Essential

Essential Design is an innovation strategy and product design consultancy established in 2001 by co-founders Scott Stropkay and Richard Watson. The duo, having previously worked at competing design firms, launched the Boston-based company to help businesses navigate complex challenges by using design-thinking methodologies. Their focus is on identifying future opportunities and creating the tangible product and experience to capitalize on them. In November 2018, Essential Design was acquired by PA Consulting, a global innovation and transformation consultancy, becoming PA's new center of excellence for innovation and product design in the United States.

The firm's business model is centered on providing comprehensive design consulting services. It integrates a diverse team of researchers, designers, and engineers to translate innovation strategy into tangible physical and digital products. Essential serves a clientele primarily in the consumer, life sciences, and healthcare sectors, helping them develop breakthrough products by focusing on user-centered design. The company's revenue is generated through project-based work that transforms client ideas from initial concept to commercial-ready products.

Essential's service offerings are holistic, spanning from initial research to final engineering. Core capabilities include human insights, industrial design, mechanical and electrical engineering, and human factors engineering. The firm employs methods like design research, user experience design, and service design to craft solutions. This process involves developing services as multi-channel brand experiences and engineering products that address all technical and business criteria. Their work has resulted in numerous industry awards for design research, strategy, and development, with notable projects including the Hydrow connected rowing machine and the Coravin Model 11 Wine Preservation System.

Keywords: product design, innovation strategy, design consulting, user-centered design, industrial design, mechanical engineering, human factors engineering, service design, PA Consulting, consumer products