Fred Sparks Design

10/26/2017

Check out our new hunting knife line we've created with Camillus Brand!

These knives utilize a Carbonitride Titanium non-stick blade made from AUS-8 Japanese steel. The ergonomic glass filled nylon and thermoplastic rubber handle provide exceptional grip in extreme and wet conditions and include a lifetime warranty!

Did we mention they're excellent for pumpkin carving?!

Go to the Camillus Brand page and enter to win your own!

Want to win a Camillus prize pack? Then get those Camillus knives sharp and ready for pumpkin carving! Between now and Halloween, comment here with a picture of your carved pumpkin and the Camillus knife you used to create it, for your chance to win. We’ll announce the winner 10/31.

04/13/2017

It's that time of year again where we move our drinking activities outdoors!

Next time you're looking for something light and refreshing check out this product brought to you through insights from our very own Fred Sparks Research Team.

Michelob Ultra AB InBev asked us to do in-depth research into a market opportunity for a line of new products to assess the validity of their hypothesis. Michelob was looking for an opportunity to create light beverage for a variety of people that might be health-conscious or don’t like the taste of beer.

See more work at http://www.fredsparks.com/ !

This is "Michelob Ultra Cider" by RocketPress Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

12/05/2016

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 for 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.

This is "Yurbuds" by RocketPress Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

11/15/2016

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 the 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 =2s

This is "Icon Modern Heartland Table" by RocketPress Media on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

11/01/2016

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/

10/25/2016

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/

10/19/2016

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!

10/13/2016

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.

10/11/2016

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

10/05/2016

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!

Ready for kick off? Idsa St Louis Chapter PGAV Destinations Fred Sparks Design http://www.idsa.org/events/chapter/6th-annual-idsa-st-louis-chapter-student-design-competition-kick-party RSVP

10/04/2016

“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