Fred Sparks Design

Thank you Idsa Stl for conducting your Student Design Competition brainstorm at our studio!

FredSparks Product Spotlight : JBL's Yurbuds - Signature Series Yurbuds, a headphone brand that has an established presence in the athletic industry, asked us to apply our research and analysis expertise to test their hypothesis about a new business opportunity. We conducted ethnographic research at target locations to determine whether or not their approach to the opportunity was appropriate and how it could be improved. We also provided them with fresh ideas and concepts fo...r their product design. Our designs, which featured an enhanced aesthetic and feature configuration, were put into production and launched at the same price point with spokespeople who appealed to Yurbuds’ core group of users. That may sound like a minor addition to the thorough and extensive research, but our designs became their best-selling SKU online and had the fastest sell-through of any new product in the history of the company. The headphones that we designed for them are still available online and continue to be a top-seller. https://vimeo.com/118622772

FredSparks Product Spotlight : Icon Modern Heartland Table This design won an IDEA award from the International Designers Society of America, a Core77 award and a Silver A’ Design Award. Icon Modern is a company that aims to save trees by making furniture exclusively from reclaimed, local trees. The Heartland Table line that we created for them is now their showcase table with a sleek, refined appearance. Using an X design for the table support we were able to cut back on t...he amount of materials needed to produce it. What set our collaboration apart was our ability to quantify the reduction of carbon footprint that Icon Modern’s processes had. https://vimeo.com/118749010#t=2s

FredSparks Product Spotlight : Team Wendy SAR Helmet Team Wendy, a manufacturer of protective helmets and foams, partnered with us to solve a puzzle in the helmet industry. Many times, the question that we answer for our clients is what, but the Search And Rescue (SAR) Tactical helmet was a question of how? Through a detailed look into the metrics of the safety standards, we were able to adjust various aspects of the helmet to create a product that no other manufacturer ...had made. The very first purpose-built SAR helmet with tactical accessory mounting capabilities. See more here http://www.fredsparks.com/project/team-wendy-sar-helmet/

FredSparks Product Spotlight : Cuda Brand Fishing Knives Launching in Spring 2014 at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) our product line won a best of show award and generated a host of purchase orders. See more here http://www.fredsparks.com/work/

The IDSA-STL Kick Off Party was a success. Thanks to all who made it to out to our studio that night. We had a great time meeting students, faculty, and professional designers from all over the Midwest and enjoyed getting to understand their perspectives as designers!

We're one night away from our IDSA-STL Student Design Competition Kick Off Party! There will be great food and drinks for all and alcohol for 21+. There's also chance to win a 1-month membership to TechShop St. Louis and other awesome things! Check us out.

Ever wonder what exactly is Industrial Design? Well, it's nearly impossible to sum it all up on one page, but this is a great brief to help you understand what we do any given day in our studio. http://www.idsa.org/education/what-is-industrial-design

We're honored to be apart of the 2016 IDSA-STL Student Design Competition and excited to hold the Kick Off party at our design studio downtown St. Louis!

When I started out in design, I was told you either go to Los Angeles or New York. I disagreed then, and still do today. A lot of places blast that one to hell. St. Louis is one of ’em! I’ve seen it up close. Aaron Draplin PAST STLDW GUEST SPEAKER / Author / Designer

This week is exclusively for creatives like us. Check out all the things happening around the city during STL Design Week. http://stldesignweek.com/

To get a glimpse inside our everyday design life and view some awesome sketches/processes/past projects, follow our Instagram page! https://www.instagram.com/fredsparksdesign/

Check out our updated website! http://www.fredsparks.com/