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THE DRAWING BOARD.

Ideas, insights, and the occasional napkin sketch.

What happens below deck at a product design studio: the material decisions, engineering trade-offs and sustainability constraints that shape what we make, and the occasional strong opinion about how products should be made. Written from Victoria, BC.

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Action sports product design sketching session | ANCORD Design Co blog
Sustainability

Sustainability x Design: Why Specialize in Action Sports?

ANCORD specializes in sustainable product design for action sports. Here's why the intersection of performance hardware, outdoor culture, and environmental responsibility drives everything we do.
ANCORD three guiding principles of values-led design | ANCORD Design Co blog
Sustainability

Values-Led Industrial Design: Our 3 Guiding Principles

At ANCORD, every project is measured against three principles: positive environmental impact, connection to nature, and community benefit. Here's how we apply them.
ANCORD team hiking in nature, sustainability in design | ANCORD Design Co blog
Sustainability

Sustainability in Product Design

Sustainability in product design means considering environmental impact at every stage — from material selection and manufacturing to end-of-life. Here's how the industry is evolving and what we do about it.
Industrial Design

A Brief History of Industrial Design

How industrial design evolved, from swappable musket parts to plastics, CAD and today's repair laws — what changed, why, and why it matters.
Nada Toothbrush sustainable design animation | ANCORD Design Co blog
Case Study

Case Study: A Toothbrush That Doesn't Suck

How we designed the Nada toothbrush — a sustainable, Canadian-designed brush whose customers have kept 350,000+ single-use toothbrushes out of landfills, through smart material choices and lifecycle thinking.
Alex Nagel of ANCORD Design Co presenting a wall of product sketches in the studio | What is industrial design
Industrial Design

What is Industrial Design?

Industrial design is the creative discipline behind almost every manufactured product you touch. Here's what industrial designers actually do — and why it matters.

FAQ

Short answers to the questions we hear most.

What topics do you cover on the blog?

We write about product design, sustainability, and the behind-the-scenes of building things that last. Expect project case studies, material deep-dives, design lessons, and honest takes on what we’re learning in the studio.Browse by topic

How can I stay updated?

Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram—we share new posts, project launches, and the occasional surprise.Join the newsletterLinkedInInstagram

Can I suggest a topic or contribute?

Sure! If you’ve got a great idea that fits our focus—thoughtful, sustainable product design—we’d love to hear it. Drop us a note through the contact page.Drop us a note

Let’s work together.

Have a product in mind? We'd like to hear about it. A short note is plenty, and we'll suggest a time to talk.

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