Design 1st

Design 1st is a product development firm based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1997 and now one of the largest independent product design companies in North America. Its cross-functional team covers industrial design, mechanical and electrical engineering, embedded software, prototyping and manufacturing support, taking a product from concept strategy to a manufacture-ready device.

The firm has built more than 1,000 products for clients, received over 75 design awards and helped clients secure more than 150 patents, and it holds Professional Engineers Ontario accreditation. Its client list includes Motorola, NASA, Medtronic, Ericsson, Stanley, Shark and SomnoMed, across medical devices, consumer electronics, industrial instruments and connected products.