Consumer Products

design for lifestyle

Design for consumer products is about understanding how trends and lifestyle influence consumer buying decisions, from an impulse purchase to a highly considered item.

Most consumer products are mature and have become commodities with many competitors, who focus on the specification, packaging or price promotions to market their product.

The product designer’s scope for innovation is often limited to surface styling to differentiate the product brand, through the subtle application of design detail, colour and material finishes.

Frazer Design have worked on some notable projects with clients requiring step change innovation from first principles, such as the work with Fisco on tape measures, Halfords on bikelights and fragrancing devices for Reckitt & Colman.

 

Fisco Tuf-Lok
Tape Measure
Fisco BigT
Tape Measure
Denman Folding
Hairbrush
Halfords
Bikelights
Reckitt & Colman
Air Freshener
Innovations
Battery Manager
Plastic
Briefcase
Abacus
Calculator
2004

Fisco Tuf-Lok Tape Measure

2004

The Tuf-Lok range of tape measures is based on the ergonomic grip and lock innovations developed for the Big T, but designed for Asian offshore manufacture, to enable Fisco to compete at the lower price end of the market, with an innovative and stylish product.

The design incorporates some additional novel shock resistant features, including air cavities, a shock resistant tape spool and a removable belt clip. The Tuf-Lok range is available as a matching family in 3, 5 and 8 metre lengths

2003

Fisco BigT Tape Measure

2003

Fisco Tools manufacturing in the UK for 50 years, required a new product strategy for their tape measures to compete against highly promoted global brands and low cost asian imports.

Frazer worked closely with the Fisco inhouse team, to design and develop new tape measures incorporating new levels of innovation and quality, based on an extensive programme of user research and ergonomic studies.

The first range of products to be launched was the BigT range that won Fisco large orders from Lowe’s DIY in the USA for the first time and went on to win the Plastics Industry Award – Consumer Product Design of the Year in 2003.

The Big T range incorporates many novel features, including increased shock resistance, an ergonomic rocking lock, internal measuring stop and a rapid action belt clip for professional users.

2001

Denman Folding Hairbrush

2001

Denman the leading hairbrush brand commissioned the consultancy to design a travel hairbrush, which involved undertaking a conceptual design study to investigate consumer trends, mechanical innovation and new materials.

The Flip-Top Brush concept was selected and developed to a prototype and production specifications. The result is a smart compact and hygienic package when kept in a handbag, which transforms to a full size hairbrush when opened for use.

1999

Halfords Bikelights

1999

Halfords with over a 50% share of the volume bicycle market required a premium Halfords own brand bikelight range to sell at an attractive price. The front & rear lights reflected contemporary car styling trends and included halogen, LED, rechargeable and bicycle trip computer models in the range.

The product development involved styling concepts and engineering of the front halogen and rear LED lens optics to meet BS6102/3 standards. The range was engineered using advanced CAD tools and prototyping, before manufacturing in China within a short lead time, to meet Halfords seasonal winter market.

1998

Reckitt & Colman Plug-in Air Freshener

1998

Reckitt & Colman were well known for helping to pioneer the development and marketing of innovative consumer fragrancing devices.

The Haze branded range of Plug-In Air Fresheners was developed with the in-house team to deliver premium quality liquid fragrances.

1994

Innovations Battery Manager

1994

The Innovations catalogue was famous in the 1980s and 90s for promoting a wide range of gadgets and product innovations. The Battery Manager was claimed to recharge and extend the life of standard primary cells, from large D cells to AAA sizes, using its special charging cycle.

The Battery Manager was designed for easy access and to look good on a kitchen worktop with its hinged tinted acrylic cover. Frazer Design then developed, prototyped and engineered the product in the UK for manufacturing in Asia.

1984

Plastic Briefcase

1984

Thousands of these brightly coloured one piece polypropylene briefcases were sold in the 1980s and 1990s by UK high street stores, as a great value fashion accessory.

The briefcase was designed, tooled and moulded in the UK and succeeded by appealing to all ages and sexes and by being kept up to date by making it in the latest fashion colours.

1980

Abacus Calculator

1980

The Abacus Calculator featured novel alphanumeric shaped keys, that made it stylish and easy to use. The concept was originated by Martin Riddiford, while studying at the Central School, before joining the consultancy as a designer.

Frazer Design helped to develop the design and to licence the calculator for production in Hong Kong. Several calculator variants of the key concept were developed and also a desk telephone handset.

Quick Links

Home
Work
About
Method
Contact

Contact Details

Frazer Designers Limited

124 Fordwych Road
London NW2 3PB
United Kingdom

t: +44 (0)20 8208 4426
e: contact@frazerdesigners.com

Information

© 2026 All content on this website is copyright of Frazer Designers Ltd or other relevant parties. No representation or warranty is made that the information provided about the work of the company is accurate or complete. Products and company names shown on this website are the property of their respective owners.

Legal

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy