Good design solves real needs
Philosophy
In Japanese folklore, Shinto beliefs speak of tsukumogami—everyday objects that, after a century, come to life. Their nature depends on their past: objects crafted with care and respect are said to hold good spirits, while those neglected or mistreated may turn mischievous or malevolent.
The way we create and treat things shapes their essence. In design practice, this translates to crafting with intention—ensuring that every object is precise, purposeful, and built to form lasting, meaningful connections with the people who use it.
Beautiful things work better.
Practice
Generally there are 5 stages involved in developing a product:
1. Analysis
We define the project requirements and constraints, conduct market research to avoid patent conflicts, and analyze client brand guidelines and products to appeal to target audiences. For startups, we perform brand positioning to guide design and strategy decisions.
2. Conceptual design:
Sketching and ideation phase of the process. Multiple ideas and solutions are offered in the form of sketches, references and rough 3d models.
3. Preliminary design:
During this stage, we choose a couple of concepts and develop them further. We create CAD models, 3D prints, and visualizations. We also conduct ergonomic and market testing.
4. Detailed design:
Following initial testing, we choose one design to refine. We work closely with engineers and manufacturers to optimize it for manufacturing. Then, we order the first batch of prototypes. Additionally, we provide high-fidelity visualizations and animations to showcase the design.
5. Production:
We continuously inspect quality and refine both the design and the entire process. We maintain an ongoing dialogue with manufacturers and engineers to ensure optimization at every step.