Insight and experience, concentrated
Farewell to 2016, Hello to 2017
As 2016 draws to a close, we count our collaborations as our most precious highlights – understanding that the experiences we explore and the work we create are inseparable from the company we keep. We look forward to 2017 with excitement, and wish to count our current partners among those highlights again, alongside some […]
Does Big Data Always Equal Big Understanding?
** This is a re-post of a past article from 2013 that is highly relevant today. Some lessons need constant reminders to take hold. Lots of chatter about Big Data out there these days. Huge possibilities lie ahead for those who can use it smartly, but there’s a flip side for those who […]
Marking An Occasion
We would be remiss if we let this July come to a close without noting that it marks our first full year of business as Distill Product Development. It has been a fun and challenging year of deep familiarity infused with fresh changes. With over 20 years of collaboration under our belts, it is […]
Summer ID Internship with Distill-PD
Distill-PD is currently searching for an Industrial Design intern to join us for the summer. Candidates should have junior or higher status in an accredited Industrial Design program. Position details available here. To apply for this position, candidates must provide a cover letter/resume and portfolio sample (under 10MB) that represents a cross section of […]
The Coming Storm…
“Let’s brainstorm on this – I’ll check schedules and reserve a room…” Do those words fill you with anticipation or dread? Often characterized by playful exercises and “absolutely no criticism” decrees to force us out of figurative boxes, I can understand why some of the more pragmatic types amongst us may look at it […]
Is Your Design A Pile Of Garbage?
This video made the rounds on the internet a while ago. I later realized that it inadvertently illustrated a pitfall many young designers fall victim to – in this instance exploited in reverse as a wonderful surprise. Many of the tools we use in product design are 2D in nature, with many that purport […]
Take A Step Back, Squint If You Must…
Architect Eliel Saarinen once stated: “Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context – a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.” This is wonderful advice for designers, and an important principle to keep in mind for […]
Being My Father’s Son (why you are no longer the typical user)
I was at a design conference in Seattle talking with a colleague when it arrived with a buzz. Instead of the sweet note of longing I hoped for, I received this vaguely foreboding statement – and I deserved it. A little background… My father had a way with cars. He had the intuition and touch, […]
Brand Is A Melody
Defining a visual/emotional target for a new product is at the heart of what every designer does. It is one of our “bread and butter” skills. Things get exponentially more interesting when the challenge shifts to a line of products instead of simply one. Does the line of offerings have similar basic forms to […]
Insight Steers The Ship
A while ago, I attended a talk by James Ludwig of Steelcase. This event was presented as part of the MIAD Creativity Series, and it was a wonderful opportunity to hear a design leader share some insights. Discovery World’s inspiring surroundings and mission certainly didn’t hurt the evening’s proceedings… While James shared several interesting […]
