Beyond Design
Beyond Design, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary product development firm based in Chicago. The firm assists companies in multiple stages of product development—specializing in research, design strategy, industrial design, user interface, prototyping, engineering for manufacturing, branding, packaging, and graphic identity. Beyond Design has grown to become one of the leading industrial design firms in Chicago.
History
Beyond Design, Inc. was formed in 1994 by Michael Prince, the President of the company. The company's first location was in a small, office located near Chicago and Halsted. In the beginning, it was Prince and one intern. The team grew to five people shortly after moving to their first office. The initial product designed under Beyond Design, Inc. was a First Alert fire safe for Center Manufacturing. From the start, the company focused on the U.S. market and developed products with the intent to mass produce.
In 2000, the company had grown to ten employees and moved to a larger office located on Wacker Drive, in the heart of downtown Chicago. Five years later, in 2006, Beyond Design began to outgrow their downtown location and moved into a new office in the Ravenswood, Chicago Corridor, a previous industrial area in the northern part of the city. Michael Prince located a former lighting parts warehouse that was in size, with an additional vacant lot next door that was sculpted into a garden to accompany the studio.
Prince’s idea behind creating the garden was to create a “Zen-like” atmosphere away from the noise of the metropolis. The building was completely renovated to represent the company’s work style and core values.
Awards
International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA)
- Husqvarna TS 60 Tile Saw, Bronze 2012
- BuzzBrush, Finalist 2011
- Aero Pakmat, Finalist 2011
- Rubbermaid Paint Buddy, Bronze 2005
- ACCO Brands Swingline 2-60 Stapler, Silver 1999
- Ultimate Hanger, Silver 1997
Red Dot Design Awards
- Aero Pakmat, 2011
- Encompass Lighting Group railtones, 2011
Spark Award
- Aero Pakmat, Spark! Award 2010
- Encompass Lighting Group railtones, Spark! Silver Award 2010
Appliance Design EID Awards
- Trane ComfortLink II Control, Silver EID 2012
- Encompass Lighting Group railtones, Gold EID 2011
- Trane Hyperion Air Handler, Bronze EID 2011
- Oster Iced Tea Maker, Silver EID 2010
- Remington CleanXChange, Bronze EID 2008
- Trane CleanEffects, Silver EID 2007
- Ray Charles Animatronics Doll, 2003
- Chamberlain LiftMaster Multi-Door Garage Door Opener, 2003
Good Design Award
- Aero Pakmat, 2011 Green Award
- Trane ComfortLink II Control
- Encompass Lighting Group railtones, 2010
- Aero Pakmat, 2010
- Rayovac Xenon Flashlights, 2004
- Cobotics iLift System, 2002
- Fisher-Price Portable Tape Player, 2000
CES: Best of Innovations Award
- Trane ComfortLink II Control, 2011
ADEX: Award for Design Excellence
- Trane ComfortLink II Control, Platinum ADEX 2012
I.D. (magazine)
- Cobotics iLift, 2002
Pentawards
- Aero Pakmat, 2010
International Design Awards
- Aero Pakmat, Honorable Mention 2010
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Today
The Beyond Design team consists of industrial designers, engineers, graphic designers, research specialists, project managers, and graphic user interface design experts. Beyond Design works on projects for clients in the housewares, hardware, electronics, medical, industrial, office, toy, sporting equipment, user interface, and furniture industries. The firm has experience across diverse markets including work for Trane, Dremel, Rayovac, Remington, Motorola, Sony, and Culligan.
Beyond Design supports the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA) and mentors design students from around the world. Their interns have come from France, Sweden, Turkey, England, Italy, and the United States.