Industrial Design Agency Germany – Eckstein Design
German industrial design agency · 20+ years · 300+ serial products · 50+ awards. Strategic product design from concept to manufacturing. Free consultation →
Strategic Industrial Design
For over 20 years, we have been developing serial products for companies that want to make their technical expertise visible – across Germany and internationally.
Our approach integrates industrial design, design engineering, UI/UX, and brand strategy under one roof. With over 300 products in serial production, 50+ design awards, and an interdisciplinary team of designers and engineers, we partner with startups, mid-sized companies, and global corporations from the first idea through to manufacturing – across the DACH region and beyond.
What sets a product apart – one that doesn't just fill shelves but shapes markets? In most cases: strategic industrial design. Eckstein Design brings together form, technology, and user perspective to create products that succeed in the market – not as aesthetic add-ons, but as a strategic lever for differentiation, usability, and commercial impact. Products that work intuitively are used more frequently, misoperated less often, and accepted longer – this is no coincidence, but the result of a consistently user-centred design process. Our interdisciplinary team of designers and engineers partners with startups, mid-sized companies, and global corporations from the first idea through to serial production – across the DACH region and internationally.
Our Services in Industrial Design
Industrial design is more than shaping forms. It begins with the question of what role a product should play in its users' lives – and ends with an outcome that is technically feasible, economically sound, and compelling in its design. Usability is not an afterthought here, but part of the design process from day one: products that are intuitively operable are better accepted, used more safely, and more successful in the market long-term. Our services cover the full journey:
Design Strategy and Concept
Before the first sketch, we establish the strategic foundation: target audience, context of use, market environment, and brand values. From this , we develop a design strategy that guides the entire development process.
Industrial Design and Shape Development
From initial concept through rendering and model-making to final design: we create products that align technology, ergonomics, and brand identity . Manufacturing processes, materials, and cost structures are considered from day one.
Design Engineering and Construction
Good industrial design always thinks construction through – wall thicknesses, joining techniques, and manufacturing processes are considered by us during the design phase itself. For clients without their own engineering department, we additionally take on the full implementation: from 3D construction and manufacturing drawings through to production support.
UI/UX Design for Physical and Digital Products
We develop interface concepts for embedded displays, touchscreens, and software GUIs that make complex technology intuitively accessible. Especially in capital goods and medical devices, a well-designed human-machine interface is critical for user acceptance and safety.
Corporate Industrial Design
Designing a single product is one thing. Developing a consistent product family that carries brand values across an entire portfolio is another. Our corporate industrial design creates recognition and trust – through defined design codes for form, color, material, and surface finish.
Prototyping and Model Making
Ideas become tangible: we produce functional models, design models, and prototypes – from rapid proof-of-concept models to near-production samples for user and manufacturing testing. Early testing reduces development risk and accelerates the path to market.
Industries We Serve
Our industrial design agency works across sectors – with particular depth in fields where technical complexity, regulatory requirements, and high user expectations converge.
Medical Technology and Dental
From radiation therapy systems to surgical instruments and dental devices: we develop medical design solutions that are safe, compliant, and intuitively usable. Our experience spans projects with Brainlab, Wisap, VDW, and other leading medical technology companies. We work routinely with standards such as DIN EN 62366 (Usability Engineering) and the requirements of the EU MDR.
Measurement and Testing Technology
Measuring instruments are precision tools – their design must convey reliability, robustness, and above all intuitive usability. In professional use, usability determines whether a device is operated safely and efficiently – or invites errors. For Gossen Metrawatt, we have been developing product families that deliver on both dimensions for many years: from the Secutest to the Profitest and complex system measurement devices.
Machinery, Robotics, and Automation
In industrial automation, high-performance technology meets demanding requirements for usability and safety. We design housings, user interfaces, and interaction concepts for robotics systems and machine controls — including projects for KUKA and Robotise.
Smart Devices and IoT
Connected products place particular demands on the interface between physical device, software, and user experience. We design smart devices that make technology accessible – from assistive systems like Libify to connected access solutions like the Winkhaus blueEvo.
Power Tools and Handtools
Tools need to perform – and communicate that performance. We design power tools and handtools that build confidence through ergonomics, durability, and a strong design language. Our projects include developments for Steinel and Lübbering.
Consumer goods
In consumer goods, design decides at the point of sale. We develop products that stand out on shelves, deliver in use, and consistently communicate brand values – across the entire product lifecycle.
Our Design Process – From Strategy to Serial Production
Good industrial design does not begin with the first sketch. It begins with understanding: who uses the product, under what conditions, and with what goal? Only when these questions are answered do we pick up the pen.
Our design process follows five phases – from analysis through concept, development, and prototyping to production support. Each phase is tightly integrated: designers, engineers, and strategists work not sequentially, but iteratively together. Usability requirements are built in from the first concept phase – not as a checklist at the end, but as a design standard throughout. This saves time, prevents costly revisions, and delivers results that are not only compelling in form, but also technically and commercially sound.
According to a McKinsey study, companies with strong design capabilities achieve on average 32 percentage points more revenue growth than their industry peers. The key lies not only in the quality of the design, but in the structural integration of design with engineering, marketing, and strategy – exactly how we work as an industrial design agency.
Learn more about our approach on our Strategy and Innovation page.
What Sets Us Apart
300+ Products in Serial Production – Not Just Concepts
+We don't develop products that end up in drawers. Over 300 of our designs have gone into serial production and prove themselves in daily use – from measuring instruments to medical devices to robotic systems.
50+ Design Awards
+Eckstein Design is among the German industrial design agencies to have received multiple Red Dot Design Awards – alongside the iF Design Award and German Design Award, demonstrating design quality that sets our industrial design agency apart across industries and product categories.
Design and Engineering Under One Roof
+Our interdisciplinary team of industrial designers and engineers does not work in separate departments, but collaborates on every project from day one. This shortens development timelines, eliminates coordination loss, and delivers results that are both compelling in design and technically sound.
Recognised Research Organisation
+As a company that actively invests in applied research, we are recognised by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as a research organisation. For clients who develop innovative product solutions with us, this can – under certain conditions – open up tax advantages within Germany's research funding framework.
Selected Projects
Every project has its own challenge. What they all share: a clear strategic starting point, a user-centred development process, and an outcome that holds its own in the market.
Brainlab – ExacTrac Dynamic
Challenge: Redesign a real-time patient positioning system for radiation therapy – under the highest demands for precision, safety, and usability in clinical daily practice.
Solution: We developed a system design that translates complex technology into a clear, trustworthy formal language – aligned with the workflows of radiologists and medical-technical staff.
Gossen Metrawatt – Secutest
Challenge: Design a professional electrical safety testing device that performs in daily use through ergonomics, robustness, and an intuitive interface.
Solution: Enclosure design, interface concept, and operating logic as a unified whole – as part of a consistent product family that clearly positions Gossen Metrawatt in its market segment.
Wisap – C3 Insufflator
Challenge: Develop an insufflator for minimally invasive surgery that gives medical professionals maximum control, actively reduces operating errors, and withstands the demands of clinical daily practice.
Solution: A compact, clearly structured medical design with a consistently user-centred interface – developed in close collaboration with clinical users through formative usability testing and compliant with all relevant standards.
Robotise – Serviceroboter Jeeves
Challenge: Design an autonomously navigating service robot for hotels for a start-up – suitable for serial production, robust, and with an appearance that builds trust and warmth with guests.
Solution: A robust deep-drawn enclosure design, combined with a 21-inch touch interface and a subtle lighting logic that intuitively communicates operating status and interaction.
Customers who trust us
We work with mid-sized companies and global corporations that understand design as a strategic competitive advantage.
Let's Talk About Your Project
Are you planning a new product, a redesign, or looking to develop your portfolio strategically? In a free initial consultation, we identify together where a skilled industrial design agency can make the greatest impact for you.
Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
What does industrial design cost?
The cost of an industrial design project depends on scope, complexity, and project phase. A focused redesign has a very different budget frame than the development of a complex medical device from scratch. We recommend a no-obligation initial consultation to assess your needs and provide a transparent estimate.
What is the difference between industrial design and product design?
The terms are often used interchangeably. Industrial design classically refers to the design of industrially manufactured serial products – with particular focus on manufacturability, ergonomics, and economic viability. Product design is often used more broadly to include one-off items, furniture, or consumer goods. In practice, the two fields overlap considerably. As an industrial design agency, Eckstein Design covers the full spectrum – from strategy through to serial production.
How long does a typical industrial design project take?
This varies with complexity. A focused redesign can be completed in two to four months. The development of a technically demanding product – such as a medical device – often takes nine to eighteen months from strategy through to production release. We define a realistic project timeline with clear milestones at the outset.
Which industries does Eckstein Design work in?
Our focus areas are medical technology and dental, measurement technology, robotics and automation, smart devices and IoT, as well as power tools and consumer goods. We work wherever technical complexity meets high user expectations. The range of industries across our 300+ serial products shows that good design principles transfer across sectors.
Can Eckstein Design also handle construction and engineering?
Yes. Our team includes both industrial designers and engineers. We offer design engineering as an integrated service – from 3D construction and manufacturing drawings through to production support. This eliminates the coordination overhead of working with separate service providers. Learn more about our Design Engineering capabilities.
What does an external industrial design agency offer compared to an in-house team?
A specialised industrial design agency brings cross-industry experience, fresh perspectives, and proven methods that are often difficult to build internally. At the same time, the collaboration scales flexibly: you engage an experienced team exactly when you need it – without permanent fixed costs. Many of our clients work with internal teams and external partners. The combination of both often produces the strongest results.
Where is Eckstein Design based – and do you work outside Germany?
Our studio is located in Munich, Germany. We work with companies across Germany and internationally. Established digital workflows, regular on-site visits, and clear project structures make collaboration effective regardless of location. Learn more about our Munich studio.
How do I start a project with Eckstein Design?
The easiest way is through a free initial consultation. We discuss your starting point, goals, and potential scope together. From this, we develop a concrete proposal with timeline and budget framework – no obligation, fully transparent.