Design 1st

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a mining technology manufacturer called GeoSight. We make technology for the mining industry all around the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Design 1st?

When we brought on Design 1st, we needed to design a new product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their scope encompassed the entire project. They created concept designs and prototypes. Then, their team assembled the product and helped us put together the first prototype units.

We’re at the end of the project, so we're tidying up loose ends. We plan to manufacture the product soon.

What is the team composition?

The Geosight team worked together with Design1st and their engineering team. They've been an extension of our company since the start of the project.

How did you come to work with Design 1st?

We looked online for local design offices and they were based in Ottawa, which isn't too far from us. What caught our attention was the array of projects they were a part of, one of them being a mining scanner that they had developed. We figured they had experience with the restrictions and challenges of our industry.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent close to $300,000 CAD (approximately $220,000 USD) on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project started in February 2017, and it’s almost complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The finished working prototype is our evidence of their involvement in this project. We are this far along because their team was timely on deliverables and kept us on track. Once we reached the prototype stage, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel and knew our product could finally go into full production.

How did Design 1st perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicated via e-mail but also had weekly meetings through video conferences. If it weren't for Design 1st, the project would’ve been more delayed. Prior to our engagement, the project dragged for two years. Once Design 1st came on board, we had weekly meetings to make sure the project was on schedule. Their team was on task. They also pushed us for information to ensure their team met benchmarks. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

A few things stand out, including their knowledge, flexibility, creativity, and attention to detail. If there was anything they thought could pose an issue in the future, they would address it promptly.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. We've been very pleased with the team at Design1st.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be specific about what you want from the project. Try not to change your goals constantly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Engineer of Tisch Environmental

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We make and sell air pollution sampling and monitoring equipment

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Design 1st to accomplish?

• Select design style
• Choose and test design components
• Build a prototype

SOLUTION

How did you find Design 1st?

Online Search

Why did you select Design 1st over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Design 1st were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Designing and building a prototype of a sequential air sampler mechanism. This mechanism needed to be robust and dependable. It needed to properly store used filters and sequence through new filters without jamming or interfering with the samples.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were given:

• a full BOM of the mechanism
• detailed 3D models
• vendor options
• alternative component options

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Both Phil and Sergio were highly responsive. They were quick to respond to emails, were clear and concise, they let us know where they were with the project each step of the way. Meetings were scheduled weekly through Zoom. Meeting notes were organized and easy to follow.

What was your primary form of communication with Design 1st?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their innovative approach to problem-solving and passion for engineering and design was impressive. Also the experience they have in so many different industries brought a fresh viewpoint to the project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Design 1st could have done differently?

No

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm in charge of doing marketing for a walking aid device manufacturer. We're a family-operated business, but we don't have an established company yet because we first wanted to make sure that our product was feasible.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Design 1st?

We hired Design 1st to help us with product design.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we worked with Ian (VP of Sales), who talked with us about the importance of marketing a product and whether ours would be a viable product. When we started, he wasn't sure they could take on the product we wanted to create, so he wanted to ensure we weren't wasting our money or our time. Throughout that process, Ian was able to assess the viability of our product, which we really appreciated. Ultimately, they decided to take a chance.

After that, we met Matthew (VP of Engineering) and Derek (Senior Industrial Designer) to discuss the product's viability and a lot of different details. There were a lot of iterations on how to work around some of the concerns we had about the product.

From there, Design 1st helped us with the product 3D modeling, and they also did a computer simulation to test the effectiveness and strength of this product as another way to check its viability. The team also talked to us about the cost and presented us with suppliers.

After the product modeling, Design 1st created a prototype. Eventually, changes needed to be made, but Derek had already noticed those needs before we brought them up, so he started doing research. With our help, he was able to hit the ground running to make the needed improvements. Currently, we're still working on making some changes.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with Ian, Matthew, and Derek.

How did you come to work with Design 1st?

I found them through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $40,000. The total cost of the project will be close to $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2024, and the project is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Design 1st has delivered an excellent first-round prototype for our product. Everything has been carefully labeled and exactly as we were told it would be regarding the packaging and the assembly needed to be done. Overall, their work has been of very high quality.

How did Design 1st perform from a project management standpoint?

Design 1st communicates excellently and has delivered ahead of schedule. We've done a lot of Zoom meetings because we communicate weekly that way. We also communicate via email for anything that we can't accomplish through Zoom. Moreover, whenever I need to give them a call, Derek is always available to answer my calls.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

I want to give a shout-out to Derek.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Ian has been a really helpful and knowledgeable sales representative. Matt and Derek are fabulous team members, and I've enjoyed working with both of them. They've both been in charge of very different and very important parts of the design process.

Design 1st is very intuitive, innovative, and detail-oriented, and their approach is very customer-oriented. Even though we have zero product design background, they've been able to break things down in a digestible and understandable way so that we can also help. Our engagement has truly become a collaboration.

Design 1st's expertise is design, but our process has been led by the desires and vision of the product's inventor, my father. Throughout the project, the team has always deferred to my father's vision to stay in line with it. Still, they've been very cognizant of what's possible and what the practical applications of my father's vision are, and they've been very respectful when discussing what's not possible.

The team has always been willing to see what they can do by being very innovative about finding ways to make our vision a reality. Overall, I've had a very positive experience working with them, so I would absolutely refer them to anyone looking for product design.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven't been thrilled by the fact that they use UPS for their product shipping. When clients like me are anxious to receive a product, UPS isn't the best way to go. However, that's our biggest complaint.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Do your own research beforehand and understand that the Zoom meetings are billable. You need to be really cognizant of the questions you'll ask and be very clear about the importance of the collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO and Founder of Swabbot Solutions, LLC.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Develops products for the life sciences industry

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Design 1st to accomplish?

• Develop production ready tank access system
• Finalize swabbing robot design
• Develop benchtop version of robot

SOLUTION

How did you find Design 1st?

Online Search

Why did you select Design 1st over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Design 1st were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Scope 1: Conceptual Design, Prototype design, and Manufacturing Design of a device that allows 6 degrees of freedom for vessel entry.
• Scope 2: Conceptual Design, Prototype design, and Manufacturing Design of a automated swabbing device for remote and benchtop applications.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Conceptual Design - 3D drawings
• Prototype Design - Working Prototypes
• Manufacturing Design - Manufacturing level drawings and Build of Materials.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

In general, yes. Some delays occurred due to part shipping or design changes. They did keep me up-to-date on any changes to schedule. They did a great job dealing with design changes to meet our customers' needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Design 1st?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Quick response to design changes or feature expansion.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Design 1st could have done differently?

Setting and reporting budget vs. spend. This was hard to follow and changes were not always understood from a budgeting point of view.