streaming light, the G Cloud gaming console, and the Sight AI-powered tabletop camera. HP also collaborated with Tact to develop the Envy Move All-in-One PC; the design company focused on the enclosure and the stand. After creating more than 30 different designs, Tact delivered the final working prototype. In addition to working with major tech brands, Tact is recognized as the design company behind the invention of the Nuwa Pen, a digital ballpoint that can record written notes, and the Loop Dream Earplugs.

AJProTech

Based in Los Angeles, AJProTech is a turnkey IoT product development company to help clients transform ideas into mass-manufactured goods. The design team comprises at least 45 professional engineers, and the company has delivered more than 55 commercial electronic designs to date, accumulating a total sales revenue of products in the range of $50 million. Among the highlighted projects in the portfolio is MoKoo, a smart, Bluetooth-enabled Padlock designed to be controlled via an app, allowing for shared access. The padlock was designed and manufactured in collaboration with KWLocks, a Hong Kong-based manufacturer. Another praiseworthy project is the Industrial Protection Headphone developed in partnership with Guardio Safety, a safety product supplier based in Sweden.

Synapse

Synapse’s main business model is an end-to-end product development service, but it also offers design engineering consultancy for clients facing critical design challenges. Synapse has been in operation for over 20 years, has worked with at least 300 clients, and has completed approximately 1,500 projects. Returning clients account for 80% of the company’s business. Just about every project in the portfolio is a high-profile one. For example, Synapse collaborated with Arizona State University to develop the Smart-Nets, the institution’s first-generation lighted buoy (solar-powered) that acts as a deterrent to marine mammals. Initial studies by the university show that the device helps decrease bycatch by more than 60%. Synapse also collaborated with Valve to design the reference hardware for SteamVR Tracking, which occurred in 2016 when Valve began licensing the technology.

RKS Design

Based in Southern California, the design company is best known for its unique Psycho-Aesthetics approach to product development processes. According to Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO of RKS Design, it’s essentially an insight into how a design or product affects users’ self-perception, rather than their perception of the design itself. Apparently, the approach works great for the company, as proven by the portfolio. One of the most interesting projects is the collaboration with British Aerospace Engineering Systems, which commissioned RKS Design to develop a rugged yet compact camera that utilizes their latest IR technology. RKS Design also worked with ThermoFisher to develop the EVOS M5000 Imaging System, the most versatile microscope ever produced to date.

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Takeaway

While many of the companies mentioned above offer turnkey product development services, some specialize in rapid prototyping only. Every client has personal preferences, and sometimes you have to test the same idea by considering it from two or more different perspectives to determine if it is truly as feasible as it may seem.

This is another reason why Cad Crowd is likely the ideal option. The agency is powered by a vast network of professional engineers and designers worldwide, enabling it to help you verify any product idea based on the viewpoints of multiple experts. And because it’s a turnkey product development agency, all the subsequent stages in the workflow, including DFM, prototyping, and mass manufacturing, are handled in one place for efficiency. Request a quote today.