Frequently Asked Questions

Industrial design combines function, aesthetics and manufacturability into a market-ready product. We don't just design surfaces — we think through the entire user experience, from first sketch to production readiness. From the start, we consider manufacturing processes, materials and costs. Good industrial design makes a product not only attractive, but also manufacturable, usable and economically viable. At ENTWURFREICH, the process covers five phases: research and analysis, ideation, concept development, CAD engineering and production preparation. Each phase integrates insights from user research, market analysis and technical feasibility. The result: products that succeed in the market — like the 350+ products we have developed for over 125 clients in the last 14 years. From medical technology and consumer goods to mechanical engineering.

We are a globally operating industrial design agency based in Düsseldorf. Our team combines industrial design, product design, interaction design, CMF design, design strategy, engineering and prototyping under one roof. We work with medium-sized companies and corporations — from initial idea to production readiness. Start-ups are welcome too. Our clients come from medical technology, building technology, consumer goods, mechanical engineering and e-mobility. What sets us apart: We accompany projects not just to a nice rendering, but all the way to production-ready CAD data and beyond. As authorized go-inno consultants, we also support public funding applications — a 50% subsidy of up to EUR 15,400 on our consulting services through go-inno. Over 14 years, we have developed more than 350 products for 125+ clients and have been awarded the German Design Award, Red Dot Award and iF Design Award.

We work across industries — from medical technology and building technology to consumer goods, mechanical engineering and e-mobility. This diversity is intentional: it gives us perspectives that specialists often lack. In medical technology, we develop products compliant with IEC 62366 and MDR — including dental microscopes, ventilators and health care wearables. In building technology, we design switch series and door systems for companies like Busch-Jaeger and WERU. In consumer goods, our projects range from Bluetooth speakers to multi-cycle crates for Coca-Cola. In mechanical engineering, we develop pressing tools and tool trolleys for Novopress and GEDORE. And in e-mobility, we design charging infrastructure for urban spaces. This breadth allows us to transfer innovations from one sector to another — an advantage that pure industry specialists cannot offer.

Yes. Whether you are a startup with a first idea or a corporation with a complex product portfolio — we adapt our process to your situation. What matters is not company size, but the commitment to developing a truly great product. For startups, we offer lean project formats: from quick design studies for investor presentations to full product development with prototyping. We know that speed and budget are critical for startups — so we work with clearly defined milestones and transparent costs. Especially relevant for founders: As authorized go-inno consultants, we help with public funding applications. Through go-inno, up to 50% of our consulting fees can be subsidized — up to EUR 15,400. This makes professional industrial design affordable for young companies too. Several of our startup projects have been awarded international design prizes.

Three things: First, we combine industrial design, product design, interaction design, CMF design and design strategy under one roof. No piecing together different agencies — everything from a single source. Second, we accompany projects through to production readiness — not just to a nice rendering. We deliver production-ready CAD data, technical documentation and support tooling coordination and first sample inspection on request. Third, we bring over 14 years of experience with international clients and regulated markets. We know the requirements of MDR for medical devices just as well as the expectations of consumer goods manufacturers for speed and cost efficiency. Fourth: As authorized go-inno consultants, we help our clients finance up to 50% of our consulting fees through go-inno funding — up to EUR 15,400. Very few design agencies in Germany can offer that.

Both disciplines start with the user. Industrial design and product design overlap significantly and are often used synonymously. The difference lies in emphasis: industrial design places particular importance on ensuring a product is not only user-centered but also efficiently and economically manufacturable. Manufacturing processes, material selection and scalability are factored into the design from the start. Product design views the product more from the perspective of the entire user experience — from packaging to interaction to emotional connection. In practice, the boundaries are increasingly blurred. The best results emerge when both perspectives work together. At ENTWURFREICH, we combine user-centered thinking with manufacturing expertise from day one. We start with user research and market analysis, design with a focus on ergonomics and aesthetics, and engineer with knowledge of injection molding, sheet metal forming or additive manufacturing.

CMF stands for Color, Material, Finish. It is the discipline that defines how a product looks, feels and is perceived. Good CMF design differentiates your product from the competition, creates brand recognition and ensures manufacturability at the same time. Specifically, our CMF work includes: selecting and specifying colors that match the brand identity and remain consistent across product generations. Choosing materials that meet requirements for haptics, durability, cost and sustainability — from engineering plastics and metals to glass and wood. And defining surface finishes such as soft-touch, matte, glossy, anodized or printed. We create CMF specifications that your manufacturing partner can implement directly — including RAL or Pantone references, material data sheets and sample parts. CMF can be the difference between a product that works and a product that is desirable.

Every project starts with a briefing and analysis. We clarify goals, target audience, technical constraints and market environment — before the first line is drawn. In the ideation phase, we develop different design directions that we evaluate and narrow down together with you. The strongest concepts are refined in detail: proportions, materials, colors, controls. We then translate the design into production-ready 3D CAD data — with realistic wall thicknesses, defined draft angles and specified materials. On request, we build functional prototypes for user testing, investor presentations or trade shows. You as the client are involved at every stage: regular check-ins every one to two weeks, feedback on designs and approvals at defined milestones. This is how products are created that not only look good, but also work and are manufacturable.

That depends on scope. A compact design project — such as a design study or concept draft — can be completed in 8 to 12 weeks. More comprehensive developments with multiple design variants, prototyping and user testing typically take 4 to 6 months. Complex projects with regulatory requirements, for example in medical technology per IEC 62366, can take 6 to 12 months. Key factors for project duration are: the complexity of the product, the number of design variants desired, whether prototypes or functional samples are needed, and how quickly feedback and approvals come from your side. We give you a realistic estimate in the initial meeting with a clear timeline and defined milestones. By the way: Thanks to our structured process with parallel work steps, we are often faster than expected.

We need your knowledge about market, users and technical constraints — but you don't have to be a designer. In practice this means: regular check-ins every one to two weeks via video call or on-site, feedback on designs and approvals at defined milestones. Typically that's four to six meetings over the entire project duration. Between check-ins, we work independently and keep you updated on progress. The clearer you can describe your requirements, target audience and technical constraints, the more efficient the process becomes. But don't worry — even if you don't have a finished brief yet, we help you in a structured workshop to ask the right questions and define project goals together. Our goal: as little effort as possible on your side, as much quality as possible in the result.

Yes, on request we accompany you beyond design all the way into production. Specifically, this means: We deliver production-ready 3D CAD data in all common formats — SolidWorks, Siemens NX, CATIA or STEP. This includes technical drawings with tolerances, surface specifications and material specifications. During tooling coordination, we work with the toolmaker to ensure the design is correctly implemented. At first sample inspection, we compare the first produced parts against design specifications and identify adjustments needed. And at series launch, we ensure colors, surfaces and fits match the design intent. Beyond that, we have a broad international network of engineers, model makers and manufacturing partners that we can leverage together with you — in case internal resources are not available. Design does not end on screen.

Depending on the project, you receive a comprehensive package of design deliverables. The core consists of 3D CAD data in your preferred format — SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA or as STEP files. This includes technical drawings with full dimensioning, tolerances and surface specifications for manufacturing. For internal communication and presentations, we deliver photorealistic renderings and on request animation videos that bring the product to life. Material specifications and CMF documentation clearly define colors, surfaces and materials for tooling. If needed, we create complete design documentation that makes the entire development process traceable — especially relevant for regulated products in medical technology. All data is compiled in a clearly structured project handover. You receive everything you need for production, quality assurance and market launch.

Not always, but we recommend it in most cases. A prototype is the fastest way to validate design decisions — before expensive tooling is built. Depending on project phase and objective, we use different types of prototypes: Early concept models from the 3D printer make proportions and ergonomics tangible. Functional samples with real electronics or mechanics show whether the concept works technically. And high-quality design models are suitable for trade shows, investor presentations or internal approvals. The advantage: errors caught in a prototype cost a fraction of what they would cost in series production. User tests with prototypes deliver insights that no rendering can replace — such as haptics, usability or weight. We offer rapid prototyping and model making and draw on our network of specialized manufacturing partners when needed.

Costs depend on complexity, scope and project phase. For very tightly scoped assignments, we start in the four-figure range. Compact projects — such as a design study or concept draft — are in the low five-figure range. More comprehensive developments with multiple design variants, prototyping and user testing typically fall in the mid five-figure range. Complex projects with regulatory requirements, engineering and production support can reach six figures. We provide a transparent quote after the initial meeting with clearly defined service packages and milestones — so you know exactly what you get and what it costs. Important to know: As authorized go-inno consultants, we can help you finance up to 50% of our consulting fees through go-inno funding — up to EUR 15,400. This makes professional industrial design accessible even for smaller budgets.

Both are possible — and we recommend the model that fits your project. We use fixed prices for clearly defined projects with a fixed scope: you know exactly what the result costs upfront. Each project phase is calculated separately, so you can decide after each phase whether and how to continue. Hourly rates or retainer models are suited for ongoing consulting, exploratory projects or when the scope only emerges during the collaboration — such as innovation workshops or strategic design consulting. In practice, most of our clients work with fixed prices per phase because it provides budget certainty and planning reliability. Regardless of the model, we create a detailed offer with transparent service descriptions. There are no hidden costs and no surprises in the final invoice.

Four factors determine the price: First, the complexity of the product — a simple housing design costs less than a medical device with regulatory requirements, electronics integration and multiple user groups. Second, the desired scope of services — pure industrial design costs less than a project that also includes interaction design, engineering and production support. Third, the number of design variants — the more directions we explore in the concept phase, the more effort is involved. And fourth, whether prototypes or functional samples are needed — a 3D-printed display model is quickly made, a fully functional prototype with electronics significantly more complex. Additionally, time pressure and revision rounds influence costs. In a free initial meeting, we clarify your needs and give you a realistic estimate — before you commit to working together.

A rough overview is enough to start. Helpful are answers to these questions: What should the product do and who is it for? Is there a predecessor product or are you starting from scratch? What technical constraints exist — such as standards, material requirements or interfaces? When should the product go to market? And what budget have you planned? The more we know upfront, the more precise our quote. But a sketch on a napkin is a good start too — we help you in a structured initial meeting to ask the right questions and define the project scope. If you don't have a brief yet, we offer a briefing workshop where we work out goals, target audience, competition and technical requirements together. This initial meeting is free and non-binding.

For fixed-price projects, one revision round per project phase is included. Additional adjustments are billed transparently by effort. In practice, this is almost always sufficient — because we coordinate closely with you in every phase and clear up misunderstandings early. Our process is structured so that you provide feedback and make directional decisions at defined milestones. This prevents fundamental corrections in late project phases that would be costly and time-consuming. If the scope changes during the project — for example because new requirements arise or the target audience shifts — we create a supplementary offer before continuing work. This way you maintain full cost control at all times. Our goal is to get it right on the first approach — not to arrive at the result through endless loops.

There are several public funding programs that can financially support your design project. Go-Inno offers a 50% subsidy of up to EUR 15,400 on our consulting services — we are authorized go-inno consultants and handle the application for you. The BAFA business consulting program subsidizes up to 80% of consulting costs — especially relevant for young companies and SMEs. The Forschungszulage (R&D tax credit) grants up to 35% tax relief on research and development expenditure — regardless of whether the project is related to our services. We support you with the application here as well. The same applies to the ZIM program (Central Innovation Program for SMEs), which funds innovative development projects with grants. Which program suits you depends on your company size, project scope and degree of innovation. In an initial meeting, we clarify funding options together and handle the entire application process on request.

Upon full payment, the usage rights to your design result transfer to you — unlimited in time and territory. This is standard for us, no hidden licensing models. Specifically, this means: you may produce, market and further develop the design without paying additional licensing fees to us. This includes all associated project data: 3D CAD data, renderings, technical drawings and design documentation. We regulate usage rights clearly and transparently in the contract, so both sides know where they stand from the beginning. Patent-related questions — such as whether a design can be protected as a registered design — we are happy to discuss with you and refer to specialized patent attorneys from our network for legal advice.

Absolutely. We sign NDAs before the first substantive conversation — this is a natural part of every professional collaboration for us. Protecting your ideas, trade secrets and project data is our highest priority. In practice, many clients bring their own NDA template, which we review and sign. If you don't have your own template, we are happy to provide ours. Confidentiality applies to all project information: technical details, market strategies, business figures and unpublished product concepts. Within our team, we work with clear access controls — only team members involved in the project have access to your data. We never use your project information for our marketing or external communication — unless you give explicit consent.

You receive full usage rights to your chosen design result — unlimited in time and territory. This includes all project data associated with the chosen design: 3D CAD data, renderings, technical drawings, material specifications and design documentation. You may produce, market and further develop the design worldwide — without ongoing licensing fees. The transfer of rights takes effect upon full payment and is clearly regulated in the contract. Should you want additional legal protection for the design — such as a registered registered design — we are happy to connect you with specialized patent attorneys from our network. Our commitment: you should be able to use your design result without restrictions and without worrying about legal gray areas. We regulate all details transparently in the project contract, so both sides have clarity from the start.

Through a combination of contractual, technical and organizational measures. Contractually, we protect your idea through a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which we sign before the first substantive conversation. Technically, we work with a secure data infrastructure — encrypted communication, protected cloud storage and regular backups. Organizationally, only team members directly involved in the project have access to your data. There are no open project folders accessible to the entire team. Your project data is not shared with third parties — neither with other clients nor with suppliers — unless you give explicit consent. And we never use your projects for our marketing, website or social media without your prior approval. In short: your idea stays your idea.

Yes, for over 10 years. We have developed medical devices from concept to market readiness — including dental microscopes, ventilators, surgical lights and health care wearables. Our design process for medical devices is based on IEC 62366 and enhanced with proven milestones from practice. This means: usability engineering, risk management and documented design validation are integrated from the start — not added retroactively. We know the requirements of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) and understand how usability evaluations per IEC 62366 are conducted. Our results flow directly into the risk management file. What sets us apart from pure usability agencies: We combine regulatory know-how with design excellence. Our medical products are not only standards-compliant, but also aesthetically compelling and innovative — in some cases even awarded the German Design Award.

Medical devices are subject to strict regulatory requirements — above all the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745). For design, this means: every design decision must be documented, justified and traceable. Usability engineering per IEC 62366 is mandatory — from use context analysis through formative usability tests to summative evaluation. Risk management accompanies the entire process: potential use errors are identified early and minimized through design measures. Then there is documentation — design inputs, design outputs, verification and validation must be fully traceable. We integrate all these requirements into our design process from the start, rather than adding them retroactively. This saves time, reduces risks and avoids costly rework in late development phases. Our results are prepared so they can flow directly into the technical documentation and risk management file.

At its core like a classic design project — but with additional regulatory milestones planned in from the start. The process begins with use context analysis: Who are the users, in what environment will the product be used, what risks exist? Based on this, we define usability specifications and develop initial concepts. In the formative evaluation phase, we test prototypes with real users — iteratively and cost-effectively, before expensive tooling is built. The findings feed into design optimization. Before market release comes the summative evaluation: a structured usability test that demonstrates the product can be operated safely and effectively. In parallel, we document all steps so that results flow directly into the technical documentation and risk management file. The result: a medical device that meets regulatory requirements and convinces through design.

Yes. We develop with manufacturing in mind — from the start. This means: realistic wall thicknesses, defined draft angles and specified materials. Our CAD data can go directly into final engineering. We deliver in all common CAD formats: SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA or as STEP files. Already in the concept phase, we consider manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die casting, sheet metal forming or additive manufacturing. This way we avoid designs that look great but fail in production. If needed, we work directly with your engineers or toolmakers to optimize the design for manufacturability. Our international network of manufacturing partners is also available to you. The result: designs that not only meet the design ambition, but are also economically and technically feasible.

Yes. We deliver 3D CAD data in your preferred format — SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Inventor, CATIA or as universal STEP files. Technical drawings are created as needed — with full dimensioning, tolerances, surface specifications and material specifications. For internal communication and presentations, we additionally provide photorealistic renderings by arrangement, showing the product in different environments and application scenarios. On request, we also create animation videos, exploded views or interactive 3D models. For regulated products — such as in medical technology — complete design documentation is included in the deliverables, making the entire development process traceable. All data is compiled in a structured project handover, so your engineering department or manufacturing partner can continue seamlessly.