Founded in 1991 we have been designing, making and innovating for over 30 years. In this time we have worked on thousands of projects, both big and small. Below are just a few of our historic projects…
2023
MODELSHOP
Designworks launch a sister site at www.modelshop.studio!
Aimed at further expanding our model-making reach into architectural models, film/TV and sculpting, we hope this will be the start of an exciting new chapter for the workshop team!
2022
BP PULSE CHARGER SMART
Bp pulse provide the largest public network for electric vehicle charging in the U.K. Our first product development with them, the Home and Pro charger range of EVSEs serves customers across domestic, fleet and workplace use. They were bp pulse’s first exclusive hardware designed in a decade, and the first EVSEs qualify for a British Standards Institution kitemark for safety.
2021
CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP
After 17 years at the company Robin Crossley became the new owner of Designworks Windsor - with a commitment to building upon its solid foundations and ensuring its legacy thrives, echoing the ethos of its founding partners, Peter & Jeremy.
2019
PUTTSHACK
Puttshack was our first foray into developing for social entertainment. It was a gargantuan task but we drew from our previous experience of designing games and creating experiences that come together to form a world-first in the entertainment sector.
2014
CLARKS GLOBAL FOOT GAUGE
Technology shaped this project as we worked with Clarks to produce a new way of measuring feet in-store. Making use of Apple iPads, we developed peripheral products that accurately measure feet and created a theatrical and educational experience for users visiting the store. From design and development, user testing, manufacture, installation, training and maintenance, Designworks were intimately involved in the full life cycle of the product. As well as extensive press coverage around the launch the Clarks iPad Foot Gauge has been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award.
2009
GUNNEBO SECURE POD
Designworks worked closely with Gunnebo to understand and analyse the limitations of traditional safe construction methods. The design won praise and recognition through a prestigious Red Dot Award in 2009, and continues to be an example of Gunnebo’s innovative processes and willingness to disrupt the market with new products.
2005
ACCO GAZELLE
The Acco Gazelle stapler and dock were born from the need to produce a product that truly understood the requirements of the user and at the same time define Acco as a manufacturer of premium office products. The design incorporates labour saving features such as a name tag system, a staple quantity indicator, spare staples and a docking station. These novel features provided protectable IP and gave Acco a massive advantage over it’s competition.
2002
THUNDERBIRDS TRACY ISLAND
Many people think that the most impressive structure to be created at the turn of the century was the Millennium Dome, but they clearly didn’t see the original Tracy Island playset. It was at the top of every child’s Christmas list that year; and those who couldn’t afford the real thing were even catered for by the good folk at Blue Peter who famously created a how to guide for making your own cardboard version! We have redesigned the playset since then in 2015, but there will always be a special place in our hearts for the original.
2001
HUGO BOSS - BOSS IN MOTION
Often the biggest challenge in design is to make something which is extremely complicated look beautifully simple. Perfume brands exemplify form over function, so any complicated mechanisms must be neatly hidden away, and the user experience should be as memorable as the form itself. Giving the product an aesthetic which is undeniably Hugo Boss’ whilst remaining elegantly constrained further complicated what looks like a simple product.
2000
HASBRO MOUSeTRAP
Working at Designworks isn’t all fun and games but in the early 2000s, many of our projects were. Hasbro asked us to come up with a new board game experience unlike anything else in the current market. Starting from a completely blank canvas, the design team iterated towards a cherished family board game which we all know and love. Who knew that an updated version of a game as huge as Mouse Trap began life as a blank piece of card on the floor of our design studio?
1997
VIRGIN ATLANTIC IN-FLIGHT BEAUTY STATION
One of our most memorable design briefs was walking into a meeting room at the Virgin HQ, and being presented with a Fokker wing tip. Virgin Atlantic had appointed Designworks to reimagine, design and engineer the upper-class and economy seating, in-flight beauty area and even the toilets! Full scale fuselage mock ups were created, ’passengers’ invited to take 10 hour ‘flights’ - all a part of a huge development program.
1996
DUNLOP GOLF BAG
Creating a point of difference in a product as prescribed as a golf bag is a tall order. Our designers looked beyond obvious aesthetic changes and dug far deeper to redesign the Dunlop golf bag, analysing the ergonomics associated with the product and its impact upon a round of golf. This project perfectly illustrates the idea that good design should go unnoticed, as the bags allow the user to play a round comfortably and focus on enjoying the game itself.
1992
Coca cola bar fonts
Nowadays, photorealism is taken for granted, and although it is not easy, a myriad of CAD tools allow designers to rapidly create compelling product renders. However, back in 1991, when computers were huge, Bryan Adams was on Top of the Pops and Pete and Jez had (some) hair, marker rendering was king. Tasked with analysing the Coca Cola brand DNA and creating an unforgettable user experience, Designworks hand sketched and rendered these drinks dispenser concepts.
1991
Designworks was founded
In 1991 two good friends, Peter Rickett and Jeremy Gardner founded a creative product design consultancy - Designworks.
From humble beginnings Designworks has been a dynamic product development company working in a diverse range of sectors. Long lasting relationships have been formed with many clients some of which Designworks still work with today.