Meting colour

A DESIGN TO MANUFACTURE FOCUSED STUDIO

We are Centreline, an award winning creative design agency with studios located in the heart of vibrant Hoxton, London and beautiful rural Nottingham. We pride ourselves in our complete holistic approach to design, putting our clients, end users and stakeholders at the centre of everything we do. Our approach to design provides strategically placed stage gates with tangible and actionable deliverables. This allows our clients to constantly provide feedback and drive projects forward alongside our talented design team. Upon completion of each stage we undertake an in depth review by our dedicated designers and stakeholders. Our 30 years of industry experience provides us with a wealth of knowledge that we bring to the table, whether it’s idea generation, technical engineering or mass manufacture.

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Our Design Process

Research and Concept Design Phase:

Research and Feasibility

We always start by listening to you, our clients, hearing your product vision, project expectations and importantly your ideas. We then question and explore, gaining a deep understanding of the market sector, competitors existing products and target users. This is the very first step to building a full picture, understanding and creating real tangible data and analysis. Forming the basis of our design direction.

Concept Development

Our creative process and aesthetic detail combined with our manufacturing expertise underpins our concept development process. We start by diving into sketch and form exploration, with loose expressive ideation. From this our designers work as a team to continually self evaluate appropriateness, design intent and market appeal. We constantly refer to and ensure manufacturability and the findings from the research and feasibility study are met.

Concept Finalisation

Working closely with our clients we discuss in detail, every aspect of each concept direction, the design intent, how it fits the brief and the reasoning behind the decisions. From this we decide on a route forward, taking into consideration elements from each concept direction and the feedback both internally and externally from all stakeholders. Agreeing on the route forward and taking advantage of this refinement process, creates a more fully rounded, appropriate and detailed product.

Prototyping and Refinement

At the completion of the concept/ concept finalisation phase, we create form and sketch models, allowing our clients to get hands on with a tangible, size appropriate 3D form. The models come in various forms, 3D printed, CNC’d or foam modelled. The purpose of this is to allow both our clients and designers to see the product come to life in a 3D space. Low level testing can be undertaken with all findings and refinement feeding into the engineering phase of the project.

''WE ALWAYS START BY LISTENING TO YOU, OUR CLIENTS, HEARING YOUR PRODUCT VISION, PROJECT EXPECTATIONS AND IMPORTANTLY YOUR IDEAS.''

"OUR ROBUST ITERATIVE APPROACH TO MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, HARMONIOUSLY MARRIES CONCEPT DESIGN INTENT WITH OUR EXPERTISE IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND MATERIALS."

Mechanical Engineering Phase:

Mechanical Engineering

Where design intent meets manufacturing expertise; our engineering development utilises a robust iterative structure, working tirelessly to ensure design intent is preserved while implementing best practices. Steeped in manufacturability and CAD expertise we employ a wealth of up to date knowledge of manufacturing practices and processes to ensure the end result is a highly refined, detailed and appropriate CAD model. This can then be used to produce high resolution prototypes for testing and manufacture preparation. The tireless efforts of this stage results in our clients having a fully detailed and highly precise CAD model which can then be used for production all over the world.

Prototyping and Testing

Highly detailed and accurate physical models are produced that replicate, form, fit and function of the product and importantly the user experience. Testing is carried out cross referencing initial project goals, allowing all stakeholders to get hands on experience with the product. Real world end user tests can be carried out obtaining vital information and feedback. We love this phase of the project and are always excited by our first experience with new products. We obtain a deep appreciation and understanding of any challenges that may be present, which can be ironed out before moving into the production stage. In some cases it may be possible to produce a prototype which both functions as the final product but also accurately represents the materials, colours and finishes. Our designers will discuss this with you at this stage of the project.


Manufacture Phase:

Manufacture Preparation

A full review and inspection of the engineered CAD alongside the prototype is undertaken to ensure no detail is missed and ensure the design is fully optimised. Our team is meticulous, working together to cross reference and check each detail no matter how small.

Production Pack

Production packs are required by manufacturers the world over, whether you choose to proceed with our production and sourcing or decide to explore alternatives, production packs are a necessity to ensure no detail is overlooked. In essence the pack contains every bit of detail that a manufacturer will need to know about the product for a successful production run. The pack contains 2D engineers drawings outlining critical dimensions and specific tolerances, material/ fine finish specifications and all relevant information regarding specific standards and testing requirements.

Manufacture & Support

We provide a full and in depth manufacturing service, overseeing your product become a reality through high quality production. We have 30+ years of production experience, with tried and tested manufacturing partners. Our long standing relationship with these manufacturers the world over, allows us to regularly visit during the production process to inspect and undertake quality control ensuring no detail is overlooked. Our dedicated internal manufacturing team oversees and manages the entire process on your behalf, handling correspondence with test houses and manufacturers, arranging shipping and everything in between.

''WE’VE BUILT A GLOBAL NETWORK OF MANUFACTURING PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS, THIS PERSONAL APPROACH TO PRODUCTION IS TRULY AN INVALUABLE ASSET.''
Office meeting


Who we work with

We have a global client base, delivering award winning services, to entrepreneurs, small businesses and global brands alike.

Toyota-Logo
Tommee-Tippee-Logo
Biscuiteers
Interflora-Logo
Rolls Royce 2 01
Ffs logo 01
Nanogen-Logo
Husky-Logo
John-Frieda-Logo
Little Hoppa
Arckit-Logo
Barnett-Logo
Fischer-Logo
GSA
Road-Angel-Logo
Winsor-Newton-Logo
Angle-Curve-Logo
Ann-Summers-Logo
Arekkz gaming logo 01
C prodirect logo 01
Closomat logo 01
Lap Cabby-Logo
Master Chef Logo
Tomy-logo

Testimonials

C-Pro Direct has worked with Centreline for over 10 years to design and engineer a multitude of medical device products. In that time we have successfully developed and brought to market a range of new and innovative products. Medical Devices present major challenges; quality, robustness and precision must be combined with good aesthetics and other factors to achieve products that can be manufactured and distributed. Centreline has remained our design partner for over 10 years because we know that their team of designers will address all our requirements ranging from the small to large scale product developments with consistent technical expertise, professionalism and outstanding customer service.
Philip Morris - C-Pro Direct

www.c-prodirect.com

I have worked with Centreline for over 2 years now, they helped me to turn an idea I had, into a reddot award winning product that is now selling all over the world. They have been incredibly supportive of my small business,often going above and beyond the job description to get the job done. I continue to work with Centreline in a professional capacity, and use them as an extension to my business, supporting on new product lines and managing our QC and manufacturing processes. They are excellent at what they do and often under difficult and stressful circumstances. I would recommend Centreline to any businesses (big or small) looking for a partner in product design.
Sofie Hepworth - Little Hoppa

Project Pagewww.littlehoppa.com

We have used Centreline Design Agency for many years and throughout those years all of our initial ideas have been brought to life by a team of professional & extremely talented designers. They have fabulous vision and interpret our brief on point every time
Nicola Crisp - GSA

www.gsa.com.hk

It’s working really well for us from a floral design perspective for our forthcoming ranges
Vicky Wilson - Interflora

Project Pagewww.Interflora.co.uk

Thanks to you and the team for working so hard to get us to this point. We're very happy with the final design - Issho looks fantastic, we absolutely love him!
Caroline Brooman - Toyota (GB) PLC

Project Pagewww.toyota.co.uk

Working with Centreline was a fantastic experience. They helped bring our concept to life, and assisted us all the way throughout manufacturing, various modifications and revisions, up until completion. And despite having to develop the product around a global pandemic, it was still a complete success and our customers have been incredibly happy with the product. Easy to work with, very professional and I would highly recommend them
Alex Noon - EndGame

www.endgameldn.com

Being able to take and trust advice from Centreline was paramount for me
Rupert Clifford-Brown - NRG Stem

Project Pagewww.nrgstems.com

We've had great customer service, they're responsive, they're always helpful and always go the extra mile to deliver the right solution
Stuart Hopkin - Monarch Education Furniture

www.Lapcabby.com

Client Map