Not many people know that behind the awesome products we create is an awesome friendship. Ben and Rich first met 20 years ago, designing white water kayaks right here in the North West, UK. Rich fresh out of University, Ben honing his skillset. Many adventures in and out of the office later and we’re excited to announce a new streamlined outlook to Outdoor Product Design.
Outdoor Product Design was founded by Rich in 2013, and in that time has grown to become a pioneer in outdoor product design and development for leading sporting and lifestyle brands.
Our portfolio includes collaborations with world-class athletes like Sir Ben Ainsley; Paralympic Silver medallist Greg Slade and influencers such as Natacha Oceane. We’ve even designed, and manufacturing garments worn by The Princess of Wales. We’ve also worked with some amazing and inspirational start-up companies. Driving grass roots innovation through successful kick starter projects and helping breath life back into struggling brands through targeted strategic innovation.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Ben joined the team. Fresh from 6 years of freelance design experience working across the Asian manufacturing powerhouse, Ben bought a new range of skills to the company and Mouse was formed. Aimed to be a complementary sister brand to ‘Outdoor Product Design’, our goal with Mouse, was to cater to a range of industries beyond the outdoor sector.
Over the past few year’s we’ve worked with some amazing clients and developed some fantastic products across both brands. As both Mouse and Outdoor Product Design continue to grow, instead of resting on our laurels, we decided to do what we’re good at and design a better solution.
As the outdoor industry evolves, there is a noticeable increase in professionalism and collaboration with traditional design sectors. Meanwhile, traditional engineering is showing a growing inspiration from fast fashion trends. Our work spans a vast number of sectors and the crossover between them is becoming more prevalent. As industry boundaries continue to blur, the distinction between our two brands is gradually losing significance.
At the end of 2024, we’ve decided it’s time to integrate the two brands to provide streamlined operations and enhanced customer experience. This hasn’t been an easy decision, more of a strategic evolution.
Previously we were managing separate accounts, invoicing systems, branding strategies, websites, marketing efforts, and communication channels. Doubling up on so many admin tasks provided unneeded complexity.
Most importantly, fusing Mouse and Outdoor Product Design gives us space to focus on what we do best – providing exceptional product and design services to you, our customers.
No matter what your idea, or how it’s made, we’ve got you covered.
We have a proven background in the design, development and manufacture of both hard and soft goods. Our unique strength lies in seamlessly blending these two worlds to deliver perfectly harmonised products. Of course should you want hard without soft or vice versa we’ve also got that covered. This rare fusion of expertise sets us apart from other design agencies, making us your go-to destination for a comprehensive design experience.
Project turnaround time based on your deadlines.
By optimising our processes, we’ve successfully reduced our project turnaround times. This means we’re dedicated to working on your timeline, ensuring that your needs and deadlines are our top priority. Your project is our focus, and we strive to deliver results efficiently and effectively to meet your expectations.
Better designs, without limits.
By combining two distinct workflows, we have expanded our range of options for project completion. This means we are not confined to creating fabric patterns in CAD or producing tooling in graphics software. We believe in using the most suitable tools for each task at hand, ensuring that your projects are executed with precision and efficiency. Our flexible approach allows us to tailor our methods to suit the unique requirements of your project, resulting in high-quality outcomes every time.
You’re always in the loop.
As we merge our brands, we have thoroughly evaluated our entire customer journey. Through this process, we identified that the primary challenge when collaborating with an external partner is knowing exactly where you are at any given time. This is why we are committed to providing you with a detailed project timeline, alongside regular updates tailored to your preferences. Additionally, you will have direct communication with the designer assigned to your project, ensuring transparency and open dialogue throughout the creative process.
Creating an innovation culture takes your product from great to supreme.
We’ve learnt the importance of transparent communication and effective collaboration are key in achieving a successful product outcome. We have revamped our workflow to prioritise openness. Our approach now includes feedback mechanisms integrated at every stage of the process, allowing for seamless communication and active involvement from all stakeholders. By creating a culture of openness, we ensure that your vision is not only understood but also enhanced through collaborative efforts. Your input is invaluable to us, and we are committed to working hand in hand with you every step of the way to bring your product to life.
Outdoor Product Design is still here, the passion for the outdoors and designing awesome products is burning brighter than ever. It just has a new name…
