News

In an article published in the Aircraft Interior Expo 2012 show guide, Rob Bass...

In an article published in the Aircraft Interior Expo 2012 show guide, Rob Bassil explains the benefits of DCA's integrated approach to the development of aircraft interior solutions. 

In this approach, we not only address the design, engineering, manufacturing and in-service aspects of the solution in parallel.  We also work with our preferred certication partners from the very earliest stages of the programme to ensure that a feasible route to achieving approvals and certification is thoroughly mapped out for all our concepts well in advance of the ITCM milestone.

This fully integrated approach has already proved its worth on two recent projects at DCA and we are convinced that it offers the best route for the time and cost efficent delivery of aircraft interior development programmes.

Full Aircraft Interior Expo 2012 article (pdf)

We were very pleased by the positive response from all the visitors to ou...

We were very pleased by the positive response from all the visitors to our stand at the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. 

It was great to meet so many industry professionals there and exchange thoughts on the future of aircraft interior design.

It was clear throughout the three days of the show that our integrated development approach has really struck a chord within the aircraft interiors industry.  It was also gratifying to see the level of interest from all sections of the market in the new economy seating concept that formed the main focus of our show stand.

DCA are honoured to announce that we have received a Queen's Award for...

DCA are honoured to announce that we have received a Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

"The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the highest accolade a business can receive," says Mark Prisk, Enterprise Minister. "The standard of this year's winners highlights the great work being done by businesses of all sizes to help boost the growth of the UK economy." 

"...the highest ever standard of entries, according to the judges - marks a timely achievement in the Monarch's Diamond Jubilee year," writes Brian Groom in the Financial Times (FT Weekend 21/4/12). 

The Awards are made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an advisory committee which includes representatives of government, industry and commerce, and the trade unions. The Awards, which were inaugurated in 1966, are a prestigious form of approval and show how successful a business is.

Robert Woolston, DCA's Managing Director, commented: "We are so proud to have been granted this award and pleased for the growth and performance of DCA to be recognised in such an exciting way. The Board of Directors would like to thank all of our staff and clients for making this possible."

Link to a full list of winners for 2012

GlaxoSmithKline’s  Ribena brand has rolled out its largest drinks la...

GlaxoSmithKline’s  Ribena brand has rolled out its largest drinks launch in over 20 years this month, Ribena Plus.

GSK nutritional design team has worked in partnership with DCA to create the structural packaging for the major launch of its Ribena Plus extension, which went on sale in the UK at the end of February.

Backed by a £6m marketing spend, the new Ribena Plus is targeting primarily young women and mothers looking for products with functional and perceived health benefits for themselves and their families.

The revamped juice drink builds on the success of traditional Ribena but with added vitamins and minerals designed to appeal to an increasingly health conscious market. The graphic branding is by the GSK nutritional design team in partnership with Aesop.

The new bottle shape draws upon the heritage of the existing Ribena bottle, but brings a more engaging look and contemporary feel through accentuated curves for greater grab-ability of the pack.

Link to 'FMCG' in 'Consumer'

Nick Mival is interviewed to explain how DCA continues to expand as a business

Nick Mival is interviewed to explain how DCA continues to expand as a business

‘Through 2011 DCA enjoyed another year of internal development and external recognition. The Warwick based product design and development consultancy again topped the Design Week rankings for product design, won more design awards and improved its position in the Sunday Times FastTrack 100 for international export.’ 

New Design article - 'Good Behaviour', with DCA's Nick Mival (pdf)

Visit New Design Magazine website

DCA will be exhibiting for the first time this year at the Aircraft Interiors E...

DCA will be exhibiting for the first time this year at the Aircraft Interiors Expo to be held at the Hamburg Messe in Germany from 27th to 29th March.

As the global market leader for the world’s aircraft interiors industry, this event showcases tomorrow’s designs, in-flight entertainment, connectivity and passenger services.

Visitors will have the chance to meet with 500 industry suppliers and network with senior level professionals from over 90 countries.

We would be pleased to welcome you at Stand 7H55 in Hall B7 to describe our integrated approach to design and certification on major aircraft interior development projects.  We can also discuss how we applied this approach successfully to a recent design and prototyping project for one of the top five international suppliers of aircraft interior solutions.

Link to the Aircraft Interiors Expo website

Link to 'Transport'

Following an extensive tender process to which DCA lent design and illustration...

Following an extensive tender process to which DCA lent design and illustration support, ULTra has reached an agreement with the Punjab government to build a personal rapid transit (PRT) system in Amritsar in India, home to the famous Sikh shrine – the Golden Temple.

The temple is visited by as many as 500,000 Sikh pilgrims during major holidays. Because of concerns about the potential damage to the building’s facade caused by exhaust fumes, the government has banned non-essential motor vehicle traffic within a one- to two-kilometre radius of the shrine, so pilgrims currently have to walk or hire pedal-powered rickshaws to reach the temple.  ULTra’s zero-emission PRT system will offer these pilgrims an alternative transport option.

Once installed, the PRT system will consist of 200 automated electric pods and will shuttle an average of 100,000 passengers per day along 3.3 kilometers of track linking seven stations including the city’s principal bus station, the railroad terminal and the Golden Temple itself.

Construction on the system is due to begin in 2012, with the service scheduled to start in late 2014.

 Link to 'Recent work' in 'Transport'

DCA will once again be exhibiting at Pharmapack, Grande Halle de la Villette, P...

DCA will once again be exhibiting at Pharmapack, Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris.
15th & 16th February 2012
Stand no: 237

The pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery technology event not to be missed!

Continuing the success of previous editions, Pharmapack Europe 2012 will welcome over 2,800 key stakeholders, from pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and veterinary laboratories and other medical companies. By combining conferences and a technological showcase, the event offers a comprehensive overview of the latest new products and trends.

There will be a wealth of new products to discover at the exhibition, with over 260 leading international companies specialising in design, manufacturing and supply of products and services for pharmaceutical packaging.

Also featuring over 40 top level conference papers presented by international experts from the industry, summarising market trends and technological innovations for improving compliance and enhancing patient safety and protection. Changing regulations and emerging technologies for drug delivery systems are also major topics at the 2012 show.

If you would like to make an appointment to see us while you are attending please contact:

Jane Phillips – Medical Marketing, jane.phillips@dca-design.com, +44 (0) 1926 483 108

We look forward to seeing you at the show.

Link to 'Medical and Scientific'

DCA has enhanced its product testing facilities with the addition of a Binder M...

DCA has enhanced its product testing facilities with the addition of a Binder MKF240 environmental simulation chamber.

This allows products to be tested and developed in atmospheric temperatures from -40°C to 180°C and humidities from 10%RH to 98%RH. Wherever your products are destined for, from Siberia to the Sahara, DCA's engineers can now simulate those conditions in the lab.

The large interior volume of 240 litres allows a wide range of products and rigs to be tested, while time-sequenced changes of temperature and humidity can be precisely programmed, automatically run, and accurately recorded using the comprehensive control and logging systems.

Link to 'Test rigs and prototypes' in 'Engineering'

DCA has purchased a 3D Systems Projet HD3000 Plus printer to expand our in-hous...

DCA has purchased a 3D Systems Projet HD3000 Plus printer to expand our in-house rapid prototyping capability. 

The HD3000 Plus was selected following an extensive assessment exercise that covered the full range of available state-of-the-art systems.  During this assessment, the HD3000 Plus proved to be the only product capable of delivering 3D models to the resolution and accuracy required to support DCA’s demanding product design and engineering activities.

This additional in-house capability provides us with the quickest possible turnaround from virtual design to physical models, with models typically being built overnight for evaluation the next morning.

The HD3000 Plus has already proved popular with our designers and engineers alike and is in use every day producing models for form, fit and function evaluations, engineering test activities and also providing master models to support our in-house vacuum casting capability.

Link to 'Rapid prototyping' in 'Prototyping'

Railway Strategies has recently profiled DCA’s intelligent approach to tr...

Railway Strategies has recently profiled DCA’s intelligent approach to transport design and how it has been applied to deliver successful solutions across a broad range of international railway projects. 

With a heritage that stretches back to the revolutionary Central Line rolling stock programme in 1982 and encompasses such icons as the Tangara double-deck suburban trains for Sydney, Australia and the Eurotunnel Shuttle that carries road vehicles between England and France, our expertise in designing for the railway market remains unparalleled.  In fact, every day over three million people around the world complete journeys using rail vehicles incorporating DCA’s design work.

We offer a truly integrated design and development service to our railway clients, which means all the services we need to bring to bear to address the development risk in such projects are available under one roof.  That means that at our studios and workshops here in the heart of England, we can provide all the skills, facilities and resources needed to turn ideas into practical designs and transform concepts into fully detailed, working solutions.

View the full article (pdf).

DCA will, once again, be exhib...

Charles Drury explores how digital interface design can inform development of a...

Charles Drury explores how digital interface design can inform development of a product’s interactive brand language.

How a product feels and behaves is often overlooked  in development, but rarely in use. Finding the right way to even talk about interactive experience can be the first step to delivering a product which captivates users across the full gamut of senses. Digital products can provide important lessons for creating physical product interfaces which capture a brand’s personality.

Marketing Week - Opinions From Design and Brand Consultants (pdf)

DCA are proud to announce that in recognition of our achievement in the continu...

DCA are proud to announce that in recognition of our achievement in the continuance and enhancement of the International Trade of the United Kingdom, we have been named as a Regional Finalist, for the Midlands, as part of the International Trade Awards 2010-2011.

Now entering their fourth year, the Awards, sponsored by Santander Corporate Banking and Eversheds, are a UK wide business awards scheme to recognise the excellence achieved by the UK's leading exporters and importers.

Despite the challenges posed by the current global economic conditions, many UK companies are still competing exceptionally well on the international stage and the 2010-2011 International Trade Awards celebrate these ventures and successes.

"We are again pleased to have the successful performance of DCA recognised. This award focuses on international trading which is one of the many aspects of DCA which is growing strongly" commented Rob Woolston, DCA's Managing Director.

Link to the International Trade website

Payne Security has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Inn...

Payne Security has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its covert product authentication system.

DCA has worked closely with Payne Security over several years to help develop the hardware and software for the optical design used by this new security technology which delivers a robust and cost-effective means of differentiating between genuine and illicit products or documents.

We have carried out the design and development of a number of different reader versions based on the customer's covert taggent authentication technology in which an invisible chemical marker is incorporated into the inks and lacquers used to print product packaging. The most recent of these is a handheld reader that forms part of the anti-counterfeiting solution selected by one of the ten largest wine producers in the US to protect its finest high-value wine range, retailing at over $150 a bottle.

Link to 'Fire safety and security'

Representatives from the DCA design and engineering teams who worked with 3M on...

Representatives from the DCA design and engineering teams who worked with 3M on their highly successful Powered and Supplied Air Respiratory Protection systems attended this month's red dot award ceremony in Essen, Germany.

The products launched so far have bagged two red dot awards, a red dot honourable mention, a Good Design Award, an IDEA Bronze Award and an award for innovation at Préventica Mediterranean.

No wonder they look pleased with themselves!

Link to 'Personal protection' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

The M-Series Headgear developed by 3M and DCA has garnered another presti...

The M-Series Headgear developed by 3M and DCA has garnered another prestigious award, this time the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). From a field of more than 2,000 entries, the M-Series range was honoured with a Bronze Award in this year’s International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) program.

”The IDEA program is considered by many as the ‘Oscars’ of design competitions because the judging process is rigorous and judged by the experts in their field,” said IDSA’s CEO, Clive Roux.

Said John Bryant, European Portfolio Manager, 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety: “We are delighted that the excellence of the M-Series Headgear range has now been rewarded in both Europe, as a reddot design award winner, and the U.S. This really underlines the strength of the truly global product range we have established.”’

Link to IDSA website

Link to the IDEA entry presentation

Link to 'Personal protection' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

The Stella Artois chalice celebrates the beer. And now, the new can celeb...

The Stella Artois chalice celebrates the beer. And now, the new can celebrates the chalice.

Stella Artois has launched a new design for the brand’s full line-up of cans, which celebrates the drink’s iconic chalice glass. DCA created the new look Stella Artois chalice which is being rolled out globally.

The new can features the chalice glass silhouette against a silver coloured background which enhances on-shelf appeal while reinforcing the brand’s heritage and quality cues as embodied by the iconic Stella Artois chalice glass.

Stella Artois Western Europe marketing director James Watson adds: “Our fresh new packaging has been shown to increase consumer appeal above and beyond our competitors, while also communicating Stella Artois’ heritage and quality.

“The new Stella Artois Chalice can design reflects our determination to raise the bar when it comes to quality and sophistication - the key values that form the foundation of the Stella Artois brand.”

See the new Chalice Can on www.stellaartois.com

Link to 'Consumer'

Peter Fletcher, who is currently completing a one-year engineering p...

Peter Fletcher, who is currently completing a one-year engineering placement at DCA as part of his degree course, has won a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Advanced Leadership Award. 

The awards, which are intended to recognize British engineering undergraduates with outstanding academic ability and marked leadership potential, are awarded by the Royal Academy to no more than thirty undergraduates each year.  Peter’s success follows that of Sophie Sladen, who won the award while on placement here in 2010.

We would all like to congratulate Peter on this well deserved award.

Please visit www.engineeringleadershipawards.org.uk for more details of the award scheme.

Link to 'People' in 'Company' to find out more about DCA staff.

Number one in product design: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

Number one in product design: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

For the seventh consecutive year we have been declared as the UK’s number one product design consultancy by Design Week* magazine in its annual Top 100 Consultancy Survey. The survey charts the annual progress of UK design consultancies across all design disciplines.

‘It has been another incredible year for us at DCA. We have, again, broken most of our performance records, whilst further developing the company. We have had the privilege of working with many great clients on so many exciting projects and won more design awards. On top of this to be ranked as the UK’s number one product design consultancy for the seventh consecutive year is fantastic and a tribute to the talent within each of the skill bases at DCA,’ enthuses Rob Woolston, DCA’s Managing Director and Head of the Medical and Scientific sector.

Across all disciplines in the Top 100, DCA have made an impressive rise to 8th position compared to 10th position last year.

Commenting on the overall results of the survey, Lynda Relph-Knight, Editor, Design Week, writes: ‘This year the table reveals a marked improvement on last year’s figures, with a renewed confidence across disciplines and healthy growth projections’.

In their analysis, 'Kingston Smith W1' partner Amanda Merron and manager Terrence Bourne comment: ‘designers have performed well and the outlook for 2011 looks brighter’.

View the Design Week Top 100 Consultancy Survey (pdf).

Link to the Design Week website

*Design Week is the market leading publication for the design community in the UK, and regularly commissions research and surveys on important market issues. The ‘Top 100’ league table is the only survey of its kind in the UK.

DCA have, once again, achieved a listing in the annual International Track 100 ...

DCA have, once again, achieved a listing in the annual International Track 100 survey, significantly improving its position to 58 from a début ranking of 93 in 2010.

The Sunday Times International Track 100, published on 8th May, ranks Britain’s top private companies with the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years.

'We are hugely pleased to be listed in this survey again and to be one of only a handful of company’s still to rank in the Top 100 from the previous year. On top of this to have improved our position from 93rd last year to 58th this year is a massive achievement, reflective of the value that our overseas clients place on the design and development work that we do for them and the hard work put in by all the team here at DCA," comments Rob Woolston, DCA’s Managing Director and Head of the Medical and Scientific sector.

The 100 companies increased exports by an average of 91% over the last two years, to a total of £1.6bn. They employ more than 21,000 staff, having added nearly 6,600 jobs over the same period.

There are nine companies in the Midlands compared to eight last year, including DCA, who have made a significant contribution to the regional economy over the last two years. During this time, they have added 1785 jobs, and now employ a total of 2,471 people. Their combined sales are £588m, and their international sales have grown by an average of 105% a year, over two years, to a total of £360m.

As one of a breed of businesses breaking down national trade boundaries, the league table lists DCA’s international sales growth as averaging 68% over the two year assessment period.

Link to DCA’s profile on the Fast Track website

The Sunday Times International Track 100 is compiled by Oxford-based research and networking events company Fast Track and sponsored by HSBC and Grant Thornton.

Images reproduced by permission. Copyright The Sunday Times International Track 100.

On the 14th March 2011, the first of the new C4K series EMUs built by CAF in Sp...

On the 14th March 2011, the first of the new C4K series EMUs built by CAF in Spain for Northern Ireland Railways was delivered to the docks in Belfast. 

CAF commissioned DCA to re-design the interiors in close co-operation with Northern Ireland Railways.  The goals of this new design were three-fold: to achieve compliance with the latest European PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) standards; to align both the livery and interior designs with Northern Ireland Railways’ latest corporate guidelines; and to incorporate concepts in response to feedback from passenger surveys.

A new multipurpose area was introduced.  With provision for 8 bicycles and a re-worked wheelchair accessible toilet, it doubles the space available for pushchairs. The interior colour scheme was changed to provide better colour differentiation and contrast.  It also feels extremely contemporary, whilst retaining visual links with existing Northern Ireland Railways vehicle interiors.  The cab exterior and train livery were both redesigned to project the revised Northern Ireland Railways brand image and provide the new vehicles with a modern and dynamic external aesthetic.

The overall effect of DCA’s design changes has been to bring the fleet right up to date and has given Northern Ireland Railways a truly contemporary train set with which to serve the local community for the foreseeable future.

Link to 'Transport design'

Building on our success last year with the Versaflo S-655 Premium Hood, D...

Building on our success last year with the Versaflo S-655 Premium Hood, DCA and 3M have gained further recognition from the red dot judges in 2011.
 
This year’s competition was even fiercer, with a total of 4,433 entries from 1,700 companies, spanning 60 countries.  Despite this, both new members of 3M’s Versaflo range impressed the expert jury and emerged with awards. The Versaflo M-Series Headgear was awarded the red dot for high design quality, while the Versaflo TR-300 Powered Air Respirator was awarded an honourable mention.
 
The M-Series Headgear range provides a best in class combination of comfort and protection with a design aesthetic that exudes quality and professionalism.  The TR-300 is designed to integrate both functionally and visually with the Versaflo Headgear range.  This contoured respirator is extremely low profile given the high air flow that it delivers.  This means that it sits comfortably in the small of the user’s back, minimising the risk of snagging even in confined working environments.
 
Both these new products represent further enhancements of 3M’s Powered and Supplied Air Respiratory Protection range and both visually embody the key elements of the 3M brand.  As such, they are worthy winners of these prestigious awards.

3M Versaflo M-Series headgear - red dot award submission (pdf)

3M Versaflo TR-300 Powered Air Respirator - red dot award submission (pdf)

Visit reddot online

We first launched our concept for premium class rail travel to an enthusia...

We first launched our concept for premium class rail travel to an enthusiastic audience in a presentation by Paul Rutter, our Transportation Sector Manager, at  the Railway Interior Expo held in Hong Kong towards the end of last year.

The rapid increase in long distance, high speed rail services, especially in China and Europe, though soon in North America too, will generate a potential demand for feature rich, service focused business class travel by train. DCA believes that business travellers in particular will be prepared to pay a significantly enhanced fare for a high quality, personalised, premium class service that delivers genuine value to them during their journey and offers significant advantages over the equivalent air travel options.

Since the Hong Kong presentation Paul has worked together with Rob Bassil, DCA’s Technical Director, to further develop our ideas.  Both Modern Railways Magazine and Railway Strategies have now published articles describing our current thinking in this area.

Modern Railways article "Beyond Expectations: The future of First Class Travel" (pdf)

Railway Strategies article "Beyond Expectations: The future of First Class, High Speed Rail Travel" (pdf)

Paul Rutter presents DCA’s thoughts on premium class high speed travel to an audience in Hong Kong

Link to 'Transport design'

Alistair Welch, New Design Magazine’s features editor, profiles DCA...

Alistair Welch, New Design Magazine’s features editor, profiles DCA in his article ‘A quiet renaissance’

‘ There is a slight irony that, in 2010, as DCA, the renowned product design agency , approached 50 years in the business they should also make their debut appearance on the Sunday Times’ ‘International Track 100’ – the prestigious league table of Britain’s 100 fastest growing international exporters. However, this is indicative of the fact that whilst DCA is justly proud of their formidable design heritage they want to continue to expand both their business and their reputation as thought leaders.’

New Design article - 'A quiet renaissance' (pdf)

Visit New Design Magazine website

New Design Magazine celebrates its first decade in design by asking leadi...

New Design Magazine celebrates its first decade in design by asking leading designers to nominate ten choices for innovative brands, designers and products.

DCA director Nick Mival’s ten choices for current innovators in consumer product design included…

New Design article - 'Ten Out of Ten', with DCA's Nick Mival (pdf)

Visit New Design Magazine website

At COMPAMED in Düsseldorf, Germany, our Managing Director, Robert Woolston...

At COMPAMED in Düsseldorf, Germany, our Managing Director, Robert Woolston, was interviewed by DeviceMed about DCA’s activity in the medical device industry, including recent award wins and an update on the last 12 months.

COMPAMED featured over 500 exhibitors, presenting, to more than 16,000 visitors, novel solutions and services for the medical industry, including micro system technology, nanotechnology and novel materials, as well as packaging and specialist design and development services.

Dates for the next COMPAMED are 16th – 18th November 2011.

DCA has won two 2010 GOOD DESIGN Awards, as awarded by The Chicago Athena...

DCA has won two 2010 GOOD DESIGN Awards, as awarded by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

DCA won for the Versaflo S-655 Premium Hood, which is part of 3M's new revolutionary personal protection headcover and hood range and a second award for GBC’s new Quickstart A3 laminators use new halogen technology to heat the rollers to perfect temperature in less than 20% of the time of traditional laminators.

Founded in Chicago in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., GOOD DESIGN bestows international recognition upon the world's most prominent designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary, and innovative product concepts, invention and originality, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered ordinary product and consumer design.

Link to 'Personal Protection Equipment in 'Commercial & Industrial'

Link to 'Office Equipment' in 'Commercial & Industrial'

Good Design™ logo: As awarded by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

On Saturday 31st July 2010, London Underground launched the first of their new ...

On Saturday 31st July 2010, London Underground launched the first of their new S-Stock trains on the Metropolitan Line.

All 400 of these vehicle sets, designed and manufactured in the UK by Bombardier, are equipped with a detrainment system designed by DCA. The lightweight portable ladder system allows safe and rapid emergency egress for thousands of passengers per hour in a tunnel environment.

All aspects of the safety critical design have been undertaken by DCA, including detailed fatigue and FE analysis, validated by full system load and accelerated life testing at MIRA to ensure robust operation over its 40-year design life.

Human factors played an important role in the design of the escape system. Deployment has been made easy by the development of a novel strap insertion and retention detail and by maintaining a total mass of just 15kg for the ladder part of the system. A further complication that has been resolved was the need to provide a lightweight interlocking bridge plate that allows the ladder to clear the auto coupler for train-to-track egress as well as being used on its own for train-to-train evacuation.

Prior to the vehicle launch date, the evacuation system was put through its paces in recent sign-off trials at Bombardier’s Derby works attended by DCA and LU. These trials successfully demonstrated its deployment in under one minute with passengers thereafter exiting the train at a rate of one every two seconds.

Link to 'Transport design'

The January 2011 issue of Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Internationa...

The January 2011 issue of Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International includes an article outlining  DCA’s recent work with the Harrison’s Cave tourist attraction in Barbados.

We were a key member of the team commissioned to design and deliver the six unique four-wheel drive, multi-wheel steer vehicle sets that are used daily to carry visitors deep into the 2.3km cave system. The vehicles have become an iconic part of the Harrison’s Cave brand and an important element of each visitor’s experience of the cave system. Not only do they feature extensively on the Harrison’s Cave website and in the company’s publicity literature, but visitors can even purchase scale models of the vehicle sets as a souvenir of their day at the cave!”

Link to 'Electric & Hybrid' website - full article

Severn Lamb Electric Vehicle - case study (pdf)

DCA's recent article in Railway Interiors International magazine outlines o...

DCA's recent article in Railway Interiors International magazine outlines our four core principles for the delivery of successful transportation design projects.

These are:
• The identification, management and mitigation of significant project risks
• The development and application of a comprehensive project plan
• The true in-house integration of the full range of skills required to deliver such projects
• The use of passenger research to provide the evidence that informs our design decisions.

In this article we use a number of examples from previous projects delivered by DCA's transportation team under the leadership of our Transportation Sector Manager, Paul Rutter, to illustrate how these principles can be applied to deliver genuinely groundbreaking work such as SNCB's M6 double-deck trains.

Railway Interiors International - full article (pdf)

M6 Double Deck Train - case study (pdf)

High-speed rail is currently the global hot topic in the transportation arena. ...

High-speed rail is currently the global hot topic in the transportation arena. China is already making huge investments in this area. European networks are integrating and spending on new high-speed lines is gathering pace. America stands on the verge of an $8 billion investment in a countrywide high-speed network.

As a result, rail travel is now positioning itself to genuinely compete with mid-range flights, as long distance rail journeys between international city centres become an attractive reality.

This paradigm shift in travel infrastructure requires an equally dramatic change in the way premium seating is delivered on the next generation of high-speed trains. DCA's Paul Rutter highlighted in his presentation at the Technology and Ideas Forum the need for premium seating not only to match the best that the airlines provide, but to move beyond this by maximising the unique benefits rail travel offers over flying. Paul also explained why the time is right to break the vicious financial circle which limits the degree of differentiation current premium seating offers over standard class. Break these traditional constraints, and the sky is – quite literally – the limit.

Beyond Expectations - full presentation (pdf)

DCA recently exhibited at the Railway Interiors Expo Asia held in Hong Kong bet...

DCA recently exhibited at the Railway Interiors Expo Asia held in Hong Kong between 16 and 18 November this year.

As well as providing us with a fantastic opportunity to talk with key members of the rail design community in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, India and Australia, the show also provided a platform for Paul Rutter, our Transport Sector Manager, to present DCA’s thoughts on the future of premium class high speed rail travel.

Learn more about the future of premium class high speed rail travel

Link to 'Transport design'

Nick Mival explains how successful products come when design’s incr...

Nick Mival explains how successful products come when design’s increasingly strategic position is balanced with its origins in craftsmanship.

Western designers can become detached from manufacturing because of our new strategic roles and manufacturing relocating to the Far East. With this detachment, the best strategic thinking, ideas and conceptual work can be let down by average design quality and craftsmanship in implementation.

Marketing Week - Opinions From Design and Brand Consultants (pdf)

Sophie Sladen, who is a DCA-sponsored Engineering Design student at Bristol Uni...

Sophie Sladen, who is a DCA-sponsored Engineering Design student at Bristol University, was recently awarded a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Advanced Leadership Award.

These awards, which aim to reward and encourage individuals who have the desire and the capability to reach the top of engineering businesses, are keenly fought over as the Academy expects to award no more than thirty in any one year.

We would all like to congratulate Sophie, and look forward to welcoming her back into DCA’s engineering team next summer.

Please visit www.engineeringleadershipawards.org.uk for more details of the award scheme

DCA has won a début place on a new and prestigious league tab...

DCA has won a début place on a new and prestigious league table of Britain’s 100 fastest-growing international export stars.

The Sunday Times International Track 100 was published for the first time on 11th July, ranking Britain’s private companies with the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years.

Despite generally challenging trading conditions, the top 100 companies’ international sales grew over two years to a total of £2.2bn. The league table lists DCA’s international sales growth as averaging 45.43% over this period.

Eight companies head-quartered in the Midlands, including DCA, have made a stellar contribution to the local economy over the last two years, despite the downturn. During this time, they have added 197 jobs, and now employ a total of 1,008 people. International sales have grown to a combined total of more than £89m, representing an average of 50% of the companies’ total sales of £180m.

International Track 100 private companies range from windscreen wiper makers to vintners and, of course, includes our very own and very strong creative sector!

‘It is fantastic to be ranked in this league table. The ranking is the result of a huge amount of hard work from all of the team at DCA. The level of sales growth DCA has produced reflects recognition by clients of the real value of the creative work that DCA provides. The tangible results for them are hundreds of valuable patents and numerous commercially successful products, producing a positive difference to their bottom-line profits today and potential for growth in market share tomorrow. Our aim is to assist our clients to significant success through design and thereby be successful ourselves,’ comments Rob Woolston, DCA’s Managing Director and Head of the Medical and Scientific sector.

To view The Sunday Times International Track 100, please visit: www.fasttrack.co.uk

The Sunday Times International Track 100 is compiled by Oxford-based research and networking events company Fast Track and sponsored by HSBC.

Images reproduced by permission. Copyright The Sunday Times International Track 100.

Tellermate’s new T-ix  range of coin and note counters have be...

Tellermate’s new T-ix  range of coin and note counters have been designed to provide comprehensive cash room solutions, offering efficient counting and reconciliation with integral audit and security processes.

DCA’s specific responsibility was for the industrial design of the caseworks and the user interface.  CAD and other software tools were used to specify the final A surfaces and the interface details prior to handover to the Tellermate R&D team for product integration and electronic hardware and software development.

The T-ix  range has proven to set a new standard for business machines of this kind and has allowed Tellermate to strengthen its position significantly in this specialist market place.

The T-ix  range was first launched in the US in January 2010, followed by a launch into Europe in March of the same year.

Click here to visit the T-ix website

Link to 'Office equipment' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

Number one in product design: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

Number one in product design: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005.

For the sixth year running we have been ranked as the UK's number one product design consultancy by Design Week* in its Top 100 survey. The survey charts the annual progress of UK design consultancies across all design disciplines.

‘We are proud of this significant ranking. It comes following a further year of continued strong development of our design service across all of our skills and sectors,’ comments Rob Woolston, Managing Director of DCA.

‘It’s cheering to see that the most efficient design consultancies haven’t lost their foothold in the financial storms of 2009’, says Lynda Relph-Knight, Editor, Design Week. ‘Indeed a plucky few have even excelled themselves and moved up the rankings despite the tough times’.

Overall in the Top 100, across all design disciplines, DCA reached 10th position compared to 12th position in 2009.

‘It is heartening to see product design in the top ten of all consultancy disciplines covered in the Top 100 survey. We are delighted to be there as the leading product design consultancy,’ says Rob Woolston, Managing Director of DCA.

*Design Week is the market leading publication for the design community in the UK, and regularly commissions research and surveys on important market issues. The ‘Top 100’ league table is the only survey of its kind in the UK.

We have added a Hurco VM10UHS high-speed 5-axis machining centre to our C...

We have added a Hurco VM10UHS high-speed 5-axis machining centre to our CNC machining facilities.  This state-of-the-art machine provides us with a full simultaneous 5-axis machining capability, backed up with a spindle speed of 30,000 rpm and a positional accuracy in excess of 5 microns.

We have been working with the machine for several months now.  Taking full advantage of its advanced capabilities, we have already produced a wide range of impressive components in support of our product development activities.

Link to 'Prototyping' in 'Services'

DCA will again be exhibiting at MEDTEC UK, NEC, Birmingham.27th - 2...

DCA will again be exhibiting at MEDTEC UK, NEC, Birmingham.
27th – 28th April 2010
Stand no: 1836.

For 16 years the MEDTEC exhibition and conference series has been addressing the key technical needs of medical device manufacturing companies, providing them with an annual showcase of materials, manufacturing technology and expertise.

The annual two-day conference will focus on providing the latest business and regulatory discussion, expert opinion and guidance.

Our stand will showcase examples of our design work from all sectors of the medical industry and includes the Red Dot Award winning Versaflo S-655 Personal Protection Headcover for 3M, together with the Good Design award winning ClikSTAR® and the multi award winning SoloSTAR® injection devices for Sanofi Aventis.

Senior staff from the company will be available to discuss how our service works and how we may be able to assist in meeting your design needs.

If you would like to make an appointment to see us while you are attending, please contact either:

Jane Phillips – Medical Marketing, medical@dca-design.com, +44 (0) 1926 483 108
Christine Robertson-Smith – PA to the MD, christine.robertson-smith@dca-design.com, +44 (0) 1926 483 164

We look forward to seeing you at the show.


Visit the MEDTEC UK website

Link to 'Medical and Scientific'

DCA and 3M have won one of this year’s prestigious red dot awards f...

DCA and 3M have won one of this year’s prestigious red dot awards for the recently launched Versaflo S-655 Premium Hood, which is part of 3M's new revolutionary personal protection headcover and hood range. The international jury selected this innovative new personal protection hood from a field of 4,252 entries drawn from 57 countries.

The S-655 Premium Hood contains numerous functional, usability and visual innovations and has four patent applications pending.  It forms part of the new S-series headcover range, for which DCA was 3M’s key development partner.

Des Curran, Senior Specialist and Project Manager at 3M, commented, 'We are delighted by this award.  By listening to our users and thoroughly understanding their needs, we have been able to develop a revolutionary personal protection headcover that combines class leading functionality with user-focused ergonomics and styling.  As a result, users see the new hood as an enabler that helps them work more easily, more safely and in more comfort.'

3M Versaflo S-655 Premium Hood - red dot award submission (pdf)

Link to 'Personal protection' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

Visit reddot online

New Design asks Nick Mival about trends for last decade and the twenty te...

New Design asks Nick Mival about trends for last decade and the twenty tens

As we leave the 2000’s behind and enter the 2010’s, what will the next decade have in store for the product design industry? Tanya Weaver of New Design poses a number of questions to leading industrial designers to gauge their opinion. For example what has been the biggest trend/s in the last decade?  Nick Mival explains ‘Trends themselves have been a big trend of the last ten years! There seems to be a name for every new micro trend from ‘masstige’ to ‘lease living’, seriously though we continuously track a number of cultural, economic and technology megatrends, never considering one to be the biggest or most dominant. We are more interested in where and how they fuse and create smaller trends that influence a way a particular group of people think and behave. If I were asked to pick a candidate for one of the biggest in the last decade it would be the ongoing ‘Digital Revolution’. It continues to change everything. It has shifted so much power to the individual, changed the way we relate to each other and crated endless new social and commercial opportunities.’

New Design article - 'Trends Twenty-Ten', with DCA's Nick Mival (pdf)

Visit New Design Magazine website

DCA helps GBC launch the world’s fastest pouch laminator

DCA helps GBC launch the world’s fastest pouch laminator

GBC’s new Quickstart A3 laminators use new halogen technology to heat the rollers to perfect temperature in less than 20% of the time of traditional laminators. This allows almost instant start-up for laminating your documents when you want, 18 documents can be laminated in the time it takes most laminators take to laminate only 1.

DCA has designed and developed a new visual language that communicates this speed and the quality of the new range while incorporating a new lighting effect to highlight the innovative halogen technology. In addition DCA supported GBC throughout the project on UI development, A-surface CAD modelling, model making and colour and finish specification.

Link to 'Office equipment' in 'Commercial & Industrial'

ClikSTAR® has received the prestigious 2009 GOOD DESIGN Award, as awa...

ClikSTAR® has received the prestigious 2009 GOOD DESIGN Award, as awarded by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

ClikSTAR®, the new easy to use reusable insulin injection pen for use with Lantus® and Apidra® and other Sanofi Aventis insulins, has been designed with the help of nearly 2,000 patients and 500 healthcare professionals.

ClikSTAR® for Sanofi Aventis, was designed to provide the state-of-the-art performances of the SoloSTAR® pen, in a reusable form.

Founded in Chicago in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., GOOD DESIGN bestows international recognition upon the world's most prominent designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary, and innovative product concepts, invention and originality, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered ordinary product and consumer design.

‘We are delighted that ClikSTAR® has won a Good Design Award and that it will now become part of the permanent design collection of the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design,’ commented Robert Woolston, DCA’s Managing Director and Head of the Medical and Scientific sector.

(ClikSTAR® is a registered brand of Sanofi Aventis).

Link to 'Injection devices' in 'Medical and Scientific'

Following the completion of two substantial, technical projects during 20...

Following the completion of two substantial, technical projects during 2009, we were delighted to receive the following positive feedback from Tube Lines and London Underground:

'On behalf of the project, I would like to offer both Tube Lines Ltd and London Underground's thanks to DCA Design International Ltd for your organisation's contribution to this project. In particular, the project would like to thank [the] team for the level of ingenuity, professionalism, support and co-operation provided throughout the various projects to enable successful conclusions to be derived for these technically challenging problems.'

As a result, we aim to continue working with Tube Lines and London Underground on these and other programmes of work in 2010.

Link to 'Transport design'

Working with DCA as a key development partner, 3M has launched a new rang...

Working with DCA as a key development partner, 3M has launched a new range of S-series Headcovers

The new S-Series Headcover range provides a step change in performance and comfort, compared with existing PPE of its type.  As part of an extensive design and development programme, DCA developed new head harnesses and fabric patterns to improve visibility, appearance and comfort for the global workforce.  For the premium version DCA developed an innovative method for the user to control and redirect the air flow within the Headcover.  This unique capability improves comfort, reduces noise and enhances the level of protection available to the user.

The S-series Headcovers were recently exhibited at the A+A show, Düsseldorf stimulating the market, cementing 3M's reputation of developing class leading products. 

Link to 'Personal protection' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

DCA and Sanofi Aventis swept the board, taking Gold, International Export and G...

DCA and Sanofi Aventis swept the board, taking Gold, International Export and GRAND PRIX at the 2009 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards.

The awards were for the SoloSTAR® insulin injector pen, designed for Sanofi Aventis.

As the Chairman of the judges, Michael Bates, Marketing Director, Morrisons, summed up: 'A stunning example of how thoughtful and measured design can improve the quality of life for so many people'. 'An outstanding example of great design, combining functional style, performance and excellent presentation. The clear combination of commercial success and excellent user and physician feedback make this a worthy winner'.

DCA's Managing Director, Robert Woolston, commented: 'SoloSTAR® is a great example of an intelligent, evidence-based approach to design. The resulting success of SoloSTAR® clearly shows good design, yet again, making the difference, improving lives and achieving commercial success. We are delighted that the SoloSTAR® design has been recognised for its effectiveness by the judges of the DBA awards'.

Link to 'Pharmaceutical drug delivery' in 'Medical and Scientific'

(Lantus® SoloStar® and Apidra® SoloStar® are registered brands of Sanofi Aventis).

During EASD 2009 (European Association for the Study of Diabetes) on the 30th September in Vienna...

During EASD 2009 (European Association for the Study of Diabetes) on the 30th September in Vienna, it was announced that ClikSTAR®, a new reusable insulin injection pen for use with Lantus®, Apidra® and other Sanofi Aventis insulins, will be launched in Canada, Greece, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, in October 2009.

ClikSTAR®, for Sanofi Aventis, was designed to provide the state-of-the-art performance of the disposable SoloSTAR® pen (see other DCA news items on SoloSTAR®) in a reusable form.

'Easy to use pens such as ClikSTAR® bring a high degree of flexibility and comfort to patients and may offer an opportunity for earlier insulinisation of insulin therapy. This may lead to better glycaemic control,' said Professor Alfred Panfornis, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetology Service, Besancon, France.

ClikSTAR® has been designed with the help of nearly 2000 patients and 500 healthcare professionals and is the product of a rigorous evidence-based development approach.

Robert Woolston, DCA’s Managing Director and Head of the Medical and Scientific sector explains: “One of our specialist medical device teams at DCA worked closely with Sanofi Aventis through an intensive development to ensure the successful delivery of ClikSTAR® to market. We are excited to see this device launched and starting to fulfil its mission for our client”.

(ClikSTAR® is a registered brand of Sanofi Aventis).

Link to 'Injection devices' in 'Medical and Scientific'

Aimed at small wards, en-suite rooms, and low usage areas such as clinics...

Aimed at small wards, en-suite rooms, and low usage areas such as clinics, nursing and care homes, the SOLO disposes of bedpans, urine bottles and other pulp items into the standard drainage system using only cold water and a small amount of electricity.

DCA's designers and engineers worked closely with Haigh's experienced in-house team to bring this ground breaking compact and efficient product to market.

The project's success was founded on an excellent open working relationship as Martin Price, Haigh's Chief Design Engineer, explains:


'DCA proved to be an effective extension of our design department bringing with them a wealth of experience and new concepts throughout each stage of the product development process. Importantly, DCA were easy to work with, confident to challenge whilst prepared to be challenged. This attitude, together with their enthusiasm, culminated in a successful conclusion of this project and with it an exciting new product.'

For more information on the SOLO product visit Haigh's website

Link to 'General hospital equipment' in 'Medical and Scientific'

DCA and Sanofi Aventis are thrilled to announce that Lantus® SoloSTAR® ...

DCA and Sanofi Aventis are thrilled to announce that Lantus® SoloSTAR® is a final candidate in the Prix Galien USA 2009 Awards.

The Prix Galien Award recognises technical, scientific and clinical research skills necessary to develop innovative medicines and devices, and is considered the industry’s highest accolade, equivalent to the Nobel Prize. The Prix Galien USA award committee comprises 11 individuals, including Nobel Laureates, founders of major biotech companies and editors of world-renowned biology journals.

‘Nominees for the Prix Galien USA, stand apart from other drugs and technologies in the marketplace for the amount of research and level of skill that was invested in the development of these products that improve lives,’ said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Prix Galien USA committee chair, New York University professor emeritus and editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal.

'This is a highly prestigious award that endorses the life enhancing value of design. It is exciting to be selected as a final candidate,’ commented Rob Woolston, Managing Director, DCA.

Link to 'Pharmaceutical drug delivery' in 'Medical and Scientific'

Peter Kay explains the importance of a 3D visual brand language

Peter Kay explains the importance of a 3D visual brand language

'In the early nineties a client asked me a simple question. ‘Why does it look like that?’ They were referring to a successful consumer product that we had designed. They wanted to deconstruct why it had been so successful and what they should do next. A definitive answer was difficult, and obviously required an analysis of all the communications that had surrounded the product. But my client was specific; they wanted to know how the look of the product had helped. What was it in the visual design of the product that was considered so ‘cool’ and resonated so well with its audience? Like art historians, with hindsight we could theorise and hypothesise why, but the fact was it had not been designed strategically to communicate particular messages about the brand or the product, it was a happy accident. It is difficult to repeat happy accidents. We are now in a sober period where it is vital to have a more intelligent approach to design. ‘I think concept number five is the cool one’ is not good enough, ‘softer corners look better’ is just not acceptable.’

Full Marketing Week article (pdf)

X-Putt is the latest concept from World Golf Systems, developed in partne...

X-Putt is the latest concept from World Golf Systems, developed in partnership with DCA.

X-Putt is a compact player participation golf putting game of skill and fun that can also reward high scores with a cash prize. Taking up a similar amount of space to a pool table (2.5m x 1.2m), the game is designed for use within arcades, clubs, shopping malls and holiday parks.

Launched at ATEI 2009, X-Putt is enjoying remarkable market success in the UK.  Most recently X-Putt was shown at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2009, Las Vegas.

Link to 'Gaming' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

WGS X-Putt case study (pdf)

www.x-putt.com

DCA, in conjunction with Froude Hofmann recently redesigned their robot driver, which is used wit...

DCA, in conjunction with Froude Hofmann recently redesigned their robot driver, which is used with vehicle dynamometers to remotely 'drive' cars during endurance and emissions testing.  Having designed the previous incarnation of the robot driver that helped define the market for 10 years, DCA were commissioned to implement mechanical enhancements and update the system's industrial design.
 
DCA overhauled the mechanical design to add an additional driven axis while redistributing and removing weight, allowing faster actuation while consuming less power.  Outer casework was redesigned using carbon fibre reinforced plastics, shedding further weight and revamping external aesthetics.

A lighter system allowed DCA to amalgamate several components, eliminating the difficulty of installing several sub-assemblies within the confines of a test vehicle.  DCA's engineers worked in partnership with Froude Hofmann to integrate the new system's control electronics and supervised the manufacture of prototype carbon fibre casework.

The new robot driver meets the need for rapid deployment without sacrificing Froude Hofmann's reputation for reliability under the harshness of vehicle test environments.  Thanks to this continued collaboration between Froude Hofmann and DCA, the new system received much attention at the Detroit Testing EXPO where it was launched in November (2008).

Link to 'Recent work' in 'Transport design'

The installation of a new emergency detrainment system has just been completed for use on undergr...

The installation of a new emergency detrainment system has just been completed for use on underground and metro vehicles. DCA designed and engineered the system for Percy Lane Products, tackling all aspects from concept generation to detailed production specification. As the system is safety critical, reliability is essential over the system's 32 year design life. So detailed FEA-based structural analysis and fatigue modelling was undertaken in parallel with accelerated prototype life testing.

Careful consideration has also been given to the Human Factors aspects of the system so that it can be deployed and stowed in under 2 minutes. To make this feasible, the total mass of the system was kept to less than 15kg, adding further complications to the structural and economic challenges of the project.

The new design is a significant improvement over the existing system and ensures passenger safety in the event of an emergency for many years to come. DCA and Percy Lane Products continue to build on the positive experience of the project through further ongoing programmes of work.

Link to 'Transport design'

Designed by DCA, Nano is the latest fire detection control panel from Gent by Honeywell. DCA'...

Designed by DCA, Nano is the latest fire detection control panel from Gent by Honeywell. DCA's specific responsibilities include the industrial design (ID) of the enclosure, including the specification of all colours, finishes, and graphics. All external 'A' surfaces were also CAD modelled by DCA. A further responsibility was the control panel button and indicator layout.

At an early stage DCA conducted user research interviews to gain a clear understanding of the needs of the various stakeholders so as to achieve significant benefits over existing products in the market place.

Nano delivers an experience that makes the fire alarm system easy to use and operate and offers aesthetics that are look good in any type of building.

Link to 'Fire safety and security' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

DCA developed the advanced Xsight range of universal remote controls for Universal Electronics, w...

DCA developed the advanced Xsight range of universal remote controls for Universal Electronics, working closely with both the US and European UE project teams. DCA supported UE with the iconic industrial design and clear user interface as well as production assistance for both the mechanical and electronic aspects of the industrialisation.

Launched in September at IFA in Berlin, and the already receiving rave reviews, the new Xsight remote control with its easy web-linked set-up is revolutionary and is setting a new bench-mark for the universal remote control market. Combining technology and clarity, the Xsight is a feature-packed remote that's simple to configure and a pleasure to use.

'DCA was authoritative for the unique design language of the Xsight universal remote control and made it an exclamation mark in the category' comments the Xsight Product Manager.

Link to 'Consumer electronics' in 'Consumer'

Earlier this year DCA re-designed the livery for the complete Translink fleet. This flagship high...

Earlier this year DCA re-designed the livery for the complete Translink fleet. This flagship high-speed service is jointly operated by NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann and is highly symbolic in linking Belfast and Dublin.

DCA developed the original livery and brand identity in the 1990s, and in recognition of the success of that brand imagery, DCA were asked to revisit and update the livery for the 21st century. The new livery was carefully designed to ensure that the existing and newly liveried trains would sit well together during the transition period and, most importantly, that the new train liveries would comply with all current accessibility regulations. Building on the existing well-established and respected brand, we developed the new livery to create a modern and dynamic face for the existing fleet that is ready for the next 20 years!

Link to 'Transport design'

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public ...

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. In September DCA became a member of the Design & Culture Platform, one of only eight companies globally to lead a think-tank into the emotional, cultural and design aspects of public transport and journey experience.

Link to 'Transport design'

SoloSTAR®, a disposable injection pen for the injection of Lantus® and ...

SoloSTAR®, a disposable injection pen for the injection of Lantus® and Apidra® for people with diabetes, has received the prestigious 2007 GOOD DESIGN Award, as awarded by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

Lantus® and Apidra® SoloSTAR®, created in cooperation with sanofi-aventis, considering the input of patients, nurses and doctors, is the result of four years of intensive development and the product of a rigorous, evidence-based, intelligent approach to design.

The Lantus® and Apidra® SoloSTAR® device delivers leading performance in almost every respect. It has a lower dispense force and the largest selectable dose compared with the most broadly available pens in its class. The device is remarkably easy to use, has a discretely appealing form and is designed to facilitate extremely high volume manufacture and assembly.

The elegant form of the SoloSTAR® device, together with its ease of use and advanced mechanical engineering has been designed and developed using design consultancy from DCA Design International Ltd.

The quality and the supply of Lantus® and Apidra® SoloSTAR® meet the high standards of the medical industry.

The Lantus® and Apidra® SoloSTAR® device is being put into the permanent Design Collection of the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

Link to 'Injection devices' in 'Medical and Scientific'

(Lantus® SoloStar® and Apidra® SoloStar® are registered brands of Sanofi Aventis).

Marketed under the GBC brand, a new pre-punched document bi...

Marketed under the GBC brand, a new pre-punched document binder has been launched by ACCO Brands in both the US and UK.

Designed by DCA, the EZClick binder uses three sizes of Click and features a fold out document support, Click storage and a document thickness guide.  When not in use the binder can easily stored in a drawer or on a shelf.

EZClick was designed in CAD with the aid of physical models to optimise ergonomics and gain inputs from customers and end users, prior to commencing the manufacturing phase.

Link to 'Office equipment' in 'Commercial and Industrial'

Europe's leading flash drive manufacturer, PNY Technologies has launched it...

Europe's leading flash drive manufacturer, PNY Technologies has launched its new Attache flash drive, designed by DCA.

Nick Mival of DCA explains 'PNY required a new design which stood out in a crowded market.  We stripped away everything superfluous and created an honest product with simple USP's based on stakeholder insight.  Primarily, the design ensures the plug will always be protected because you cannot close the lid.  To do this the key transforms between two states with a very addictive fiddle factor, so not only is data protection guaranteed but you just won't stop playing with it!'

Samy Benarfa, PNY's marketing director said ' We gave DCA some very tight parameters to design within, while still expecting an innovative solution, which we got.  The result has a simple, minimal aesthetic, a great 'cap less' concept and is easily customisable.  The product is now proving to be a great success in the market'.

Link to 'Consumer electronics' in 'Consumer'

DCA has designed and developed a new vehicle to transport visitors around Harrison Caves in Barba...

DCA has designed and developed a new vehicle to transport visitors around Harrison Caves in Barbados, one of the countries leading tourist sites.  Working for Severn Lamb, the leisure transport systems firm, DCA helped create a vehicle consisting of a main drive unit and a series of trailers.  A simple but memorable 'lunar' design aesthetic was developed to compliment and not compete with the historic grandeur of the caves. In parallel DCA's usability team completed vigorous research and user trials to ensure a robust, enjoyable and safe experience.

John Bankes of Severn Lamb said 'After extensive research and ergonomic investigation, DCA delivered a perfect solution for transporting visitors through the Harrison Caves.  Our client has been delighted with the result and now see the vehicle as an integral part of the cave experience'.

Link to 'Transport design'

DCA has expanded into a new studio to accomodate its increased staff numbers an...

DCA has expanded into a new studio to accomodate its increased staff numbers and create a series of project immersion spaces.

Located close to the Head Office building in central Warwick the studio has panoramic views over the countryside and Warwick racecourse providing staff with a spacious, light environment to research, design and develop great products.

Rob Woolston, DCA's managing director commented 'We are delighted with our additional studio space, it provides a great new creative environment which allows our team to grow'.

DCA is working with ROK Entertainment to bring innovative new services to mobil...

DCA is working with ROK Entertainment to bring innovative new services to mobile phone users.

The BLCX connects A/V equipment to the internet, allowing any content available in the home to be viewed on a mobile phone via a 2.5 or 3G connection.

BLCX is also a personal video recorder with on-screen programme guide, that you can watch and control from a mobile phone.

With built in WiFi and Bluetooth the BLCX allows users to connect compatible handsets to the internet for VoIP calls.

Link to 'Consumer electronics' in 'Consumer'