Formworks Design

Formworks Design is an industrial design and product development consultancy founded in 1995 in Auckland, New Zealand. As it enters its 30th year, the studio has grown into one of the country's more established industrial design studios. Its track record includes numerous awards and successful collaborations with companies locally and internationally.

The company partners closely with clients across a multitude of diverse industries. Its portfolio includes work for Air New Zealand, ECOYA, Manuka Health New Zealand, and Les Mills. The team blends industrial design expertise with strategic insight to build products that perform in the market and in the real world. Many clients have stayed for more than ten years, and over ninety percent have returned with multiple projects.

Services cover insights, industrial design, engineering, visualisation, prototyping, and manufacturing support. The insights process uses user interviews, stakeholder interviews, field research, observations, trend analysis, competitor analysis, and journey mapping. Industrial design covers concept generation, hardware envelope analysis, mock ups, 3D CAD modelling, rapid visualisation, photo realistic visualisation, colour material and finish development, and appearance models.

The studio applies a user focused design philosophy. It prioritises understanding user needs, behaviours, and desires through observational empathy, user research, and usability testing. Engineers work through technical problems and manufacturing constraints alongside clients. The team adapts designs quickly when feedback comes in and collaborates with suppliers and manufacturing partners.

Aviation related projects in its portfolio include Air New Zealand Hangar 22, Skynest, and Skycouch. These join a broader body of work spanning consumer goods, packaging, medical devices, and commercial products. The studio also created packaging for Manuka Health New Zealand and the ECOYA Keepsake Collection, Reed Diffuser, and Car Diffuser 2.0.

Formworks has authored a book on navigating a career in industrial design. It publishes a Design Journey series that covers each stage of product development from technical development to launch. A separate post on the site discusses the use of artificial intelligence in industrial design.

Services

• Insights
• Industrial Design
• Engineering
• Visualisation
• Prototyping
• Manufacturing
• User Research
• Concept Generation
• 3D CAD Modelling
• Design for Manufacturing