Let’s work together

Before we start

For initial consultation first 30 min complementary call would be good to get answers to the questions below.

This would help greatly to evaluate the project and prepare detailed proposal.

What is your brand?

It would be great to learn about your brand, if you have a website please do share, if you are a start up would be great to learn about your story.

I can help you establish initial brand identity and brand book if needed.

Who is your target customer?

What is your customer persona profile, which brands they shop at as your competitors.

Who are your competitors?

It would really help to see your competitors and how you compare and which direction you are moving towards to.

What would you like to design?

Is it a collection or one item.

Is that a one category such as bags or is it bags and jewellery for example.

Are there any custom components like custom prints on products, custom hardware etc.

Really need to know aesthetic and general taste likes and dislikes. The latter are really important.

What is product goal?

Are you looking for just addition to the range or product has specific goals such as elevate the brand or be a cash cow.

What is the product target retail price point?

Price point will really help to understand what’s possible within design and materials.

What is launch to market date?

It would be good to understand critical dates so can plan timeline and see what is possible within that time.

Who will manufacture product?

If you have a factory would be good to understand where it is and what is the process as that helps with materials selection and overall construction possibilities. If you need a factory I can potentially recommend options.

Where will product be sold?

Is this directly on the brand website or through a platform like Amazon or through Kickstarter. The research for product creation is slightly different depending on the way it will be sold. It would help to know which target markets it will retail - such as Europe or USA or Asia.

The consumer preferences and trends do differ.

Start

Each project and each brand is different and I absolutely love to innovate together with clients.

This is one of the ways project can start. You get first design ideas from me based on your brief.

Development

Next stage is we iterate based on your feedback to get to final designs. This is collaborative process and I tend to make sure this is aligned on margins costs. Sometimes product can be very exciting but very expensive to make.

Depending on the product sometimes there is a need for mock ups to check the silhouette and size before information is sent through to factory. This is a raw hands on development stage.

Tech pack

After we have sorted the construction out i complete tech pack for factory. You can see below one example of it - it varies depending on the product and factory.

As part of making sure everything is clear I am liaising with factory on any details that need clarifying through emails, calls and chats.

Factory sourcing

Depending on requirements I can introduce you to number of factories or source a new solution to custom print or hardware development.

I am very passionate to give clients want they want so many things are possible sometimes the limitations only time and budget.

Artisans & traditional crafts

If you are looking to add storytelling element to your luxury product and would like to work with traditional crafts be it very traditional leatherwork braiding techniques, leather moulding and hand deboss or embroideries like traditional Masai beadwork or basketry or any other crafts I am very happy to help you make it happen.

I strongly believe in supporting traditional crafts and preserving them for next generations. See below some examples of development work from Uganda, Kenya and Colombia.

Vegan leather alternatives

Dream it.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

Product development

This is where all magic is happening! First samples can look a bit different from concept but through iterations and development we get to beautiful product.

This is a very collaborative process between client, designer and sampling department. Often new and unexpected solutions arise.

Sometimes need multiple versions of pockets or handles or product silhouette to make a decision.

Wear testing

Final samples are given out to test ideally to several testers to collect material and usability feedback.

During this stage material colourways and pattern choices are also tested. This is especially important for new materials that may react unpredictable in wear.

For vegan materials strongly recommended.

Packaging

Packaging has its own lead time from sampling to production and sometimes is remembered as afterthought but the earlier design and sampling process is started the better. I can help you from concept to production. And recommend where to get labelling advice.

QC document

After product is finalised and order placed with the factory I can prepare QC documentation for quality control inspection. This is a document they will use to make sure order looks like the gold seal sample.

Product photoshoot

I can help you create direction for how product needs to be photographed to convey brand feeling and communicate trust.

This is for website product photos, concept behind photoshoot direction and also amazon infographics.

For inforgraphics look at eye tracking to make sure information is easy to read.