4D visited this years Gadget Show Live exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC.
So whats hot in the world of consumer product design? If the quantity of exhibitors is anything to go by, the public wants;
Expanding a smart phones camera functionality is also popular, not surprising given the rapid increase in quality available from the better phones.
Welcome to Birmingham!
A product we designed has just been featured as the cover story on a highly regarded industry magazine, Develop 3D. For any new product or business the challenge of reaching potential customers in a way they are comfortable to engage with is a constant challenge. No body likes a hard sell, give people something interesting to think about, something informative and engaging, and you can spread your message in a more effective way.
If we hadn’t been allowed design freedom to by our client, SciCorr, the end product may not have been as newsworthy. Would it have got the attention it is now receiving? We like to think investment in good product design is also investment in future marketing opportunity’s. If the design is visually exciting it will help you to engage with your industry and potential customers. Of course the underlying device must deliver, but first impressions do count.
Of course the publicity isn’t free, it is the culmination of significant investment in R&D and Product Design, which we are proud to have been a part of.
An online feature article has also been produced on the Develop 3D website
Do you fancy paying just 10% corporation tax?
No we don’t know Jimmy Carrs’ accountant, an initiative by the HMRC named The Patent Box, which begins in August 2013, rewards businesses who are actively developing and patenting new products and technology. A very attractive rate of just 10% should be a great incentive to get creative and invest in the development new and innovative products.
Fortunately we at 4D are experts in such things, and we would be delighted to help your business capitalise on this new opportunity.
Read all the eligibility criteria here… HMRC
We’ve been waiting to share this project with you for a long time. 4D Director James Bell spent a large part of 2012 designing, developing and testing the EMAD for SciCorr Ltd. 4D were involved from pre project briefing, specification development right through to co-ordinating manufacture. A full Case study to come. Check out the article in the local press
At 4D we are always looking to invest in new technology’s that can benefit our clients.
We are pleased to introduce a new interactive virtual product review software tool. When we create 3D CAD data, we can now offer photo realistic, 360 degree interactive previews of the new product. The high level of quality means they can be used for anything from internal review, to attention grabbing content on the clients website.
We are in the process of creating examples for all live projects on our site, but here’s one we created earlier. Grab and spin with your mouse button to explore the product!
There’s been a buzz in the technology media recently about the imminent launch of Kickstarter in the UK. The US based crowdfunding website is one of the better known, but there are reportedly over 40 such sites already operating in the UK.
What’s all the fuss about? For start ups and private inventors who are short of cash but rich in ideas, it has often been necessary to give away equity in a new venture in return for capital investment to get the project off the ground. Often the investor demands a high percentage of the business as it is seen as high risk before any revenue from sales has been generated.
The great thing about crowdfunding is that you get to pitch your new product / idea to your potential customers in the hope they will pre-buy the product and bridge the funding gap to go into production. If the funding target isnt met then buyers get their money back and the product remains on the drawing board. From the inventors point of view this has two main advantages.
Successful projects can generate serious amounts of cash really quickly. For product based projects these tend to have;
If you think this approach could be for you or your business, why not get in touch to explore how we can work with you to create a great crowdfunding pitch!
Clients and prospects ask us…’But do you think its a good idea?’
They want our opinion on whether something will sell. We try to be objective and look at the bigger picture, whether a market exists, whether the particular idea betters the current product offerings, what’s happening in the wider world.
Things change over time and it is also true that timing helps in launching a successful product. With that in mind we have noticed a few Product Design Trends worth being aware of…
Interesting to hear Trunki are moving some production back to the UK.
Main reasons quoted;
4D Products are now offering product animation services alongside our core design activities. Product animations and videos are a great way to showcase your product. They can also be uploaded to searchable sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, creating a buzz and more links back to you and your products.
Animations are also a great way to review the look of a product. Get valuable feedback from clients, colleagues and stakeholders before committing to manufacture where changes become more costly.
We will be uploading example pieces to our website soon, so keep an eye out!
Get in touch if you would like to discuss animating your products.
Why not visit http://awards.designweek.co.uk/dw/2012/entry-showcase-13.html to see one of our recent project in the Design Week product design awards show case. Fingers crossed for a good results!
0845 0569247
The Innovation Centre,
Sci-Tech Daresbury
Keckwick Lane
Daresbury, Cheshire
WA4 4FS
Email us on info@4dproducts.co.uk
