We are Studio17.
Your product development partner.
We tailor our team to your project for maximum impact.
Founded by David Evans and Ashley May in 2010, our mission is to help brands bring to market products and experiences their customers love, driving sales and building brand loyalty.
We maintain a small core multidisciplinary team, supported by our extended network of trusted associates that are experts in particular fields, from electronics engineering, to medical compliance and complex mechanical engineering. That way, we remain agile, lean, and can tailor our resource to your exact requirements - delivering value, speed and focus.
David Evans
Co-Founder
Co-founder alongside Ashley May. David’s pragmatic approach to product design is born from his strategic-minded outlook on a clients’ business - making sure we always deliver for the customer, and the brand.
Ashley May
Co-Founder
Co-founder of Studio17 alongside David Evans. Ashley’s adept in turning sometimes complex technical solutions into intuitive, effortless and beautiful products that resonate with the consumer.
Tom Harding
Senior Designer
Tom holds an MDES in Product Design from the esteemed Coventry University. His professional experience includes roles at Atomic Skis and Design Storz in Austria, where he honed his skills in design and innovation.
Anthony Waite
Design Associate
Anthony’s automotive design background gives him an excellent appreciation for surface form and volume, which is complemented by a robust understanding of engineering, materials, and production processes.
Mike Hankin
Design Associate
Mike is a multi award-winning designer and educator with expertise in product innovation, design strategy and industrial design. He teaches design and design theory at universities around the world.
Sandy Blackwell
Administration
Sandy’s organisational prowess ensures the administration and project planning taken care of, allowing the rest of the team to deliver for the client.
Our experience transcends the design of physical products. From market insights to strategic descision making, which informs the design and manufacturing of the very product itself, the tone of the marketing, and the sales channels.
It’s these vital conversations that can be the difference between failure and success.
What we do.
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We identify underlying trends and market forces and position business’ and products for success.
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We understand what’s required to bootstrap an idea. We create compelling product stories that attract investment and grant funding.
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From trademarks, to design registrations and patents. We can support in creating and protecting valuable IP.
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We consistently bring to market user-centric product innovation. Our expertise includes:
Injection Moulding
Compression Moulding
Machining and casting
Additive manufacturing
Glass and Composite
Mechanical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Colour, Material, Finish
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Devices and systems that are intuitive, safe, and comply with regulations.
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We’ve collaborated with leading vehicle manufacturers, from eScooters to monorails.
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We support business’ with setting up their own manufacturing, or partnering with trusted suppliers.
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3D Package Design
Environmental Impact
Shipping Impact
Graphics
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Brand Identity and naming
Tone of voice
Copyrighting
Logo Design
Trademarks
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We’re able to create the right message for your business and product.
CGI Image and Animation
Videography
Photography
Art Direction
We start by asking questions, absorbing ourselves in your world. Once we fully understand your mission, we embark on our staged approach - uncovering new insights and perspectives for a consolidated, highly focussed strategy for your product roadmap.
01. Discovery
By analysing consumer trends, observing user habits, and considering the prevailing politial, economic, socialogical, technological, legal and environmental conditions, we hone in on how best to position a business, and its products for success.
Specifically, we drill down on the everyday problems its consumers have, however small, as the basis for product solutions to exist.
02. Opportunity
We conduct group brainstorming sessions with written conceptual ideas, and filter down to the ones that best serve the user. It is only at this point that we pick up a pen, and sketch up simple conceptual executions of each idea.
Though another round of filtering, and more refine sketching, do we select the most effective conceptual design that best solves the problems identified in the research.
03. Refine
With a definied concept, we begin the process of refining the concept into a functional, aesthetic and commercial product. We extensively sketch out the core functionality, which we prove out using simple prototypes.
We develop the form language, using a combingation of sketching, 3D CAD modelling, and CGI. We produced mmore advacned prototypes to validate advanced functionbality, aesthetics and materials.
Crucially, it is at this stage we engage a manufacturing partner, ensuring what we are proposing can be made to meet our c
We iterate and repeat this process until we arrive at commercial, enviromental and quality standards.
04. Deliver
We issue product data to manufacturing partners, who will liase with us for any final adjustments to ensure repeatability in production. We can assist on final CMF (Colour, finish, materials), as well as market video and imagery, both from CGI data, optionally Ai enhanced, or through videograpy and photography shoots and art direction.
How we do it.
All done under one roof in Cambridge.
We’re based at ARCC, the ‘Abington Research Centre Cambridge’, one of the UK’s leading R&D sites, just a short drive from the M11 and Stansted airport. Developed from a former farm, our inspiring design studio and workshop overlooks rural Cambridgeshire, and is a sanctuary for free thinking and product innovation.
Our site incorporates an ajoining laboratory, with both FDM and SLS 3D printing, aswell as electronic design and test equipment. The workshop area houses a suite of CnC machines and lathes, as well as EDM wire eroding and vibro polishing, ensuring we are well equipped to efficiently realise prototypes in-house.
How do I start?
Our 3 step introduction process is without any commitment from you. We’ll respect your confidentiality and sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) where appropriate. If we’re not the right fit for you, we’ll be up front and tell you. In fact, we actively encourage you to speak to several agencies. Collaborating with a design partner is about more than experience, capabilties or process; it’s about human to human trust. Trust that we can deliver for you and your business.
01 - Get in Touch
Whether you’re an established business, a start-up or an individual with an idea, get in touch either over the phone, via email, or through our enquiry form. We’re delighted to provide free advice or guidance.
02 - Scoping Meeting
Based on our initial contact, we’ll arrange a mutually convenient consultation with our design Directors, either via a video call or in person, to fully understand your aspirations for the project. We’ll walk you through our relevant capabilities and design process, and discuss if you need a complete end-to-end service, or support in specific areas.
03 - Your Proposal Document
Next, it’s over to us. We create your dedicated project proposal document, based on our meeting. This will detail key development stages and deliverables against an acheivable timetable.. This document will also include costings for each stage, so everything is clear and upfront.
Why not browse through our FAQ’s, or if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, get in touch with us.
