Global architectural design firm HOK has launched a new business: HOK Product Design, LLC. Through this venture, HOK designers from across the firm will design products for use in and around the firm's core business of architecture and interior design. HOK Product Design will license its designs to manufacturers for fabrication and sale.
Many building product innovations have been developed by architectural practitioners, and some architects have even gone on to form successful building product companies. However a large, well organized program of innovation like HOK's changes the game, transforming the design firm into a veritable business incubator.
This may change the traditional relationship between building product manufacturers and designers. In the past, manufacturers with innovative ideas often sought feedback about concepts or prototypes from architects. Now, there will have to be more concern about whether the designer is actually a potential competitor that might use your ideas not for a building but for a product launch.
A press release from the organization states:
Many building product innovations have been developed by architectural practitioners, and some architects have even gone on to form successful building product companies. However a large, well organized program of innovation like HOK's changes the game, transforming the design firm into a veritable business incubator.
This may change the traditional relationship between building product manufacturers and designers. In the past, manufacturers with innovative ideas often sought feedback about concepts or prototypes from architects. Now, there will have to be more concern about whether the designer is actually a potential competitor that might use your ideas not for a building but for a product launch.
A press release from the organization states:
"Product design is a new outlet for our unique brand of design thinking that aims at creating value for HOK by creatively responding to the needs of a new range of customers, in addition to those of our current clients," explains Riccardo Mascia, AIA, a member of HOK’s executive committee. "We also want to offer our people new opportunities for creative expression and professional development."
HOK Product Design, LLC, which is structured as a standalone business within HOK, is led by Susan Grossinger, former director of interiors for HOK Los Angeles. The business will support the development of products ranging from architectural and interior design to consumer, health care, and sustainable offerings. "Product design is a natural extension of what we already do in terms of developing innovative solutions to our clients' challenges. Our goal is to start from square one in terms of creating new concepts, as opposed to simply modifying existing products that are already on the market,” says Grossinger. “We also operate as an extension of HOK’s long-term leadership in sustainability, and are committed to having all our products enhance environmental quality.”
The new company already has secured business arrangements with manufacturing partners for 12 products designed by HOK people.
"HOK's global experience in strategic planning, workplace, health care, science and technology, and other specialties gives our designers the creative vision required to identify gaps between what's available in the market and products that can provide value to our clients while improving the experience, health and productivity of end users," says Grossinger. "We want to fill these gaps with our innovative product ideas."
- Designed by HOK’s planning and architecture designers Matt Snelling and Paul Wilhelms, the FRENO Rain Garden is a kit-of-parts, urban rain garden for stormwater filtration and groundwater recharge. This patent pending modular system saves clients more than 30 percent over traditional construction in both budget and time and is licensed to Midwest Products Group.
- HOK Chicago interior designers Tom Polucci and Natalie Banaszak designed Mannington's rubber and carpet tile Spectrum Collection.
- HOK Houston interior designer Paul Smead designed an executive lounge seating group as part of the Cumberland Furniture Designer's Speak program.
- The Shadowline Wall Coping designed by Los Angeles architect Chris Anderson is licensed to WP Hickman and was simply a response to the lack of commercially available standard options.
- Other products under development target the health care, lighting, urban planning, furniture, finishes, fire and life safety, and sustainable sectors.