In this section you'll find stories of technology projects that have become commercial products thanks to collaboration with designers.
Whether you're an international technology company, an innovative SME or you work in a university technology transfer office, we have examples of how design is helping transform science and technology concepts into user-centred, marketable products.
Watch a film and read an in-depth account of how product and brand design brought to life a technological innovation and brought its manufacturer substantial sales
After-market service programmes are as important to Rolls-Royce as engine innovation.
Designers are helping developers of an exercise machine that uses vibration to optimise patient fitnes to attract investment by using design at the University of Aberdeen. Read the case study
How designers are helping get a manufacturing partner to take a new light powered water cleaning technology to market at the University of Aberdeen. Read the case study
Design helped academics raise investment and better communicate their vision for a technology that measures the energy use of individual appliances in a home or business. Read the Geni-e meter story
A team of scientists knew their fledgling technology to manipulate and control vibrations to eliminate noise, create noise, turn windows into speakers and create silent ships, had potential, but FeONIC needed a dedicated innovations partner to develop commercially viable products and create a sustainable brand. Read the FeONIC story
Like all hi-tech start-ups, Owlstone was under pressure to generate revenue. Our Designing Demand support progamme helped the business get its chemical detection technology to market faster, win over investors and secure funding in the process. Read the story of design at Owlstone on the Designing Demand website
Ceres Power has used design to grow from a three-person research operation to a £144million company that's set to launch a revolutionary domestic boiler powered by its fuel cell technology. Read the story of design at Ceres Power
Internet search technology specialist Yahoo! has grown from a pioneering search engine to become one of the most popular portals on the Internet. It uses technology to focus on customer needs and operates a highly customer-centric design process, with user research instrumental in the development of new products and the evolution of existing ones. Read our study of design at Yahoo!
Xerox has been developing pioneering office automation technologies since it introduced the first photocopier in1949. The design function at Xerox plays an increasingly important role in the organisation, and has recently been implementing a significant programme to broaden the breadth and scope of design input into new and existing product development. Read our study of design at Xerox
The design the Home Hub is a powerful example of the way telecommunications technology provider BT is now using product design as a core part of its brand strategy. Read our study of design at BT
Microsoft, the world’s leading supplier of operating system software, has completed a significant evolution in its attitudes to design. Having once been a technologically-driven organisation, Microsoft now uses design thinking to focus on developing products that answer users’ needs. Read our study of design at Microsoft
How do leading technology companies manage design in their businesses? Our in-depth study of the design processes used in technology companies Microsoft, BT, Xerox and Yahoo! gives real insights into the way design operates in these firms, and delivers usable lessons for all designers and managers.
Browse through the complete study
Designing Demand is an intensive support programme that helps early-stage technology ventures use design to commercialise new technology. It enables technology ventures to use design methods to attract investment, minimise risk and get to market faster with better products and services.
Find out more about Designing Demand
The Design Council has worked with technology transfer offices at seven UK universities to show how a design mentor can help their technology developers use design to make their products more commercially viable.
Find out about the Innovate for Universities support programme