Design Central

Design Central

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Design Central

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About

We share an innate curiosity and a relentless desire to learn, innovate and deliver what’s next. By applying the full spectrum of innovation, we get answers to clients faster and easier and with better-targeted solutions. Our integrated methodology ensures that insights are gained at every step of the process, each building on the last. These insights emerge through visually stunning designs that converge with manufacturable execution.

Design Central is a product design and engineering consultancy that brings power to organizations by identifying opportunities for compelling solutions through strategy, research, product design, user experience and engineering.

Project Portfolio

Always Discreet Boutique Incontinence Underwear

Design Central worked with P&G to develop Always Discreet Boutique, a feminine, disposable underwear solution for adult incontinence. We transformed non-woven and elastic materials into functional layers that resemble and stretch better than fabric and built them around an integrated, absorbent core. We worked to keep the layers thin, to deliver the best fit, absorption and breathability, minus the bulk, for a wide range of women. Always Discreet Boutique offers women protection from leaks and odor with a feminine, easy to wear design that resembles modern underwear.

Midmark 626 Barrier-Free® Examination Chair

Accessibility in healthcare facilities is essential to providing equal care to all patients regardless of disabilities. A key factor impacting accessibility is the examination chair. Design Central worked with Midmark to ensure that the Barrier-Free® 626 Examination Chair provides unparalleled accessibility to both clinician and patient. It enables healthcare providers to easily and properly implement critical patient positioning, acquire vitals and blood pressure accurately and encourages all patients to self-transfer. The 626 accommodates the ADA’s recommended transfer height and achieves an unprecedented low seat height for smaller patients for more precise vitals readings.

ITW-FEG

Design Central has worked with ITW to build brand awareness, improve user experience and implement new technologies across their commercial food equipment segment involving Hobart, Traulsen, Berkel, Bonnet and Vulcan-Hart. Product personalities that elevate user perception to create identifiable product architectures and brand elements were built using research we conducted in educational, commercial quick-serve, dining and grocery settings. Our work to develop interfaces and controls for varied user models and experience levels enables the operation of equipment across ITW’s food equipment brands, and the implementation of technology through proof of concept has supported the realization of new products.

Crown Equipment

Crown Equipment Corporation is a leading manufacturer of innovative heavy-duty electric lift trucks. As a twenty year partner in Crown’s development process, Design Central helped bring visual and ergonomic distinction to a traditionally industrial category. Understanding the operator is a focus for Crown. Extensive research to understand how operators use their equipment increased performance, efficiency and safety to drive new, innovative design development and ergonomic configurations that benefit the user. Design Central’s long-term partnership with Crown yielded user centered solutions that are recognized as industry standards. In collaboration with Crown, Design Central received nine design awards.

Zimmer Biomet

The ATS 4000 Tourniquet’s digital user interface and visually innovative aesthetic builds the Zimmer Biomet brand and helps maintain their position as the market leader. Design Central developed the interface to replace outdated analog controls and include completely new icons, logic and a multi-language navigation system for use in the operatory and in equipment diagnostics.  Product development processes including product architecture, design and CAD for the device created an intuitive, simple to use product that communicates precision, safety and accuracy that is synonymous with the Zimmer Biomet brand.

Procter & Gamble

Design Central’s talent and expertise have been entrusted to help brands like Swiffer, Febreze, Pampers, Always, Tide, Bounty and Mr. Clean continue P&G’s promise of quality to the consumer. Design Central and P&G collaborate to envision future opportunities, perfect the process of prototyping durable and disposable materials and challenge manufacturing constraints to conceive products in new, impactful ways for P&G. Design Central’s deep understanding of materials and manufacturing processes, and their ability to connect the brand to technological innovations through early conceptual visualization has resulted in many successful global product launches.