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The Art of Longevity: 5 Key Lessons from Design Veterans

Industrial design is a field of constant reinvention. New materials emerge, technologies and softwares evolve, and consumer expectations shift. Keeping up with these shifts is a challenge, but some designers have not only kept up, they’ve set the pace. Their careers span decades; their work shaping industries, and their impact proving that great design is timeless. In this industry, longevity is an art in itself. At Interwoven Design, we celebrate those who have stood the test of time, blending artistry with adaptability. What’s their secret? How have these veterans navigated shifting trends, advancing technology, and changing market demands while maintaining a strong creative voice? In this Insight article, we dive into five key lessons from design veterans who have built lasting careers. Whether you’re an emerging designer looking for inspiration or a seasoned professional seeking fresh perspectives, these insights can help you craft a career that evolves without losing its essence. Let’s explore the strategies that keep design veterans at the top of their game.

Lesson 1: The Power of Adaptability

In the ever-evolving world of industrial design, staying relevant requires more than just keeping up with trends—it’s about embracing change and using it to refine your work. The most successful designers learn to adapt, leveraging new technologies, materials, and manufacturing techniques without losing sight of their core design principles. Dieter Rams, the legendary designer behind Braun, is a prime example of this adaptability. Rams’ “Less, but better” philosophy has shaped the design world for decades, and his influence stretches beyond physical products into the realm of digital design. One of his most iconic products, the Braun SK4 record player (also known as the “Snow White’s Coffin”), epitomizes this. Released in the 1950s, it featured a minimalist aesthetic that prioritized function and clarity. Its clear plastic lid was a groundbreaking design choice at the time, showcasing Rams’ ability to make everyday objects feel sophisticated yet approachable.

Braun SK 4 Record Player by design veteran Dieter Rams — *The Braun SK 4 Record Player by Dieter Rams*

Though the SK4 was designed for a different era, its influence has endured. Jonathan Ive, former Chief Design Officer at Apple, has frequently cited Rams as a major inspiration. The minimalist design principles from the SK4 are evident in Apple’s product interfaces and hardware design, particularly in devices like the iPod and iPhone. Rams’ work shows that a strong design philosophy can transcend its original context, evolving with technology without losing its essence. The lesson here is clear: great design isn’t static. Rams adapted his timeless principles to new contexts and industries, ensuring his designs remained relevant across generations. By staying flexible and open to innovation, designers can continue to shape the future without abandoning the values that make their work iconic.

Lesson 2: Cultivating a Flexible Aesthetic

Super Normal: Sensations of the Ordinary by design veteran Naoto Fukasawa — *Super Normal: Sensations of the Ordinary* by Naoto Fukasawa

Many legendary designers are recognized for a distinct aesthetic, yet their true strength lies in their ability to be flexible with that aesthetic. Longevity in industrial design isn’t just about having a recognizable style, it’s about knowing when to evolve, when to refine, and how to apply core principles across industries. An example of this flexibility is the career of Naoto Fukasawa. His work is unmistakable in its simplicity, but it’s never rigid. Rooted in his “Super Normal” philosophy, Fukasawa’s designs blend so seamlessly into daily life that they feel like they’ve always existed. From sleek MUJI appliances to sculptural Herman Miller furniture, his ability to translate his vision across product categories has kept his work fresh and enduring.

At Interwoven Design, we know that true design excellence isn’t about repeating the same ideas, it’s about applying a strong point of view in ways that remain relevant. The key takeaway from Fukasawa? A signature aesthetic is not a limitation, it’s a foundation. When designers embrace flexibility, they don’t just stay current; they shape the future while staying true to their creative identity.

Lesson 3: Lifelong Learning

The best designers aren’t just creators, they’re lifelong students. Whether it’s emerging technology, cultural shifts, or evolving consumer behaviors, staying curious is what keeps a designer’s work relevant for decades. Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola is a wonderful example of a lifelong design student. Known for her ability to fuse traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, she doesn’t just follow trends, she anticipates them. Her work spans a wide range of industries, from furniture to architecture, always pushing the boundaries of materiality and form.

One of Urquiola’s designs that embraces new technologies and principles is the Husk Chair for B&B Italia. Designed with both comfort and sustainability in mind, the Husk Chair features a shell made from recycled plastic, proving that high-end design and eco-consciousness can go hand in hand. The chair’s modular structure allows for easy disassembly and recycling, demonstrating Urquiola’s commitment to circular design principles. By embracing new materials and production methods, she ensures her work remains at the cutting edge of both aesthetics and sustainability. Her approach is a reminder that learning doesn’t stop after design school. The most enduring designers embrace change, whether it’s through research, hands-on exploration, or collaborating with emerging talent. The lesson? Stay curious, stay adaptable, and never stop evolving.

Lesson 4: Mentorship and Legacy

The Humanscale Freedom chair by design veteran Niels Diffrient — *The Humanscale Freedom chair by Niels Diffrient*

Great design isn’t just about what you create, it’s also about what you pass on. Many design veterans dedicate part of their careers to teaching, mentoring, or writing, ensuring their influence continues long after a single project or product. Niels Diffrient was a pioneer in ergonomic design who transformed the way we think about office furniture. His work with Herman Miller and Humanscale wasn’t just about aesthetics, it was about creating chairs that truly supported the human body. One of his most famous projects, the Humanscale Freedom chair, revolutionized office seating by eliminating complex levers and knobs, instead using the sitter’s own body weight to intuitively adjust recline and support. This innovation not only improved workplace comfort but also set new ergonomic standards, influencing generations of designers and products that followed.

Diffrient’s impact extended far beyond his designs. He was deeply committed to education and mentorship, sharing his expertise with the next generation of designers and setting new benchmarks for human-centered design. His legacy reminds us that mentorship is a two-way street: it strengthens the field as a whole while keeping experienced designers engaged with fresh perspectives. By sharing knowledge, veteran designers don’t just sustain their own influence, they help shape the future of design itself.

Lesson 5: Balancing Business and Creativity

Longevity in design isn’t just about having a strong creative vision, it’s about knowing how to navigate the business side of the industry. The most successful design veterans strike a balance between artistic integrity and commercial viability, ensuring their work remains both impactful and sustainable. Take Yves Béhar, founder of Fuseproject, a design and branding firm that has redefined how industrial design intersects with entrepreneurship. Béhar has built a career on blending aesthetics with business strategy, working with both major corporations and social impact initiatives to create products that are not only beautiful but also commercially successful. One standout project is the August Smart Lock, a sleek, user-friendly device that transformed home security by seamlessly integrating technology into everyday life. By focusing on both form and function, Béhar helped position August as a leader in the smart home industry.

Fuseproject doesn’t just cater to big tech, Béhar has also applied his expertise to social good initiatives, such as the One Laptop Per Child program, which provided affordable, durable laptops to children in developing countries. His ability to collaborate with brands, understand market demands, and maintain a strong design ethos has been key to his longevity. The lesson? Great designers don’t just create—they also know how to sell their vision, adapt to business realities, and leverage design as a tool for both innovation and impact.

Takeaways

As we’ve seen through the stories of legendary design veterans, longevity in industrial design isn’t just about maintaining a presence, it’s about staying relevant and continuously evolving. Adaptability, lifelong learning, and mentorship are the pillars of a successful career that spans decades. Designers who stay curious, embrace change, and share their knowledge with the next generation ensure their influence lasts well beyond their time in the studio. A signature aesthetic can be a powerful asset, but it’s how you apply that aesthetic across different industries, technologies, and trends that determines long-term success. Designers who balance creativity with business acumen, like Yves Béhar, understand that great ideas need to be supported by strategic thinking, especially in a competitive market.

Future-proofing your career requires an openness to both traditional craftsmanship and the integration of emerging technologies. The best designers don’t just follow trends, they anticipate them, blending the past, present, and future to create designs that resonate on every level. At Interwoven Design, we know that these principles are key to building not only a lasting career in design but also a lasting impact on the industry. As we continue to witness the next generation of industrial designers enter the field, one question remains: How will they use these lessons to shape the future of design?

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From Sketch to Shelf: The Industrial Design Process in 6 Steps

Bringing a product from an idea to reality is an exciting journey—one that blends creativity, technical expertise, and user-centered thinking. In the world of wearable technology, great design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting solutions that seamlessly integrate into people’s lives. From the first sketch to the final product on the shelf, every step in the industrial design process plays a crucial role in shaping a wearable that is functional, comfortable, and market-ready. There are a lot of ways to break down the design process, and they all have their uses: the double diamond, the design thinking cycle. Search ‘design process’ and you’ll find endless diagrams and breakdowns. In this Insight article, we’ll walk you through the key stages of industrial design, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how innovative products come to life.

Step 1: Research & Discovery

The journey of creating a standout product starts with diving deep into the world of research and discovery. This initial phase is all about truly understanding the problem at hand—getting to know the needs of the users, the latest trends in the market, and how competitors are shaping the landscape. By mapping out these elements, designers can pinpoint where opportunities for innovation lie, crafting solutions that stand out in a crowded market. This phase is about more than just solving a problem; it’s about creating something that resonates with users and is perfectly positioned to make an impact.

Interwoven SABER military exosuit — *The SABER Military Exosuit*

A key part of this research involves ethnographic studies and interviews with the target user community, which allow us to step into the shoes of the users. Through ethnography, we spend time in the real world with the people we’re designing for, understanding their habits, behaviors, and challenges. We did extensive research for our SABER Military Exosuit to understand the key tasks and body positions required of the soldiers who would be wearing the suit. This research was critical to understanding how to create a suit that would move effectively with the user. It’s a deeply immersive way of discovering what truly matters. Later, we’ll use these insights to develop testing protocols for our prototypes, ensuring that the design is not just functional, but also intuitive and user-friendly.

Step 2: Concept Development & Ideation

Once we’ve gathered our insights, it’s time to bring ideas to life through concept development and ideation. This stage is where creativity thrives, as designers explore different possibilities for form, function, and aesthetics. Sketching and early visualizations allow us to experiment with various design directions, refining the product’s overall look and feel. The goal is to create something that not only meets user needs but also resonates emotionally, balancing beauty with functionality. Sketching is a big part of every project we do at Interwoven Design, a great example being the Breg CrossRunner Knee Brace. We were open to many strategies for meeting the project requirements, and we sketched dozens of ideas before moving on to the prototyping stage. Every sketch brought us closer to finding the ideal design that would work both in concept and in reality.

Interwoven Sketch and prototype of the Breg Knee Brace — *A sketch and prototype for the Breg Knee Brace project by Interwoven Design Group.*

To refine our ideas further, we use mood boards, storyboards, and collaborative brainstorming sessions. Mood boards help convey the visual direction, pulling together textures, colors, and inspiration that guide the aesthetic choices. Storyboarding helps illustrate how users will interact with the product in real life, showcasing key moments in the user experience. Throughout this process, we collaborate closely with engineers, material scientists, and stakeholders to ensure feasibility. This interdisciplinary approach ensures the designs are not only innovative but also practical, considering technical limitations, material possibilities, and market needs from the outset. When working on our projects, which often involve collaborating with engineers, we find that integrating interdisciplinary teamwork from the outset helps refine concepts, making sure we’re not only dreaming big but also designing something that can be successful in the real world.

Step 3: Prototyping & Iteration

With the initial concepts solidified, the next step is to bring those ideas into the physical world through prototyping and iteration. This is where sketches and ideas begin to take shape in low fidelity mockups, allowing us to visualize proportions, details, and mechanics in a more tangible way. Whether it’s through 3D printing, foam models, or soft goods mockups, these prototypes give us the opportunity to test ideas early on, making it easier to spot potential issues with form or function before committing to more complex production processes. We create dozens—in some cases far more than dozens—of prototypes for every project. The Whitecloud Medical Utility Bag is a great example of this; we created a broad range of soft goods prototypes to experiment with how we could fit a specific set of tools and objects that nurses need at all times. Early prototyping is a crucial stage that allows us to keep iterating quickly and efficiently, staying agile throughout the design journey.

As prototypes are developed, user feedback becomes a vital component of the refinement process. Testing prototypes with real users provides invaluable insights into how the product feels, operates, and resonates in everyday use. Functional assessments help determine whether the design meets its intended purpose, from ease of use to durability. Based on this feedback, the design undergoes continuous refinement, adjusting features, ergonomics, or materials as needed. This iterative cycle ensures that the product evolves to better meet user needs and aligns with both aesthetic and functional goals before moving into the final stages of production.

Step 4: User Testing & Validation

Once the prototype is ready for real-world interaction, the next step is user testing and validation. At Interwoven Design, we consider user testing and validation to be an integral part of prototyping and ideating. User testing is crucial for ensuring that the design not only meets user expectations but also performs seamlessly in everyday use. By testing the product with a target group of users, designers gather valuable feedback on comfort, usability, and overall user experience. This hands-on testing helps identify any areas where the product may need adjustments—whether it’s improving ergonomics, simplifying functionality, or enhancing the user interface. In our Firefly workwear project, we had warehouse workers wear prototypes during their work day to observe the quality and durability of the jacket’s reflective coating. It’s all about making sure the design feels intuitive, comfortable, and effective in real-world scenarios.

Interwoven Firefly workwear jacket — *The Firefly workwear garment* *by Interwoven Design Group.*

Alongside user feedback, long-term wearability and durability are evaluated to ensure the product stands up over time. This involves rigorous testing to assess how the product holds up under everyday wear and tear, as well as ensuring it meets regulatory standards for safety and compliance. Based on the data collected, the design is refined to address any issues that arise, ensuring that it not only delights users but is also safe and reliable. This iterative process guarantees that the final product is both functionally sound and compliant, offering an exceptional experience that users can trust and enjoy over time.

Step 5: Technical Design & Sourcing

With a refined concept in hand, the next step is transitioning from idea to a manufacturable product. This phase focuses on engineering the design for production, ensuring that all aspects of the product can be realized efficiently and at scale. In this step, we generate all of the technical documentation to allow the manufacturer to understand every aspect of the design. In our Even Adaptive Lingerie project, we created additional technical design documentation to support the patent application for the custom clasp we designed.

Material sourcing is also important at this stage. The right materials must be chosen for both their functional properties—such as strength, flexibility, and weight—and their aesthetic qualities. Along with material considerations, wearability testing and durability assessments are conducted to guarantee that the product will stand up to everyday use while maintaining comfort and performance. These evaluations help refine the design, ensuring that it’s not only visually appealing but also reliable and practical in real-world conditions.

Collaborating with suppliers and manufacturers is a key part of this stage. Designers work closely with these partners to optimize production processes, ensuring that the design can be reproduced with consistency and efficiency. This includes refining techniques for assembly, tooling, and quality control, while also exploring opportunities to reduce costs or improve sustainability in the construction or in the manufacturing process. By maintaining an open dialogue with manufacturers and keeping an eye on potential production challenges, we can ensure that the design moves smoothly from the drawing board to the final product, ready for the market. This phase solidifies the design’s viability, ensuring it can be brought to life with precision and quality.

Step 6: Production & Launch

As the product nears completion, the focus shifts to the final stages of production and launch. This phase begins with finalizing manufacturing processes, ensuring that all production methods are optimized for scale and consistency. Quality control measures are put in place to maintain high standards throughout the production run, from material checks to final inspections. The goal is to ensure that each unit meets the exact specifications, preserving the integrity of the design and delivering a product that matches the vision set out at the beginning of the process.

Simultaneously, preparations are made for the product’s mass production, taking care to balance efficiency with design integrity. It’s essential that the product remains true to its initial concept, even as it moves into full-scale manufacturing. While this is happening, the marketing team works to build excitement for the launch, developing a compelling product narrative that connects emotionally with consumers. Product storytelling helps create a connection, communicating not just the features and benefits, but the values and story behind the design. This connection builds consumer trust and generates buzz, ensuring the product’s success in the market from day one.

Bringing it All Together

From the initial spark of inspiration to the final product launch, each stage of the industrial design process plays a critical role in creating wearable technology that not only looks good but works seamlessly in the lives of users. Every step—whether it’s research, prototyping, or technical design—helps shape a product that balances creativity, functionality, and user experience. A thoughtful, well-rounded design approach ensures that the product is not only technologically advanced but also user-friendly, making it easy for customers to integrate it into their daily lives with confidence and excitement.

At Interwoven Design, we believe that the best designs come from collaboration and a shared vision. We invite you to work with us to bring your ideas to life, whether you’re looking to refine an existing concept or develop an entirely new wearable tech solution. With our expert design and product development process, we’re here to guide you through every step, ensuring your product stands out in the market while meeting the highest standards of usability, functionality, and sustainability. Do you have a project you’d like to see come to life? Reach out!

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Yukiko Naoi Joins Interwoven as Creative Director

Interwoven Design Group Expands Medical Design Expertise with the Appointment of Yukiko Naoi as Creative Director

Brooklyn, NY – May 1, 2025 – Interwoven Design Group is thrilled to announce that Yukiko Naoi has joined the team as Creative Director. A seasoned leader in medical product design and a long-time collaborator with Interwoven Design, Naoi brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective that bridges the worlds of design, medicine, and wellness. Her addition to the team marks a significant expansion of Interwoven’s capabilities in the medical design and packaging fields, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovative solutions across the market.

Naoi’s career spans over two decades in industrial design, with a specialized focus on medical devices, diagnostics, personal care products, and packaging. As former president of Tanaka Kapec Design Group (TKDG), she led groundbreaking work in medical packaging, human factors research, and healthcare innovation, collaborating with industry leaders such as AstraZeneca, Bausch + Lomb, and Johnson & Johnson. Her extensive experience in regulatory compliance, usability research, and design for manufacturing will be instrumental in advancing Interwoven’s medical design practice, and her structural packaging experience will strengthen their packaging design practice.

Beyond her industrial design expertise, Naoi is also a licensed acupuncturist and founder of Rest NYC, a clinic dedicated to integrative health and wellness. Her ability to merge clinical insights with human-centered design allows her to create products that enhance patient outcomes and experiences, improving everyday lives. This unique combination of skills positions Interwoven Design to expand its influence in patient experience and wearable technology solutions for healthcare.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Yukiko to the team,” said Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Founder of Interwoven Design Group. “Her expertise in medical product and packaging design as well as research-driven, user-centered healthcare solutions aligns perfectly with our mission. With Yukiko’s leadership, we are poised to deepen our impact in the healthcare design sector and develop groundbreaking innovations in wearable health technology.”

Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman (left) and Yukiko Naoi (right) collaborate at Interwoven Design Group’s Brooklyn studio, celebrating Yukiko’s new role as Creative Director.

Naoi has been a long-time friend and collaborator of Interwoven Design Group, contributing to multiple medical design projects over the years. In her new role, she will lead the studio’s medical design strategy and development, helping push the boundaries of wearable technology, health innovations, and e-textile solutions. Her expertise will allow Interwoven Design to broaden its partnerships within the medical industry and explore new frontiers in healthcare design.

Interwoven Design Group is a Brooklyn-based product design and development studio specializing in wearable technology, smart textiles, and innovations in health, medical, and consumer products as well as packaging. The studio is a thought leader in the wearable technology sector and committed to supporting women in design. By combining expertise in fashion, engineering, material science, and product design, Interwoven Design Group creates forward-thinking solutions that seamlessly integrate technology with the human body.

Please join us by welcoming Yukiko to the team!

3 Must-Know Brand Strategy Frameworks for Wearable Tech

A Guide to Building a Strong, Differentiated Wearable Tech Brand

In the fast-evolving world of wearable technology, having a great product isn’t enough—you need a strong brand strategy to stand out. Whether you’re designing smart textiles, medical wearables, or consumer tech that seamlessly integrates into daily life, your brand is what builds trust, loyalty, and excitement around your innovation. At Interwoven Design, we’ve seen firsthand how the right brand strategy can transform a wearable tech product from a niche idea into a market leader. In this Insight article, we’ll walk you through 3 useful brand strategy frameworks that will help shape a compelling, differentiated brand—one that connects with users, communicates value, and carves out a unique space in this competitive industry. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Brand Strategy for Wearable Tech

Brand strategy is more than just a logo or a catchy tagline—it’s the foundation of how your wearable tech product is perceived, who it resonates with, and why customers choose it over the competition. Unlike other industries, wearable technology sits at the crossroads of fashion, health, and innovation, meaning that a strong brand must balance aesthetics, functionality, and emotional connection.

A great wearable product seamlessly integrates into people’s lives, but a great wearable brand does something more—it builds trust, creates desire, and tells a story that makes people feel like they need it. Whether it’s a fitness tracker, a medical device, or a next-gen smart fabric, how you position your brand can determine whether customers embrace it or overlook it.

In the sections ahead, we’ll break down some of the most powerful brand strategy frameworks that will help you define your brand’s purpose, differentiate it in the market, and create lasting connections with your audience. We like to have a toolkit of options, as we don’t use every framework for every project, we custom build the design process for each challenge. Let’s start with positioning—because knowing where you stand in the market is the first step to making an impact.

Positioning Your Wearable Tech Brand

Before a customer even experiences your product, they experience your brand. Brand positioning is about defining what makes your wearable tech unique and why it matters to your target audience. In a crowded market, positioning helps you stand out—not just as another smart device, but as a brand with a clear purpose and value proposition.

To craft strong positioning, ask yourself:

Who is your ideal customer? Are you designing for athletes, healthcare professionals, everyday consumers, or fashion-forward early adopters?
What problem does your wearable tech solve? Is it enhancing performance, improving health outcomes, or providing a seamless user experience?
How does your brand’s personality and messaging reflect this? Should your tone be clinical and data-driven, sleek and futuristic, or approachable and lifestyle-oriented?

Key Brand Strategy Frameworks for Wearable Tech

Building a strong, recognizable brand in the wearable technology space requires more than just great design and cutting-edge innovation—it demands a strategic foundation that connects with users on a deeper level. To create a brand that resonates, companies must define their purpose, craft a compelling identity, and establish a clear and consistent message. In this section, we’ll explore three essential brand strategy frameworks—Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle, The Archetype Framework, and The Brand Identity Prism—that can help wearable tech brands differentiate themselves, foster loyalty, and create a lasting impact.

1. The Golden Circle

Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle

At the heart of every great brand is a compelling “why.” Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle framework —starting with why, then how, and finally what—popularized by his book Start with Why helps brands connect with customers on a deeper, purpose-driven level. Wearable tech brands that communicate a strong purpose inspire loyalty beyond just product features. For example, WHOOP’s why isn’t just to track biometrics—it’s to empower users with data-driven insights to perform at their best. In contrast, brands that focus solely on what they do, like offering another fitness tracker with heart rate monitoring, often struggle to stand out. By leading with purpose, wearable brands create an emotional connection that turns users into advocates.

2. The Archetype Framework

Brand archetypes, rooted in Carl Jung’s psychological theory, help brands develop strong personalities that resonate with their audiences. When wearable tech brands embrace a clear archetype, their storytelling becomes more cohesive and engaging. For example, Apple’s wearable tech aligns with The Innovator—pushing boundaries and redefining personal technology. Meanwhile, a brand like Fitbit embodies The Caregiver, prioritizing health, well-being, and accessibility. For adventure-driven audiences, Garmin wearables embrace The Explorer, appealing to those who seek rugged, off-the-grid experiences. By choosing the right archetype, wearable brands craft a more humanized identity, making it easier for customers to relate to and trust their products.

3. The Brand Identity Prism

Jean-Noël Kapferer’s Brand Identity Prism

Jean-Noël Kapferer’s Brand Identity Prism provides a structured way to build a strong and consistent brand identity. The framework breaks branding into six key elements: Physique (the tangible product and design), Personality (the brand’s character and tone), Culture (values and beliefs), Relationship (how the brand interacts with users), Reflection (how customers see themselves using the product), and Self-image (the aspirational identity it creates for users). Applied to wearable tech, this framework ensures a holistic brand strategy. Take Oura Ring, for example—its physique is sleek and discreet, its personality is refined and data-driven, its culture emphasizes wellness, and its relationship with users is built on trust in its health insights. By aligning all six elements, brands create a distinctive and cohesive presence in the market, reinforcing long-term loyalty.

Case Studies: Standout Positioning in Wearable Tech

1. WHOOP

Health & Performance Optimization

WHOOP has positioned itself as the go-to wearable for serious athletes and health enthusiasts. Unlike mainstream fitness trackers, WHOOP doesn’t have a screen—it’s all about data-driven insights, personalized recovery coaching, and subscription-based access to health analytics. The brand’s positioning is clear: If you’re serious about performance, WHOOP is for you.

2. Oura Ring

Discreet & Stylish Health Tracking

The Oura Ring takes a different approach, offering an ultra-sleek, screen-free wearable that blends seamlessly into everyday life. By focusing on wellness, sleep tracking, and an elegant, jewelry-like design, Oura appeals to a lifestyle-conscious audience that values aesthetics as much as technology.

3. L’Oréal’s My Skin Track UV

Beauty & Health Awareness

L’Oréal entered the wearable space with a completely different angle—combining skincare with technology. Their My Skin Track UV sensor helps users monitor sun exposure, reinforcing their brand’s commitment to skin health and beauty. This kind of niche positioning allows them to stand out in a tech space dominated by fitness and medical brands.

The key takeaway? Positioning isn’t just about features—it’s about aligning your product with the right audience, telling a compelling story, and ensuring your wearable tech solves a clear, meaningful problem.

Aim for Early Integration

A strong brand strategy shouldn’t be an afterthought—it needs to be embedded into every stage of product development. In wearable technology, where user trust and engagement are critical, aligning brand identity with product design ensures consistency and a seamless customer experience. From the materials chosen to the user interface, every touchpoint should reinforce the brand’s core values. For instance, a company focused on sustainability should integrate eco-friendly materials and transparent sourcing into their wearable products, not just market sustainability as a selling point. Similarly, a brand positioning itself as a leader in precision health should prioritize data accuracy and intuitive user experiences. By integrating brand strategy from the start, wearable tech companies create products that feel authentic, purposeful, and deeply connected to their audience’s needs.

Create Experiences that Resonate

Effective brand strategy is the foundation of a strong, enduring wearable technology brand. Whether leveraging The Golden Circle to define purpose, choosing an archetype to build a relatable personality, or using the Brand Identity Prism to shape perception, these frameworks ensure a cohesive and compelling brand presence. The most successful wearable brands don’t just develop products—they craft experiences that resonate. At Interwoven Design, we specialize in bringing brand strategy and product development together, helping wearable tech companies create meaningful, high-impact innovations. Whether you’re launching a new device or refining an existing brand, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process. Looking to create something extraordinary? Reach out to us to discuss how we can help shape your brand and product vision.

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Redefining Design Education: Bridging Tradition and Transition

This article, co-written by Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Elham Morshedzadeh, Ph.D., and Annie Abell, was published in the Winter 2024 Issue of IDSA’s INNOVATION Magazine.

Design education today stands at the crossroads of tradition and transformation, demanding that we prepare young designers with both timeless skills and cutting-edge tools to address society’s most wicked problems. Traditional competencies- design research, drawing, 3D form exploration, materials expertise, and problem solving — provide an essential foundation, yet they remain insufficient if students are not also trained to critically assess which challenges merit their attention. It is not enough for aspiring designers to master techniques; they must also cultivate the curiosity, resilience, and analytical acuity necessary to navigate a rapidly changing landscape.

In an ideal setting, education serves as the launchpad for industrial design innovation, nurturing visionary thinkers who blend art with engineering to craft transformative solutions. However, equipping students with this comprehensive skill set is a persistent challenge, especially when many academic institutions struggle to adapt their curricula to the fast pace of industry change.

Bridging the gap between theory and practice is an opportunity layered with complexities. As an active member of both IDSA and academia, I witness firsthand the struggle to define exactly what our future leaders need to learn.

IDSA champions educational approaches that break tree of traditional disciplinary silos, advocating for rigorous, interdisciplinary models that merge conceptual insights with tangible, real-world applications. Yet the hard question remains: How, exactly, do we implement this vision in educational practice?

To do so, we must reexamine and modernize our current educational models, ensuring that they integrate diverse fields and instill a spirit of innovation rooted in practical experience.

This modern imperative requires rethinking our approach to instruction and embracing a model that values both technical proficiency and the soft skills of critical thinking. Beyond merely teaching students how to execute design methods, we must guide them to question underlying assumptions, evaluate potential impacts, and decide which challenges are worth pursuing. Lifelong curiosity and resilience are as crucial to their development as technical expertise. Though this strategic direction presents significant challenges, it lays the groundwork for nurturing designers capable of tackling them. In an era where technology and market needs are in constant flux, evolving our design education is not just beneficial—it is essential for cultivating leaders skilled in both analysis and creative expression.

IDSA continues to advocate for curricula that move beyond conventional boundaries, promoting interdisciplinary approaches that merge conceptual insights with real-world applications. This vision requires educators to collaborate with industry professionals and integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge, drawing from fields such as sociology, environmental science, and computer science. For example, some pioneering programs now embed project-based learning, giving students firsthand experience in problem-solving, ethical design, and innovation management.

Today, boundaries between disciplines are increasingly blurred. Creativity, technology, and cultural understanding converge to create fertile ground for innovation-a phenomenon some have termed “expanding horizons.” Furthermore, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence Al are reshaping the design process itself. Al is not merely a tool; it is revolutionizing the way we think about customization, efficiency, and user-centric design. By integrating Al and other innovative technologies, educational models can empower future designers to harness data, optimize processes, and even predict trends- pushing the boundaries of what is possible within our field.

Reflecting on this evolution, Elham Morshedzadeh, PhD, IDSA, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Houston, says, “I believe industrial design has had a decent history in creative and adaptive teaching methods over decades of its existence. What began as hands-on practice within four-walled studios has expanded into immersive learning experiences that take students to streets, homes, hospitals, and even the depths of human thought and emotion.”

For Morshedzadeh, this journey highlights design education’s capacity as a catalyst for innovation, empathy, and societal impact. She emphasizes that design education is fundamentally about training designers to “understand, adopt, [and] evolve to create the most fit solutions.” Moreover, she argues that, with an emphasis on adaptability and observation-based solutions, design educators must structure projects and curricula to allow students to integrate new tools and technologies as project needs and industry advancements emerge.

Adding another dimension to this discussion, Annie Abell, IDSA, Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State University, offers a parallel perspective from engineering education. She explains: “I am part of a team conducting a years-long project to modernize and completely redevelop the undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum at Ohio State. A major hurdle is the speed of a comprehensive curriculum redevelopment project compared to the speed at which technology and industry is changing. For example, if it takes us four years… to develop and implement a new curriculum, what has changed in those four years? We will likely already be behind the times.”

Abell’s insights underscore the inherent tension between the deliberate pace of academic bureaucracy and the rapid evolution of the commercial world. She stresses that the solution is to create curricula that are “agnostic to specific software, specific tools, or specific technologies” and focused instead on adaptable skills and a mindset of active learning and problem solving.

Ultimately, as we reimagine design education, it is essential to create learning environments that foster collaboration, adaptability, and forward-thinking strategies. By embracing an interdisciplinary framework that values robust technical training alongside the nurturing of critical soft skills, we can prepare designers-and engineers -to lead, innovate, and drive meaningful change in a complex, ever-evolving world. The bridge between academia and industry grows stronger when educators are not isolated in their ivory towers but remain actively engaged in the professional realm. Many academic programs already benefit from part-time professors who work full-time in industry; these educators bring first-hand experience and up-to-date insights that help schools stay in tune with the rapidly changing demands of the market.

When academics actively participate in industry projects, research collaborations, and professional networks, they not only enrich their own teaching but also inspire their students to embrace real-world challenges. This symbiotic relationship ensures that classroom theories are constantly informed by the latest trends, technologies, and practices from the field. It transforms the educational journey into one that is dynamic, relevant, and immediately applicable-a crucial factor in an era where change is the only constant.

As we build and reinforce this bridge, it becomes clear that the future of design education relies on a model in which industry and academia work side by side, each challenging and informing the other. In doing so, we create a feedback loop that continually updates curricula to reflect emerging trends, nurtures innovation, and ensures that graduates are equipped with both the timeless wisdom of foundational skills and the agility to adapt to new technologies and market realities.

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