Finding top industrial design companies is more than just identifying experts in industry trends and technologies. Leveraging our agency knowledge and database, we listed the best industrial design firms based on their niche, industry focus, case studies, client testimonials and more.
Table of Contents
- What Is an Industrial Design Agency?
- Our Picks for the Best Industrial Design Agencies in 2023
- Mindsailors Industrial Design: Best Overall
- Deck5 industrial design + communication: Best for Long-Term Collaborations
- National Center of Design and Innovations 2050.LAB: Best for International Collaborations
- SHEPP Industrial Design: Best for Product Design Strategy
- Kaalo: Best for Enterprise-Level Projects
- unyt.berlin GmbH & Co. KG: Best for High-Tech Designs
- Studio Red: Best for Corporate Projects
- Bresslergroups: Best for Unique Products
- The Product Group: Best for Challenging Projects
- Idea to Life: Best for Invention Projects
- How We Picked the Best Industrial Design Agencies
What Is an Industrial Design Agency?
An industrial design agency develops technical concepts and designs physical products, systems and end-to-end services for a wide array of manufacturing industries including vehicles, electronics, home appliances and more.
These experts create and optimize specifications that enhance function, value and appearance of products and systems for the mutual benefit of both the end-user and the manufacturer. In addition to combining aesthetics, usability and ergonomics into a final product, the work of an industrial design company encompasses engineering, market placement and user-oriented concerns such as psychology, goals, needs and emotional connection.
Our Picks for the Best Industrial Design Agencies in 2023
Mindsailors Industrial Design: Best Overall
- Minimum project price: Inquire
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 2005
- Services: Engineering design, conceptual design, product design, production supervision and more
Mindsailors Industrial Design is the best industrial design agency because they impeccably combine industrial design and embedded development expertise to turn concepts into marketable products.
- Why we chose them: Over a period of 15 years, they have built a strong portfolio of industrial design projects, ranging from medical to consumer electronics. Their impressive track record is further underscored by the awards they have received over the years. Since 2007, Mindsailors has been consistently recognized for their professionalism, such as receiving iF Product Design Award several times.
- What you should consider: When it comes to assessing your budget when collaborating with Mindsailors Industrial Design, contact them for their hourly rates and minimal project values, as the rates are shared per inquiry.
- Who are they for: Mindsailors Industrial Design is for projects that need strong expertise in medical devices. One of their case studies, AioCare, is an ultraportable spirometer that can connect to your smartphone. It was produced by their expert team for mobile solutions and telemedicine.
Deck5 industrial design + communication: Best for Long-Term Collaborations
- Minimum project price: $10,000 - $25,000
- Hourly rate: $100
- Founded: 2001
- Services: Graphic design, package design, UI/UX design, exterior design and more
Deck5 is the best industrial design firm for long-term collaborations. Since its founding in 2001, they have consistently delivered high-quality solutions in product presentation and sustainable industrial design.
- Why we chose them: Some of their long-standing customers are Bosch, Esprit, Jägermeister, Red Bull, RENÉ LEZARD, Xiamen Five Continents International Trading Co Geldermann and more. This proves their industrial design capabilities and understanding of different markets, from food and beverage to the auto industry. They also have several awards, including iF Product Design Award (2009 and 2015) and the Red Dot Design Award 2017.
- What you should consider: If you operate under a certain niche, it is best to inquire whether the agency has the necessary in-house expertise. In addition, their minimal budget is $10,000, so you can plan your project’s finances.
- Who are they for: Deck5 can handle various projects, as they can develop products from operating room lights to toothbrushes and packaging. They are for different sized companies, from startups with MVP ideas to well-established enterprises.
National Center of Design and Innovations 2050.LAB: Best for International Collaborations
- Minimum project price: Inquire
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 2019
- Services: Interior design, conceptual design, logo design, graphic design and more
National Center of Design and Innovations 2050.LAB is the best industrial design company for international collaborations. It is a global ecosystem that extends beyond industrial design to business culture, environment and thought design.
- Why we chose them: The agency has a track record of successful long-term partnerships with National University of Science and Technology MISIS that delivers a solid product with a high-complexity prototyping center that meets international standards. They received prestigious honors including the Red Dot Design Award and iF Product Design Award. In addition, 2050.LAB has strong strategic partnerships with Locotech, Ctrl2GO Group and Autodesk, further demonstrating their commitment to innovation.
- What you should consider: Hourly rates and a minimal budget are shared per inquiry. Before budgeting and planning your finances, contact National Center of Design and Innovations 2050.LAB to get clear information about price packages.
- Who are they for: They are perfect for full-service product design and development projects. Projects in all economic sectors, from light industry to heavy engineering, can also be implemented.
SHEPP Industrial Design: Best for Product Design Strategy
- Minimum project price: $1,000 - $10,000
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 2016
- Services: Product design, strategic design, product development, contract manufacturing and more
SHEPP Industrial Design is the best industrial design company for impactful products. They offer research, design, development and manufacturing expertise to creative businesses so they can develop and maintain their product lines.
- Why we chose them: SHEPP Industrial Design has a proven track record of successful product launches with responsive, flexible and tailor-made collaboration solutions. According to MicroGEM, they played an integral part in the development strategy for the world's first saliva-based PCR (Point-of-Care) system.
- What you should consider: The team is focused on tech-based projects, mostly in the medical or electronics fields. If your project fits different purposes, contact them to check if their team has experts in your niche.
- Who are they for: SHEPP Industrial Design specializes in high-tech, med-tech, safety, consumer and electronic devices. If your project fits in any of these niches, SHEPP Industrial Design can provide your business with solutions.
Kaalo: Best for Enterprise-Level Projects
- Minimum project price: $50,000 & Up
- Hourly rate: $200
- Founded: 1993
- Services: Design strategy, product research, engineering design, VR/AR and more
Kaalo is another top industrial design company because they have continually delivered top-notch enterprise-level industrial design projects since 1993.
- Why we chose them: As attested by clients: Dell, Ferno-Washington, HP and Forbes Technosys, Kaalo provides top-quality industrial design services. World-renowned brands trust the team of industrial designers to help them develop augmented reality projects, smart home products, fitness project Mirage hydrotherapy and emergency medical services solutions for Triage patient transportation.
- What you should consider: Their projects are large and complex; startup structure is not what they aim for. As their hourly rate is $200, it is best to call them to find a suitable package for your budget.
- Who are they for: Kaalo is completely trusted with NDA projects due to its SOC2 accreditation, together with enterprise-level security. If you aim for secure and robust projects for the long run, this team of experts is right for you.
Industrial Design Fact: The global industrial design market is predicted to reach over $62 billion by 2028. [Business Research Insight]
unyt.berlin GmbH & Co. KG: Best for High-Tech Designs
- Minimum project price: $1,000 - $10,000
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 2017
- Services: Design thinking, sustainable design, product design, digital design and more
unyt.berlin GmbH & Co. KG is the best industrial design company for high-tech designs focused on capital goods and high-tech systems. It carries out a wide range of projects, from building technology, intralogistics or automation to providing support for industrial design, IoT, graphic design, wearable technology and VR/AR.
- Why we chose them: Global clients, such as Wilo SE, nVent HOFFMAN, Lincoln Electric, Continental AG, BARTEC, state that unyt.berlin has high-quality production services. As confirmed by Vice President of the Wilo SE in the testimonial, despite the tight technical framework, unyt.berlin GmbH & Co. KG developed the concept fully.
- What you should consider: The company is focused on automation and high-tech industrial design. If your project falls outside this niche, contact the team to explore potential areas for collaboration.
- Who are they for: The agency handles different business sizes and backgrounds, from startups to enterprise-level businesses looking for innovative product designs.
Studio Red: Best for Corporate Projects
- Minimum project price: $10,000 - $25,000
- Hourly rate: $198
- Founded: 1983
- Services: Engineering design, product design, brand product, UX/UI and more
Studio Red is the best industrial design firm for corporate projects on our list. Established in 1983 in the Silicon Valley, their areas of expertise include designing award-winning projects in mechanical engineering, prototyping, low-volume production services, industrial, ergonomic, user experience and graphic user interface design.
- Why we chose them: Some of their clients are international corporations like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Target, Medtronic, Maquet, Cisco and Ericsson. The industrial design team at Studio Red is best known for its significant contributions, from Osborne 3/Morrow Pivot Prototype in the 1980s to the latest products such as 10X Genomics Xenium, an instrument that detects the cellular localization of hundreds of RNA strands.
- What you should consider: Their hourly rate is $198/hr. If you’re unsure about committing to this pricing, contact them to confirm their availability and different pricing packages.
- Who are they for: Startup projects and similar MVP projects can lean on Studio Red, but their focus is on larger structures and long-term collaborations.
Industrial Design Fact: The U.S. federal government spent more than $64 million on industrial design contracts in 2022. [Anything Research]
Bresslergroups: Best for Unique Products
- Minimum project price: $10,000 - $25,000
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 1970
- Services: Product design, AWS, software development, UI/UX design and more
Another top pick for the best industrial design companies is Bresslergroups, founded upon user-centered product design more than 50 years ago. Forward-thinking designers and innovative strategists and engineers have earned more than 230 patents and 100 major design awards.
- Why we chose them: Their products are globally renowned, such as BK Ultrasound bundle, a game-changing technology and an award-winning medical device, giving users a real-time view of their tissue layers.
- What you should consider: Their minimum budget is $10,000, so you should plan your finances accordingly. They work with both startups and larger teams, so contact them to see their pricing structure for your project.
- Who are they for: Their work ranges widely, from IoT-connected consumer goods to scientific and medical niches. Bresslergroups can collaborate both with US-based and foreign clients, ranging from startups to major brands.
The Product Group: Best for Challenging Projects
- Minimum project price: $1,000 - $10,000
- Hourly rate: $120
- Founded: 1989
- Services: Engineering design, product design, prototype development, offshore manufacturing and more
The Product Group is the best industrial design firm for taking on challenging niche projects, ranging from medical and scientific to power tools and transport.
- Why we chose them: This award-winning engineering and industrial design firm has decades of experience developing innovative products and taking ideas to realization. Gelpole confirmed that the expert team in The Product Group successfully developed their brand name and graphics, as well as engineered the gel dispenser. The Product Group also provides engineering solutions such as electricity meter for home and office, pistol corded nutrunnerpistol or manual water filter pump.
- What you should consider: Having a long-standing industry history, the company has established processes and methods for managing projects. Talk to them openly about your plans and type of management to ensure a smooth partnership.
- Who are they for: From startups and SMBs to enterprises, these experts have worked on numerous projects with different backgrounds and niches for 3 decades and counting.
Idea to Life: Best for Invention Projects
- Minimum project price: Inquire
- Hourly rate: Inquire
- Founded: 2019
- Services: Product design, package design, concept design, market research, prototyping and more
Idea to Life is the final best industrial design agency because of their unwavering focus to use idea development and accessible industrial design to help businesses realize their ideas.
- Why we chose them: Their expertise is the leading reason for their strong reputation, according to their clients such as Cobweb Winder, Pistone and Razorector. They are specialized in building innovative products from the ground up, from consumer products (ecological, agriculture) to certified medical products such as COVID-19 patient isolation hood, face shields and more.
- What you should consider: Their hourly rates and minimal budget are per inquiry, so contact them before starting to plan your budget.
- Who are they for: Idea to Life can help you from prototyping to manufacturing, so be sure to share your plan with them. They are for blueprints and startups, but also for improving your current products.
How We Picked the Best Industrial Design Agencies
The ways we evaluate industrial design agencies are based on certain KPIs in the industry.
First, we understand their focus niches and industries, then see their list of awards and successfully implemented long-term projects. After that, we review their case studies to make sure that the team’s expertise can fully help their clients.
We also read previous clients’ reviews and testimonials that include efficiency, cooperation, and feedback on product success. Industrial design companies are following certain requirements to prove their expertise which are:
- Education and experience of team members
- Proof of project leadership and good in-house organization
- Ability to understand diverse markets and industries
- Creative and innovative solutions
- And more
You can learn more about our agency selection criteria here.