A team with diverse skills and
a united focus

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IDC FAQS

What does IDC do?

IDC (Industrial Design Consultancy) takes products from early concept through to manufacture. Our team of designers, mechanical and electronics engineers, model makers and project managers work collaboratively on every project, which means the aesthetic, the engineering and the commercial logic of a product are considered together from day one

rather than as an after thought. We offer everything from user research and initial concept development through to detailed engineering, prototyping, regulatory support and production guidance, all from studios in London and Shanghai.

What makes IDC different from other design and product development consultancies?

We have a key focus on getting products all the way through development, into production and on the market so our clients can earn money from the products we design. Our longevity and experience plays a big part - we've been operating since 1972 and developed many hundreds of products so we can anticipate and avoid the problems that can derail new product developments., Another key l difference is how we're structured. Because our industrial designers, mechanical engineers and electronics specialists sit together and work as one team, the decisions made in the design studio are always stress-tested against what's actually practical and manufacturable. That integration saves clients from expensive rework later in the process. We're also ISO 13485 certified for medical device development, and our Shanghai studio gives us genuine on-the-ground capability for clients manufacturing in China — not just a regional office in name.

Do you work with startups and individual inventors, or only large companies?

Both. We work with independent inventors, early-stage startups and established SMEs alongside global corporations. The entry point differs - an inventor with a promising idea might need us from day one to shape the concept, build the business case and protect the IP, while a larger business might bring us in for a specific phase where they need external resource or specialist expertise. Whatever your stage, the first conversation is always the same: tell us about your product and your ambitions, and we'll tell you honestly how we can help.

Can IDC manage the full development of a product, or only specific parts?

Either. Some clients come to us with nothing more than a concept and we take it all the way through to a product ready for manufacture. Others join us mid-project - perhaps they've hit an engineering challenge, need a capability they don't have in-house, or want an existing product redesigned for a new market. We're flexible about where we plug in. That said, the earlier you bring us in, the more impact we can have: the decisions made in the first few weeks of a development programme have a disproportionate effect on cost, timeline and the quality of what eventually reaches market.

Do you have experience in my sector?

Across five decades we've delivered projects across consumer electronics, domestic appliances, FMCG, garden and leisure, medical devices, drug delivery systems, surgical equipment, diagnostics, industrial equipment, business machines, safety and security products, laboratory instruments and transport. Rather than a blanket yes, we'd rather point you to our case studies or have a conversation: we can quickly confirm relevant experience and, under NDA, show you work that might not be publicly visible.

How does IDC approach medical device projects differently?

Medical device development has its own distinct demands around documentation, traceability and regulatory compliance that don't apply to general product work. IDC holds ISO 13485:2016 certification, which means our quality management system is built around those requirements from the ground up - not retrofitted at the end. We have deep experience across drug delivery devices, injection pens, orthopaedics, surgical equipment, diagnostics and medical electronics, and we can support regulatory submissions for CE marking under MDR, the US FDA and China's NMPA. If you're developing a medical product, the quality system your design partner has in place matters as much as their design capability.

What happens if my brief changes during the project?

It often does, and that's fine. Product development is iterative by nature: prototypes reveal things that briefs don't, and markets don't stand still. Our phased structure helps to minimise nasty surprises. The EXPLORE phase helps identify all the requirements to avoid costly changes of direction. Changes can be absorbed and recosted at natural review points but by thinking about all the key factors early in the project major changes can generally be avoided. We'll always be transparent about the implications of a scope change (time, cost and any knock-on effects) before we proceed.

Do I need to be near your studio to work with you?

No. We work with clients across the UK and internationally. Meeting in person is always nice but all our projects are run through structured communication, shared documentation and regular milestone reviews whether thats face to face or over Teams or Zoom calls. For clients with manufacturing or operations in China, our Shanghai studio means we have people who can be physically present at factories and production sites, not just on a call.