New Websites Go Live
This month has seen the launch of IDC’s new website at www.idc.uk.com. Clients will find almost any information that they need about the company. From IDC’s facilities, services and design principles through to full case studies of clients’ projects. The website will also keep visitors informed about news with press releases and images all stored online.

IDC Models' website has also been updated and incorporates an Instant SLA Quote feature for our high accuracy stereolithography rapid prototyping service.

A Collaborative Approach to Industrial Design
With this issue focusing on ‘collaboration’, we talk to Marc Tanner IDC’s Head of Industrial Design, who has led design projects for many industry sectors, including: medical, telecoms, FMCG, consumer, and automotive. He has also worked in San Francisco, Tokyo and London for multinational clients, and has gained a clear view about the benefits of collaboration. He believes that collaboration is key to successful product design with a three-way collaborative process between the client, IDC and the end-user. He sees IDC as the collaborative link between clients and customers; with IDC interpreting users’ needs and requirements to provide a customer voice in the design process.      

Marc explains, “IDC’s collaborative approach means that the industrial design team becomes part of the client’s own team in providing insight to validate their decisions. Whether it’s knowledge of trends in technology, lifestyle and culture or an understanding of consumer attitudes, the power of creativity all comes together to drive product development. Our design team works alongside engineers to achieve the client’s vision and we are one of a few consultancies that can quickly turn the vision into reality with our rapid prototyping equipment.”

Marc also believes that IDC’s company structure encourages good collaboration with clients. IDC is unique in opening up communication channels at all levels between the client and the design team. There is a formal project management process to maintain direction, but at the same time clients are encouraged to have direct communication with all team members, which brings an extra dimension to product development for optimum results.

IDC Wins Design Collaboration Award for Indian Insulin Pens
IDC recently celebrated winning two prestigious design innovation awards. Judges chose IDC over other major players in the iDEA (Innovation & Design Excellence Awards) for ‘Design Collaboration’ and ‘Product Design Innovation’ for the development of a range of world class insulin injection pens for the Indian market.

IDC’s cross-continent collaboration skills were tested to the max in the project for Indian medical company, Wockhardt.  IDC was recruited to develop both disposable and reusable insulin pens for Indian consumers. The products are dramatically advancing diabetes treatment in India, by offering an affordable, discreet, quick and easy insulin dosage system.  

In western countries, disposable and reusable insulin pens are now widely produced. Consequently there are many patent restrictions on existing designs, and to such an extent that Wockhardt was unable to cost-effectively go into production. In order to overcome this, IDC designed an entirely new insulin pen, which would give class-leading functionality and avoid all the existing patents. Virtually all elements of the conventional insulin pens were patented, so IDC was challenged to find successful design alternatives, which also resulted in an improved product. IDC project managed the development, working across continents to gain ISO approvals, support patent applications, oversee the production of high precision tooling in Taiwan and scale up to manufacturing in India.

Find out more…