News
The team at Sated Design would like to wish all our past, present and future clients, suppliers and friends a very warm and joyous Christmas. May your festive season be everything you hope for.
We are looking forward to a nice break away from the office, with much eating, drinking and laughing with family and friends over the festive season.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Let’s create something great together
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Last week, the Department for Business and Trade launched a product safety consultation, in a bid to reform the current regulatory framework for product safety. The consultation, open until 24th October, is being announced as part of the Government’s Smarter Regulation Programme.
This news came shortly after the announcement that the UKCA marking deadline was to be extended by a further two years
While we commend a review into the current framework around standards, we would question whether it is possible to make such reforms, when resources such as Trading Standards and Third-Party Test Houses are already overstretched. Derogation and e-labelling reforms are all well and good, so long as there are robust policies and organisations in place to ensure these are not exploited. Take for example the problems of cyber security we all encounter day by day with spurious websites and hacking, let alone the lies told as supposed facts.
Dodgy products are a scourge to our collective safety, and we would like greater scrutiny of any product coming in from offshore, not less. In all honesty we must expect unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to take every advantage, and to exploit every vulnerability and loop- hole they can. Being offshore is a great way to hide things, especially if an e-certificate says it is compliant. The earlier point about cyber security should ring alarm bells.
Back to the marking of products. It would be ideal if all territories could come on board with this proposal within a unified framework agreement. The proposal does not mention the problems of products carrying multiple territory compliance markings and how to accommodate different languages.
The consultation document includes several questions, and it urges us to respond to these via the online survey. This is not something you can do during a quick break. It is a big survey to do correctly, and the submission of proof will put many people off. Rather than kick the issues of deadlines down the road and tie business up in consultations they don’t have time to deal with, might we offer two suggestions for HM Gov to think about.
These suggestions will clarify the situation post Brexit and give the UK a robust mechanism to deter products coming onto the market that have no right to be there.
Let’s create something great together
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Over the years we have rejected quite a few design concepts presented to us. Some were dangerous, some were copies of other products and a few were just too far off in the future. Over a cup of coffee we got talking about some of these and very soon got onto comparing how some of the old wish lists we had read for anthropomorphic sex robots compared to what we now know is possible. It surprised us to learn that a fully featured doll is still a little way off but there are some parts of the wish list we could tick off.
That could include the capability of complex movement so a robot can share the dynamics and active space of humans by engaging with us when walking, exercising, and caring for us, just as though they too were human. If we consider that companies like General Dynamics, Hanson Robotics and Honda, to name but a few, are making huge advances in this area, then we should conclude this capability is not far away. Sex doll creators are pushing these same limits all the time so whether the human-like sex robot market is fulfilled by the robotics companies, the adult toy industry or a collaboration, is somewhat irrelevant because in the long term we are sure it will happen.
With our coffee cups almost empty we predicted that quite soon we are going to see robots indistinguishable from ourselves and able to do “more than” the ironing or washing up. Would those same robots have autonomy and decision making? The answer is, at some point, it will be crude to begin with and will then develop exponentially through learning. Free will is something we all cherish but possibly not something that would be a part of the makeup for a sex robot, especially when the point of a sex robot is to say yes to everything and to actively play its role.
Smug with our coffee time prediction it then went quiet as the enormity of what we had concluded was possible dawned on us. Just because something can be done, it should not always be done. Who would set the moral and ethical code that controlled what these new ‘beings’ were designed to represent and be configured for? It’s a much bigger topic than can be covered in a coffee break and one that left us pondering over empty cups.
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The march of digitalisation continues but like an army which can only march on its stomach, can digitalisation sustain itself? We are learning of more restrictions placed on microchip exports. These are only adding to the shortage problem that has been affecting the electronics industry for some time.
Even before the covid pandemic, a global shortage of semiconductors was making life difficult for those of us involved in new product development, never mind everyone else in manufacturing!
Semiconductors are used in everything from mobile phones to military equipment; essentially any digital product requires semiconductors. The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated this problem and created the perfect storm with the closure of factories and the demand for technology increasing massively due to more people home working and home educating. Now everyone is catching up and those with deeper pockets are, quite frankly, being selfish and buying out everything they can get their hands on.
The result of this perfect storm has affected the availability of other components as well and created huge supply chain disruptions for manufacturers and new challenges within new product development.
It’s not all doom and gloom. At Sated Design we will work with electronics designers to consider the use of alternative components and then facilitate a clean implementation. By looking again at a product specification and asking the right questions it is possible to move forward and in some cases have increased functionality for the end user.
At Sated Design we have the knowledge and experience to support you as you adapt to an unstable parts market and help you make the best of a difficult situation. If you’d like to talk to us about how we can help, please get in touch.
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In our tech-obsessed modern world, there’s an emerging paradox ; the potential for smart devices and autonomous vehicles to improve their safe use is a key advantage and a clear justification for their existence in the marketplace. However, on the flip side they also represent a new target for cyber crime. With every new product development in the Internet of Things (IoT) there is a risk of it following with a compromise of security resulting in loss of data privacy, spoofing and malware attacks.
These threats are very real. A forecast by the International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that there will be 41.6 billion IoT devices in 2025, capable of generating 79.4 zettabytes of data. That’s a lot of information that needs protection!
As an example to the scale of the potential problem of cyber security, in the autonomous and connected vehicles market it is estimated there will be over 33 million sold globally by the year 2040. This means that there will be millions of cars using our roads that are all connected to the infrastructure and to other vehicles and road users. The potential consequences of a cyber attack could be catastrophic and extremely dangerous. Vehicle thefts, collisions and loss of life could all be attributed to a data breach or systems fail as a result of a cyber attack.
The key to resolving this will be a robust and effective cyber security solution that can work across multiple software and communication interfaces. This is as complicated as it sounds and will need constant research and development in order to keep up with ever changing and sophisticated Advanced Persistent Threats. Many developers of IoT devices are not best placed to build the interfaces that will keep their products safe from cyber attacks. This development work is costly and time consuming and requires continuous investment in order to keep ahead of the ‘Hackers’.
There needs to be more financial support and funding available to support businesses who develop reliable testing methods and standards for the safety and security of smart, app-based and autonomous products.
The Government went some way towards this with the launch of the Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund (the CSIIF) in 2018, (now in its third phase) however this is only a drop in the ocean when you consider the global impacts of data hacks into products used by consumers across the entire globe. Also, this does not address the lack of global regulations and standards in operation which developers understand and can incorporate into any new product development
Away from the developers, educating and raising awareness to consumers about the risks of using a product that’s not data safe is equally crucial. This is also a priority task for Government. If consumers are taught to ask the right questions when choosing a smart device and/or autonomous product, the winners in the marketplace will be those businesses who take cyber security risks seriously and supply to the market products that ensure data privacy.
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Welcome to 2023! It’s a New Year full of opportunity and that often results in many of us looking to make something of that great idea we have been thinking about. At this time of year we always receive an increase in enquiries from Private Inventors. The ‘new year, new start’ mentality often spurs people on but it is easy to be swept up in the excitement and to count those chickens before they hatch so it might be interesting to share the way we approach these enquiries.
We work on the premise that every idea is a good idea until we learn otherwise. We know that most private inventors are unfamiliar with the process of turning an idea in to a product and we support them in an honest and fair way to manage their expectations and set out the journey they need to undertake along with the risks for their hard-earned money. Success is never guaranteed but the chances of success are higher if you understand the snakes and ladders of the ‘game’. With over a thousand products designed and millions of products successfully manufactured we have played and won the ‘game’ a few times now!
Here are 4 ways in which working with us can help:
Contact us today and start your new year, new idea journey!
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Last week, we questioned in an article whether a product should always be designed, even if it serves little or no purpose? The answer, at least from this camp, is a resounding no!
A core part of the ethos of Sated Design is to question from the outset of any new project, is this adult toy product right? Will it serve its purpose? Will it be made with the right materials? Naturally these questions will help lead us to consider becoming Carbon Neutral and reaching Net Zero.
We are all hearing about the importance of being carbon neutral and meeting the target for net zero emissions but in order to understand and to implement strategies effectively we need to know what these terms actually mean. Designers in all disciplines have a critical role to play in the journey to becoming a Net Zero society.
So what can we do?
We have created a new video presentation to consider Carbon Neutrality and Net Zero in adult toy design to help consider this question. This includes 10 practical steps, we as a business, our clients and colleagues can take towards achieving Net Zero.
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We receive all sorts of requests for assistance from potential clients looking to develop new products. The majority of these are clearly considered and well thought out, but just occasionally we get inappropriate ideas for new products and a handful that have been truly alarming and quite dangerous to contemplate!
At least we, as responsible product designers, can filter those out but our world is littered with examples of products that should never exist. Pointless products, unsafe products, irresponsible products and badly conceived products. The list is endless but at some point there was a designer and manufacturer who was part of the process. It’s tempting to think that those involved cannot have looked at anything other than the profit they would have made by bringing these to market.
We are all plagued by products becoming obsolete. Some of this is necessary but much of it is deliberately planned to force a new purchase. This inevitably results in huge amounts of resources going to waste and new resources being consumed to continue the merry go around.
How can it be fair on all of us and the planet to squander such valuable resources?
It seems to us that quite often a good idea is not always a good idea if it gets challenged using real world values.
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International Women’s Day falls on the 8th March each year. Its purpose is to celebrate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women around the globe. In recognition of International Women’s Day 2022, we’re talking to Louise Beard, our Business Manager about her career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), an industry where historically, women are underrepresented.
Can you tell us a bit about Sated Design and your role within the company?
“Sated Design is a name used for marketing the specific expertise of Hillside Product Design Ltd, in designing adult pleasure products and toys. Hillside is a consultancy specialised in helping companies develop and engineer innovative and successful products. We can help you get your new or updated product to market by working with you on product conception, engineering, prototyping and production.
Good design can help solve problems with existing products and give old product ranges a new lease of life as well as help you create a brand new product.
I am the Business Manager and I have a very varied role within the company. I am primarily responsible for the accounting, payroll and administration side of the business and that means I do everything from payroll and invoicing to ordering materials for the making of prototypes, however I also take part in brainstorming, testing, prototype building and other areas of the business as and when needed. The ‘non design’ staff within the business can have an input into the design process with ideas and review throughout the concept to prototype stages”.
How important is it do you think to have female representation within product design and engineering?
“I think it is essential to have a female viewpoint into design and engineering. If being involved in this world has taught me anything over the last 30 years, it is that men and women often have different ideas as to how things work and how they should be used. These differences may not always be particularly big or noticeable but they do exist and a slightly different way of coming at things usually leads to a more rounded product that will suit its targeted audience”.
How can the STEM sector be made to be more attractive to women as a career?
“I think it needs to be pushed more in schools. Right down to primary school level, where girls can and should be told that engineering and scientific roles are as open to girls as they are to boys. Education has come a long way since I was at school and girls were not allowed to play rugby or football or do metalwork or woodwork. Girls were pushed into needlework and cookery and whilst those are admirable things, it didn’t give girls of my generation any idea that could do these things and be very good at them! Lets catch girls early and let them know that STEM subjects can be fun and can lead to amazing career choices!”
Do you do anything to promote STEM outside of business as well as inside it?
“I am, or have been, a member of a lot of local/national bodies such as Traders Associations and the FSB and I am always pushing for females in business, in general and in STEM businesses in particular, to stand up and be counted!!! I am a fervent believer that women have an equal ability, role, passion and competence within this world and we need to shout loud about it and bring in the next generations. We need to tell our young girls and women that they are capable, welcome and wanted in what has been seen in the past as more male dominated spheres of work”.
What are your hopes and dream for the future?
“I would like to see far more women realising that they have got what it takes to succeed in STEM, to succeed in the workplace and to succeed in the traditionally male dominated areas of work and to rise within their chosen fields.
Things have improved hugely in the 30 years I have been business but we still have a way to go – and we women are the people to take it there!”
You can follow Louise on LinkedIn
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Have you planned any New Product Development activity for 2022? If you or your team are repeatedly treading the same ground, Sated Design will offer a fresh perspective and inspire new ideas which could turn into great products.
What we do
Sated Design offer a complete design for manufacturing service, making ideas a reality and guiding clients from initial concept to marketplace-ready product. Based in South West England, we offer a big city service at very competitive rates.
Who we are
Sated Design is a name used for marketing the specific expertise of Hillside Product Design Ltd in designing adult pleasure products. We are guided by Director Chris Howsam, who founded the company in 2003, after a product design consultancy career spanning nearly twenty years. He is supported by a team of exceptional design and engineering experts who all share a passion for creating innovative and successful products.
How we can help
Sated Design provide a wide range of services to take your project from a simple idea to the production line. We’re a full-service consultancy but can step in and assist at any stage of a project to suit your needs.
Don’t just take our word for it
Take a look at our project portfolio.
Talk to us! We are experts in product design. It’s what we do.
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