Start a ProjectDESIGN
Bring a sketch, a photo, a description or just a problem you want solved. We turn it into a design that can actually be made, and when it suits 3D printing or laser work, we can make it too.
What this is
Design is where an idea becomes a real, manufacturable object. You don't need drawings or technical knowledge. You need to know what you'd love to see exist, or what problem you want solved. We handle the modeling, the engineering details and the decisions about how it will be made.
Most Design projects are a single product with a clear finish line: a completed design and, usually, a prototype you can hold in your hands.
If you already have finished files and just need them produced, that's a Make job. If your project is long-term and headed for market, look at Product Engineering.
Common examples
How it works
01
Tell us about your idea through the consultation form, then pick a time on our calendar. The first consultation is free.
02
We work through what it needs to do, how it will be used, and what matters most to you.
03
Right after the meeting, you'll receive a written estimate for the project, delivered with a statement of work.
04
We model the design and share progress along the way, refining it with your feedback.
05
We produce a physical version so you can test it, handle it and sign off.
06
The finished design is ready for production. If it suits 3D printing or laser work, we can make it for you in our shop.
Capabilities
Shaping how your product looks, works and feels in use.
Precise digital models, ready for printing, cutting or manufacturing.
Realistic images of your design before anything is made.
Adjusting the design so it can be made reliably and at a reasonable cost.
FAQ
No. A sketch, a photo, a description or a physical example is plenty. Turning that into a real design is the job.
After a free first consultation. Once we understand the project, we send a written estimate, often by the end of the meeting, so you know where you stand before any design work begins.
A statement of work that sets out the scope of the work, the deliverables, the payment and an estimated delivery date. Unless it says otherwise, Design projects include two revisions to the deliverables.
Design is usually one product with a clear finish line. Product Engineering is for long-term projects that need ongoing development, multiple prototype rounds, or preparation for manufacturing at scale.
Often, yes. Anything suited to 3D printing or laser cutting can be made in our shop, from a single prototype to a small run. If it needs a different manufacturing process, we prepare the design for a manufacturer that does that work.
If you need something new shaped for your work, yes. You keep creative control: you review the design at each stage, and nothing is final until you sign off. If you're interested in an ongoing collaboration rather than a single piece, say so in the consultation form and we'll talk it through.
Anything you bring to the project, like your own artwork or sketches, stays yours. If ownership of the new design, or how you'll be able to use it, matters to you, raise it at the consultation so it's settled before any design work begins.
Yes. Any NDA sent with the consultation form or by email to eight@workshopeight.com will be signed before the initial meeting.
It depends on complexity and how many rounds of refinement the design needs. Your statement of work includes an estimated delivery date, so you'll know what to expect.
Prefer to start by email? eight@workshopeight.com