Stuck between product idea and production? We've done this 1,000 times.
A senior team of 35 taking products from first concept through production-ready manufacturing, under one roof.
- 1,000+ products across medical, industrial, consumer, and cleantech
- Working prototypes in as few as six weeks
- Your IP stays yours, NDA on request
Trusted by
What we solve
Click any scenario to see the disciplines and past work behind it.
You have an existing product that needs a redesign or electronics upgrade
Updated electronics, better UX, cost reduction, or new regulatory compliance.
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electronics Design
- DFM Optimization
- Regulatory
You're building a regulated medical or safety-critical device
High-speed Air-driven dental drill designed system, prototyped, tested, and custom manufacturing setup.
ProDrive Universal High-Speed Dental Drill System
Mechanical design + testing and regulatory + DFM
- Mechanical Engineering
- Prototype + Test
- DFM Optimization
- FDA + Health Canada
You have a working prototype that needs to become production-ready
Award-winning 4K video production system, industrial design refresh to volume manufacturing.
Epiphan Pearl 4K Video Production System
Industrial design + mechanical + thermal management + DFM
- Industrial Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- Prototyping
- DFM Optimization
You need to take a new product from concept to manufacturing in under 12 months
Magnetic self-coiling USB-C cable designed and launched in three months, now Amazon best selling USB-C cable
Lūp Cable - Self Organizing Magnetic Cable
Electronics + testing and regulatory + DFM
- Electrical Engineering
- Firmware
- DFM Optimization
- Regulatory
You need electronics, firmware, or IoT integration added to a mechanical product
World’s first IoT sump pump alarm, designed and manufactured globally.
Liberty Pumps NightEye™ IoT Sump Pump Alarm
Electronics + firmware + IoT + industrial design + DFM
- Industrial Design
- Firmware + IOT
- Thermal Testing
- DFM Optimization
You’re not sure what stage you’re at and need development plan
Top-selling toddler door sensor, from Arduino prototype to mass production.
Toddler Monitor Safety Door Sensor
Electronics + firmware + industrial design + app connectivity + DFM
- Industrial Design
- IOT + Bluetooth Integration
- Prototyping
- DFM Optimization
Looking for a full list?
Selected projects
A sample from 1,000+ products developed since 1997.
- Commercial, Industry, sensor, Technology, Touch, wireless
Industry, Commercial
- Battery, Case Studies, Client Type, Industry, sensor, Smart Connected Devices, Startup, wireless
Industry, Smart Connected Devices
- Audio, Industry, Smart Office, Startup, Technology, Telecom, Voice
Industry, Smart Office
- Breath, Case Studies, Health & Wellness, Industry, Medical Devices, sensor, Smart Connected Devices, Soft Goods, Startup, Technology, Wearable
Industry, Health & Wellness
- Air, Case Studies, Health & Wellness, Industry, Medical Devices, Startup
Industry, Health & Wellness
- Battery, Case Studies, Heat, Industry, Light, Medical Devices, RF Technology, Sexual Wellness, Smart Connected Devices, Startup, Waterproof, wireless
Industry, Medical Devices
- Battery, Established, Industry, Medical Devices, RF Technology, sensor, Smart Connected Devices, Technology, Touch, Wearable
Industry, Medical Devices
- Health & Wellness, Industry, Inventor, Medical Devices, Soft Goods, Technology, Touch
Industry, Health & Wellness
- Assistive Devices, Industry, Medical Devices, sensor, Soft Goods, Startup, Wearable
Industry, Assistive Devices
- Audio, Industry, Smart Office, Startup, Technology, Telecom, Voice
Industry, Smart Office
- Consumer, Health & Wellness, Industry, Inventor
Industry, Consumer
- Audio, Consumer, Established, Industry, Technology
Industry, Consumer
- Audio, Commercial, Established, Industry, Technology, Video
Industry, Commercial
- Industry, Mining Equipment, Rugged, sensor, Smart Connected Devices, Startup, Technology, Waterproof, wireless
Industry, Mining Equipment
- Battery, Client Type, Consumer, Industry, Inventor, Smart Office, Technology
Industry, Consumer
- Battery, Consumer, Industry, Inventor, Rugged, Touch, Waterproof, wireless
Industry, Consumer
- Consumer, Heat, Industry, Inventor, Rugged, Waterproof
Industry, Consumer
- Consumer, Established, Heat, Industry, Rugged, Waterproof
Industry, Consumer
- Case Studies, Client Type, Consumer, Heat, Industry, RF Technology, Startup, Technology, Video
Industry, Consumer
- Air, Cleantech, Consumer, Fluid, Industry, Inventor, Technology
Industry, Cleantech
- Air, Cleantech, Fluid, Industry, Space & Defense, Startup, Technology, Waterproof
Industry, Cleantech
- Air, Cleantech, Consumer, Fluid, Industry, Inventor, Technology
Industry, Cleantech
- Cleantech, Commercial, Established, Industry, Light, Rugged, Waterproof
Industry, Cleantech
- Cleantech, Industry, Inventor, Light, sensor, Smart Connected Devices, Technology, wireless
Industry, Cleantech
Trusted by startups, OEMs, and Fortune 500 teams
We’ve been building physical products since 1997. Here’s what that looks like.
1,000+
Products Developed
Medical, industrial, consumer, cleantech
25+
Years in Business
Founded 1997, Ottawa Canada
35
Senior Professionals
Design, engineering, firmware, supply chain
8
Disciplines
No outsourcing, no handoff gaps
Industries we work in
- Medical Devices
- Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Electronics
- Cleantech & Energy
- Mining & Resources
- Telecom & IoT
- Robotics & Automation
- Transportation
Why companies choose Design 1st
From first-time founders to engineering teams at public companies.
"We ended up with the best product in dentistry. FDA approval very, very fast. Design 1st came through."
David Turner
Dentist & Founder
“I did extensive due diligence and Design 1st had the deepest bench of technical talent. Their broad range of commercialized products gave me confidence, and their prototype work helped us move from powder substrate to commercial product.”
Kurt Francis, CTO
Molecule · Ireland
“Design 1st took our Cobot from concept through final testing, handling electrical, mechanical, software, and manufacturing in one team. They developed our tank access system, finalized the swabbing robot, and responded quickly to every change.”
Richard Mineo, CEO and Founder
Swabbot· North Carolina
“We selected Design 1st because their team demonstrated the right creativity and technical understanding. Using advanced CAD and modeling tools, they addressed design challenges and delivered an easy-to-install, powerful marine hatch fan.”
Mike Tettenborn, Lead Engineer
Caframo · Ontario
Awards & Certifications
70+ awards across design and engineering
iF Design 2023
Grands Prix 2021
iF Design 2023
A' Design 2021
ACIDO
IoT Evolution 2023
IDA 2021
Mining Tech 2022
Meet the Team
See how our integrated team takes products from concept to production
James Henderson, VP of Product Design, walks through our process and how 8 disciplines work together on every project.
James Henderson
VP of Product Design · Design 1st
How we've helped companies like yours
Real projects, real outcomes. From first sketch to production line.
Meet the Team
See how our integrated team takes products from concept to production
James Henderson, VP of Product Design, walks through our process and how 8 disciplines work together on every project.
James Henderson
VP of Product Design · Design 1st
Medical
Full Development
Neurostimulation device redesign for FDA clearance
- Electronics + enclosure redesigned
- Transferred to contract manufacturer
Consumer
Concept → Mfg
Remote Drone Garage and Re-charging Station
- Complete development in under 12 months
- DFM for low volume production
EdTech / IoT
Electronics + Firmware
IoT education platform with connected hardware
- Full electronics and firmware dev
- Deployed in institutions
Have a product that needs building?
Tell us about your project and we’ll put together a development plan and timeline. No commitment, no pitch deck. Just a straight conversation about what it takes.
what happens next
- We review your brief
- You receive an NDA + D1 overview
- 30-minute intro call
- Development plan with timeline and budget
Prefer to talk?
Send Us Your Brief
We reply within 1 business day with an NDA and a next step.
"(Required)" indicates required fields
Your brief stay confidential. NDA signed before any details are shared internally.
what happens next
- We review your brief
- You receive an NDA + D1 overview
- 30-minute intro call
- Development plan with timeline and budget