PDR is a world leading design consultancy and applied research centre. Work carried out by PDR encompasses everything from original research and analysis through to design, prototyping, low volume rapid manufacture and new product introduction. PDR has its own unique approach for over 20 years, blending leading, high quality research activity alongside award winning, proven and highly experienced design and innovation consultancy.

PDR has already worked with over 1000 companies, providing them with cutting-edge realistic and timely solutions across a broad spectrum of sectors. These sectors include medical, aerospace, automotive, military, sports and leisure, industrial, food, cosmetics and personal care as well as both the public and private sectors.

Organised across eight globally renowned groups, the Centre’s broad experience and rich resources are complimented by a customer-focused approach - which emphasises control and robust reliable design solutions throughout.

Under one roof, the capabilities knowledge and expertise are unprecedented and maintain PDR’s position at the cutting edge of knowledge and practice and as a world-leading centre in design and innovation.

PDR

OUR SUCCESS

Our reputation for excellence is built on over 20 years of design activity and leading edge research. We have worked and partnered with some of the most widely recognized brands, successful companies and most influential organisations in the world. We’re proud of our reputation and we value our relationships with these outstanding organisations.

The quality of our work is indicated not just by the companies and organizations who choose to work with us but by the large number of major international design awards we have won in the last decade.

NEW PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

BRINGING IDEAS TO LIFE.

For two decades PDR has been creating distinct, successful and award winning products for innovative companies from startups to blue chips.

We’ve created hundreds of products from consumer goods to complex, life critical medical devices and undertake the full range of product design activity required to take a product from conception through to successful market launch and beyond.

We repeatedly develop solutions that truly connect to users and challenge markets. We do this consistently to budget, to target and on time.

• AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

• MECHANICAL DESIGN & DETAIL ENGINEERING

• DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE

• NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION (NPI) MANAGEMENT

• VERIFICATION, VALIDATION & TEST MANAGEMENT

• SUPPLIER SOURCING, SELECTION & SUPPORT

• GLOBAL/LOCAL MANUFACTURING IMPLEMENTATION

• FEA, MOLDFLOW & ENGINEERING ANALYSIS

SERVICES

At PDR we deploy a broad range of technologies and methodologies to design products and features that are robust, reliable and easily manufactured.

This may typically include:

• UFMEA, DFMEA and PFMEA documentation

• Detailed Tolerance Analysis

• Engineering Analysis

• Design Verification and Validation

• Finite Element Analysis (dynamic, multi-component,

and non linear)

• Moldflow analysis and Optimisation

• 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering

• Detailed Metrology and Inspection

These are often essential elements in making sure a product

moves successfully from the drawing board to the marketplace

in a reliable and robust way.

PDR has considerable expertise and experience providing wide ranging strategic support to organisations from across the world, from IP Management to practical project manufacturing implementation support.

PDR regularly assists organisations in the critical manufacturing implementation and New Product Introduction phases. This essential phase of successful new product development is often underestimated by many companies and is a vital stage in minimising risk and realising project value as quickly as possible.

This can range typically from supplier sourcing and management calling upon PDR’s extensive Far Eastern supplier base, as well as detailed tooling management and prototype, pilot and pre-production phases.

IP management and strategy is a key element in the commercial success of many of our clients. PDR can help companies navigate the intellectual property landscape as well as act as an effective IP engine. We have close relationships with some of the worlds leading patent agencies.

USER CENTRED DESIGN

USERS AT THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT.

User Centred Design (UCD) describes an approach to innovation that places a deep, rich understanding of the user experience at the heart of development. PDR have pioneered a unique, disciplined and highly effective approach to understanding both explicit and implicit needs and activities across the whole journey of product and service engagement. Critical to the value of this work is the identification of key insights and opportunities and the translation of these into vastly improved services and product experiences that provide a clear improvement and competitive advantage. PDR continues to be a leading expert in this area globally and in the last decade has worked with many blue chip companies, National and Regional Governments and major public sector organisations.

• DESIGN RESEARCH

• USER INSIGHT STUDIES

• NEW PRODUCT OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFICATION

• QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

• INNOVATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

• CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND VISUALISATION

• PROTOTYPE AND PRE-LAUNCH USER TESTING

• HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING (HFE)

• USER INTERFACE AND GUI DESIGN

• USABILITY ASSESSMENT AND TRIAL

• FORMATIVE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

• SUMMATIVE USABILITY VALIDATION STUDIES

• HEURISTIC EVALUATION

SERVICES

INTERACTION & USER INTERFACE DESIGN

PEOPLE AND PRODUCTS TOGETHER.

PDR believe Interaction Design extends beyond what is on-screen. Interaction Design is fundamentally about designing a dialogue between a user and a product.

Understanding how people behave is essential to designing products which are intuitive, elegant, pleasurable and above all safe to use.

An extensive library of methods and tools are employed to cut development times and risk substantially as well as creating user experiences and interactions that go beyond the safe and purely functional.

Studying behaviour of users is supported through our on-site observational facility. Our purpose built observation facility can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of research activities including semi-contextual usability testing, lab-based usability testing, focus groups and in-depth interviews.

Access to appropriate prototypes for testing with users is an essential component for a user-centred approach to design. Utilising the interactive prototyping tools available at PDR, we can create seemingly functioning product simulations without the commitments of production software or electronics prior to a design being proven.

SERVICE DESIGN

DESIGNING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.

Customer experience drives behaviour and effects the products we buy and services we use. This can be seen both in leading companies seeking growth and in public sector organisations seeking to deliver more effective and efficient services. PDR has pioneered the discipline of Service Design and is seen as a world leader in this field, applying a structured approach to the design and delivery of services. We often deliver this across multiple platforms and touch-points, resulting in improvements to the quality, consistency and customer experience of services. The service design team at PDR are highly experienced and internationally recognised for their work, delivering tangible solutions that have a positive impact on an organisation’s customer experience. Our location within PDR allows us to draw upon the deep pool of expertise across the organisation in product, UX and User Centred Design and access to the very latest tools and technologies in support of creating services that truly engage with end users.

• SERVICE USER AND MARKET RESEARCH

• CUSTOMER JOURNEY MAPPING

• CONCEPTUAL DESIGN SERVICE & INNOVATION

• SERVICE BLUEPRINTING

• SERVICE PROTOTYPING

• PUBLIC SERVICE INNOVATION & DESIGN

• SERVICE INNOVATION PROCESS DESIGN

• CO-CREATION & CO-DESIGN

• PROJECT & PROGRAMME DESIGN

SERVICES

PROTOTYPE & MANUFACTURE

IN-HOUSE TECHNOLOGIES.

PDR’s workshop services provide companies with a full portfolio of development support. Extensive in-house facilities deliver a complete solution - from prototype testing and realisation through to batch production, tool design and tool manufacture - whilst also providing a trusted service of new product introduction and manufacturing liaison support.

This in-house facility is essential as it ensures that design intent is maintained through the later stages of development and that any risk is minimised through virtual prototyping and manufacturing simulation.

Thousands of prototypes and mouldings are produced for clients worldwide and in a wide variety of sectors - enabling the continual development of processes and knowledge and with it the ability to consistently product high quality products.

PDR’s focus is on delivering believable prototype models - its range of technologies provides clients with the option of everything from one-off models to batch vacuum castings.

The speed of the manufacturing at PDR enables improved timescales for the introduction of a product to market.

• 3D PRINTING: SLA PROJECT HD 3000 PLUS

• HAND MODEL MAKING

• FULL COSMETIC FINISHING

• PANTONE & RAL COLOUR MATCHING

• VACUUM CASTING (INCLUDING NYLON VACUUM CASTING)

• INJECTION MOULD TOOL DESIGN & MANUFACTURE

• INTELLIGENT & SMART SYSTEM PROTOTYPING

• INJECTION MOULDING

SERVICES

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

DO WHAT WE DO.

There are many methods that allow companies to transfer the knowledge and experience at PDR to build capability within their own company.

Many of these are supported by generous government funding. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP’s) are typical with up to 67% funding support. PDR can place a highly skilled designer into your company who is supported and monitored by one of PDR’s highly qualified experts.

Your company will acquire new specialist knowledge and expertise for growth in a very cost effective and valuable way. KTP’s at PDR have a long history and have proven success in achieving:

• Development of new ideas

• Modernisation of dated products

• Reduced production costs and lead times

• Investigation of new materials and applications

• Implementation of design management systems

• Integration of new design tools

RESEARCH

KNOWLEDGE, ENQUIRY, RIGOUR.

At its foundation PDR was established with the development of new knowledge, technologies and systems which support and facilitate creativity within the design process.

PDR’s research programmes have direct relevance to the imperatives of industry and to the needs of individuals and the wider community. PDR’s research team publishes in a wide range of internationally recognised journals and conferences.

PDR’s research centres on the development of new knowledge, technologies and systems in new product design, development and execution.

PDR’s research focuses on three themes:

• Management of design and innovation

• User centric design

• Technology-led design

PDRCardiff Metropolitan UniversityCardiff, United KingdomCF5 2YB

Tel: +44 (0) 29 2041 6725Fax: +44 (0) 29 2041 6973Email: info@pdronline.co.ukWeb: www.pdronline.co.uk