FAQ
How to choose an industrial design partner?
Choosing the right industrial design partner can decide whether a product becomes clear, manufacturable and successful — or stays stuck between idea and reality. These questions help you evaluate studios and partners.
1. Do they understand both design and engineering?
Many studios focus only on visuals. For hardware products, you need a partner who can connect industrial design with engineering, materials and manufacturing. Ask how they move from concept to production.
2. Have they worked on products like yours?
Look for relevant experience in your industry or product type — for example medical devices, energy hardware, IoT products, consumer electronics or smart building systems. Case studies should show process, not only images.
3. Can they show real outcomes?
A strong partner can explain the challenge, their role, key decisions and the result. Ask: What problem did the product solve? What changed through the design process? What went into production?
4. How do they collaborate with your team?
Clarify communication, decision-making and deliverables. Good partners integrate with founders, engineers and suppliers instead of working in isolation.
5. Do they think about manufacturing early?
Beautiful concepts that cannot be produced create delays and cost. Ask how they handle Design for Manufacturing, prototyping, tooling and supplier communication.
6. Are they the right size for your stage?
Early startups often need speed and focus. Larger companies may need structured documentation and longer collaboration. Choose a partner whose working style matches your project stage.
7. Is the chemistry right?
Product development is collaborative. You should feel that the partner listens, challenges assumptions and explains decisions clearly.
What our clients say about working with us
„Fabian Baumann and his Studio Formfjord are a long term and very close partner of ubitricity. Fabian effectively translates the company's needs into a clean and professional product design. His technical skills in complex and even highly regulated environments and his own partner network are extremely valuable. Fabian combines quick and at the same time stable design approaches, which is one of the best things imaginable when including external partners in a dynamic market like e-mobility. We are proud to name Fabian part of the ubitricity family“
Philipp Sindberg
Teamlead Hardware Development,
ubitricity (Member of the Shell Group)
"Formfjord was largely responsible for the industrial design of the Bosch Vivalytic System. Working with Fabian was a great pleasure! He is an exceptional industrial designer who knows how to combine user-centred concepts with elegant design and, above all, with his engineering knowledge for industrial feasibility. The great result of his work was honoured with the RedDot and the iF Award "
Karsten Seidl
Professor at University of Duisburg-Essen
and Head of Department at Fraunhofer IMS,
former Productmanager Bosch Healthcare Solutions GmbH
"Working with Formfjord was a win-win situation from day one. Their design solutions are not only aesthetically pleasing and of high quality, but also well thought out down to the last detail - functional, feasible and market-oriented. We particularly appreciate the pro-active thinking, the clear communication and the adherence to deadlines, which we could always rely on. Formfjord is a real partner for us in product development."
Patrick Gotzler
Founder and CEO novolto
Formfjord is proud member of IDZ (Internationalen Design Zentrum Berlin).
An Interview between IDZ and our founder Fabian Baumann can be found here:
Formfjord / Fabian Baumann
Westhofener Weg 5
14129 Berlin
Germany
+ 49 (0)179 70 10 633
mail@formfjord.com
Formfjord 2026