Copes Design
Innovation in design
Copes design and manufacture a wide range of window dressing products from curtain poles to curtain ties. Much of their main component manufacturing is carried out overseas and finished in the UK.
The market Copes trade in is very competitive and relies on innovative well targeted R&D work. Copes need to develop niche product ranges to differentiate them from their competitors and look at ways of improving their development process to short their concept to market time.
Another area where Copes experience difficulties is with communicating clear briefs to their overseas suppliers. There have been discussions in regard to developing the capacity to develop prototypes using the latest rapid prototyping facilities offered by Goldsmiths and the Exchange partnership.
Purpose of the Project
Goldsmiths has been asked to develop new concepts for window decoration and screening. Working from a starting point of traditional curtain poles, curtains and blinds the Goldsmiths design team have been asked to come up with radical new designs which challenge traditional limitations covered by existing products. The aim of the project will be to develop IP to differentiate Copes from their competitors and create a niche within their market.
The project will entail three stages. The first stage will involve a scoping and brainstorming session, culminating in a range of concepts for consideration. Stage 2 will be the development of a selection of the concepts through to prototype. Stage three will be developing production sample for a trade show, the Furniture Show in 2007.
Objectives of the Project
Problem
In order for Copes to maintain their position in their market place they need to develop innovative products each season. The existing design routes offer limited opportunities for innovation, leading to greater levels of competition for a finite market. Copes need to develop unique designs based on new design routes which offer a completely new range of products. In order to maintain their niche within the market place, it would be a distinct advantage if to develop products that can be patented.
Solution
A member of Copes Marketing and Development has taken part in a Creativity and Design programme, where she spent two days on a knowledge transfer course followed by a site visit where members of the Goldsmiths Design team delivered a brainstorming consultation.
As a result of the Creativity and Design programme, Copes have began working with Goldsmiths Design department to develop innovative designs which challenge the traditional limitations of their market place. The Design team are presently progressing concepts through to working prototypes for further discussion with the Copes Development team. The resulting designs will be taken through to production and launched at the furniture show.
How
Four second year Design students are being mentored by one of the Design consultants from the Design department at Goldsmiths. The designs will go through several stages from initial concepts through to working prototypes for use on the Cope & Timmins trade exhibition stand. Cope & Timmins will be given first refusal on all IP developed out of the project and will be commercialised through a license agreement.
Development stages:
- Initial design concepts
- Concepts developed out into designs
- Designs selected and prototypes developed
Consultancy
A design consultant will lead the innovation project on behalf of Goldsmiths working as a mentor to the team of students working on the projects.
The consultant's role is to support students with design best practice, provide advice on development routes and research sources.