Here, we delve into the world of industrial design, sharing our thoughts, experiences, and new project releases.
Our blog covers a diverse array of topics curated to inspire and inform both enthusiasts and professionals alike. Whether you’re seeking insights into the latest trends shaping the industry or just some thoughts that we are having in a particular moment, you’ll find it.
Join us on this journey.
ECOYA – Keepsake Collection
We continue our journey with Ecoya with the Keepsake Collection. Encased in a sculptural six-sided coloured cut glass jar, the Keepsake Candle and Diffuser were designed to be timeless in style. The vessel and lid can be stacked or arranged to create layered compositions, allowing them to be styled the way you choose. What began…
ECOYA – Reed Diffuser
We’re excited to continue our journey with Ecoya and introduce the beautifully refined Reed Diffuser and new Mini Diffuser. The updated Reed Diffuser features a sleek glass vessel with a softly rounded base, a wider neck for easier refilling, and a simplified silhouette achieved by removing the original collar, bringing a fresh, modern feel to…
ECOYA – Car Diffuser 2.0
We’re excited to reveal our work with ECOYA on the design of their new Car Diffuser 2.0. Brought to us as an early concept vision, we partnered with ECOYA’s exceptional creative team to evolve the idea, shaping form, refining details, and resolving function, all the way through to a design ready for production. This project…
We’ve Authored a Book! Introducing “Design Unlocked – Navigating a Career in Industrial Design”
I’m thrilled to announce the official launch of our new book, Design Unlocked – Navigating a Career in Industrial Design! This book has been crafted to provide aspiring and seasoned industrial designers with a roadmap through the complexities of the design industry. Authored with personal insights from years of hands-on experience, Design Unlocked offers a…
Manuka Health New Zealand – Packaging
Introducing our recent Collaboration: Crafting the Future of Honey Packaging with Manuka Health New Zealand and Mcgregor&Mcgregor. At the intersection of innovation and aesthetics lies the new honey packaging range, a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and visionary collaboration. Formworks, in tandem with Manuka Health New Zealand and Mcgregor&Mcgregor, proudly unveils the culmination of months of…
Embracing AI in Industrial Design: Shaping the Future of Creativity
Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about the profound influence artificial intelligence will have on our profession. It’s a topic that sparks both curiosity and apprehension – bringing both excitement for the possibilities it presents and concern about its potential ramifications. Yet, as I reflect on the transformative power of technology throughout history, I’m reminded that…
Design Journey 7. Celebrating Success: Launching Your Product
07. Celebrating Success: Launching Your Product After weeks, months, or perhaps even years of dedicated collaboration and tireless effort, the moment has finally arrived. We stand on the threshold of success, poised to unleash your product into the world. In this concluding post, we celebrate not just the culmination of our collective journey, but also…
Design Journey 6. Navigating Production: Manufacturing Mastery
06. Navigating Production: Manufacturing Mastery Welcome to the penultimate instalment of our industrial design blog series, where we embark on the final leg of our journey: Manufacturing Mastery. As we transition from prototype to production-ready, we navigate through a labyrinth of intricacies, leveraging our expertise in manufacturing partnerships, quality assurance protocols, and logistics management to…
Design Journey 5. Engineering Elegance: Technical Development
05. Engineering Elegance: Technical Development Welcome to another instalment of our industrial design blog series, where we delve into the intricate process of bringing ideas to life. Today, we embark on a journey through the realm of technical development, where engineering prowess meets creative vision to craft products that seamlessly blend form and function. At…
Design Journey 4. Refining the Essence: Design Iteration
04. Refining the Essence: Design Iteration In the realm of industrial design, achieving perfection isn’t a one-time accomplishment; it’s a continuous journey of refinement and evolution. Welcome to our blog series where we peel back the layers of our design process, focusing today on the critical stage of Design Iteration. Understanding the Iterative Design Process…
Design Journey 3. Crafting the Canvas: Prototyping Precision
03. Crafting the Canvas: Prototyping Precision Welcome to another instalment of our industrial design blog series, where we peel back the curtain on the intricate process of bringing ideas to life. Today, we’re delving into the fascinating world of prototyping precision—a crucial step in the journey from concept to reality. Imagine this: you’ve brainstormed, sketched,…
Design Journey 2. Blueprinting Brilliance: Conceptual Design
02. Blueprinting Brilliance: Conceptual Design Welcome to the second instalment of our industrial design blog series, where we peel back the curtain on our creative process. Today, we embark on a journey through the realm of conceptual design, where ideas take shape and visions materialise into tangible form. Join us as we explore the art…
Design Journey 1. Initiating Innovation; Collaborative Ideation
Welcome to the first installment of our blog series Formworks Forge, where we delve into the dynamic world of industrial design and innovation. Today, we embark on a journey to uncover the genesis of a product idea – the pivotal moment where creativity meets collaboration. Join us as we explore the essence of collaborative ideation…
It’s a matter of Privacy.
It’s a matter of Privacy. Over the past few months, we’ve been chipping away at a side project here at Formworks, now we’re keen to share our concept with you, the public, to get some feedback and also give you a small glimpse into our design process. Working From Home (WFH) exploded into our lives…
Now’s the time.
Have you got a project idea sitting idle? Now might be the time to go for it.. Typically during a recession as companies tighten their belts the first budgets to get the chop are marketing, innovation and new product development. New Zealand is approaching a recession with the pinch already being felt across the industry…
Budget 2020
The NZ Government has just announced $230 million for encouraging entrepreneurship and “risk-taking”. This includes $150 million to provide loans to R&D intensive businesses, with a cap of up to $100,000. The scheme will be up and running by early June, with details still to come on the loan interest rates, which are quoted as…
Celebrating 25 Years
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS From our humble beginnings in 1995, Formworks have grown into one of New Zealand’s leading industrial design studios. Now in our 25th year, we thought we’d share a selection of projects, condensed into 60 seconds.
Who We Are.
Ever wondered what makes us tick? We’ve recently worked with the team from Frontside Media on producing some behind the scenes footage with our thoughts and passion around design. Check out the video below to meet some of the team and see a glimpse of who we are and what we do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2KCk8aJt-s?rel=0 Found out…
Welcome to the Team
Our team has expanded to bring on board the best design talent we could find. Jon Parlby – After immigrating from the UK, Jon joined the team at the end of 2018. As one of our Senior Designers, he oversees large projects along with new client introductions and project scoping. Jon comes from a diverse…
Our Global Reach
Distance isn’t an issue. We might be based at the bottom of the world, but our work reaches across the globe. We frequently travel abroad to meet clients, participate in design workshops, brief manufacturing partners and oversee production + fitout. We are currently working on projects across New Zealand, as well as Australia, China, Japan,…
New Guangzhou Airport Terminal to Open – ChinaDaily.com
Our work for Daifuku BCS at the new Guangzhou Airport Terminal made the news on ChinaDaily.com recently. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/24/WS5ade7e9da3105cdcf651a10c.html
Design for Manufacture
Design for Manufacture I recently bumped into someone who asked what I did for a living. I told them I was a designer and was met with “oh, you create pretty pictures…” Yes, it’s where we start, but it’s only a small part of the design process. To develop a product from idea to production requires…
Shenzhen, China – Aug 2017
It seems we are spending more and more time in China lately helping our clients to ensure their products are coming out to the specifications required and with a high level of finishing. This trip was a follow-up meeting in Shenzhen with our desk manufacturer for the Australian market, and an introduction and part review…
We’ve moved!
This week we made the move from Henderson to our new studio in Parnell. You can find us here: Studio 3.13, Axis Building 91 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell.
Shenzhen one week, Melbourne the next.
Airports are fast becoming our second home!
Shenzhen, China
We recently spent another big week in Shenzhen, China, working on a new prototype with one of our manufacturing partners.
Guangzhou China
Big week up in China during the past week, working on the assembly of a large scale prototype for a project we are working on in Guangzhou. A few logistics challenges faced, but a few trips to the local markets, and some super friendly people helped sort that out. Looking forward to sharing the finished…
Häfele AXILO™ launched at Interzum 2017
https://youtu.be/2hiBkJgnE8k Awesome to see another great project we worked on with Designerscope™, Häfele AXILO™, released at Interzum 2017. The Häfele AXILO™ plinth adjusting fitting system– the extended lever for cabinet leveling. Every kitchen installer knows the problems with the leveling of kitchen furniture over the plinth feet, in particular the rear ones … Häfele’s clever new…
Slimline Dual Injector
It’s always great to see another of our projects make it off the drawing board and onto the market. This time it’s from one of our long-standing clients Simcro, who we worked closely with on the development of the Slimline Dual Injector. The Slimline Dual Injector has been designed to simultaneously administer two 1mL or…
Melbourne Bound
It’s been a busy week with the start of an exciting new project across the ditch in Melbourne.
Waitangi Weekend
Kiwis, take the time this weekend to stop and remember just how lucky we are to live in this wonderful country we call home. Enjoy the long weekend New Zealand.
Sculpture on TVNZ Breakfast
Flicked on the tv this morning to see the Kaokao sculpture we worked on for Robert Jahnke as the backdrop for Matty McClean’s weather report.
Schools Back
First week back at school for our kids, Funscreen at the ready.
Coffee Trials
Here at Formworks we like to keep our staff on task, our clients happy and remain environmentally responsible. That’s why we take our coffee drinking so seriously! Just trying out the latest blends of fairtrade coffee by Kokako coffee.
Switch Dish brush now at New World
Walking down the cleaning aisle at my local New World and what do I see……Raven Switch. New charcoal colour too! Go and replace your old tired dish brush for a Switch.
Home Office
From time to time we find ourselves working from home. Lets do this.
Idealog – Funscreen
Super to see Funscreen make the Idealog Year in Review post!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Break out the sunblock, spread out the picnic blanket and dust off the jandals. Summer has arrived and it’s time to celebrate the end of another year with friends and family. Firstly, thanks to all our clients, suppliers and supporters. We have had a blast this year working through some amazing projects, travelling the world…
Mizone
Nice seeing these in the chillers and supermarkets throughout NZ. We helped out Dow Design with the 3D CAD modelling for these new Mizone bottles.
The Innovation Issue
Opened the new Idealog magazine this morning and two products we worked on picked up awards at the 2016 NZ Innovation Awards. Aranz Medical (FastSCAN 2) picking up the Bayer Supreme New Zealand Innovation & Innovation in Technology Solutions awards. Stormwater 360 picking up the Innovation in Sustainability & Cleantech award. It’s always rewarding to…
2016 Dyson Awards
One of our Head Designers made the news last night as a Judge of the James Dyson NZ Award, and to present Spencer Buchanan with his award. Just one of the ways we are helping emerging NZ Design talent. Congratulations Spencer Buchanan for taking out the 2016 Dyson Awards with your concussion-detecting mouthguard. See the write up…
Hello China
We have recently been up in China with one of our long standing clients working with their manufacturers in the final developments of an exciting new product. While we were up there we also caught up with our Chinese based prototyping, tooling and moulding suppliers.
Merry Christmas
With Christmas only 13 days away, we would like to wish all of our clients, suppliers and their respective families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We would also like to thank you for your continued support throughout 2015. Our studio will be closed from the 23rd of December through until Monday the 11th…
Best Awards 2016
Another year and another Best Awards. We had a great table this year with the teams from MW Design and Formway. Formworks ended up coming away with a bronze for the Raven Switch Dishbrush and the Virgin Bag Drop, and a finalist in the sustainable category for the Raven Switch Dishbrush. Congratulations to all winner…
Best Awards 2015
Gareth represents! Formworks continues its support of emerging designers with our sponsorship of the Product Student category at the 2015 Best Awards! Congratulations to Philip Leyten, Avara Moody and William Nicholson for picking up Gold.
Exoskel wins Bronze
The EXOSKEL X2 picked up a bronze award at the 2015 Best Awards!
Formworks Rebrand
We’ve recently rebranded, new logo, this new website and some subtle vehicle branding. For a laugh we thought we’d share the evolution of our logo from the past 20 years…hopefully we’re getting better with age!