With a contagious zeal that infiltrates company walls, inspires clients to dream big and ignites co-workers to action, Daniel Bizzell radiates energy and enthusiasm for anything – and everything – that he’s passionate about.

An Industrial Designer by trade and six-time North Carolina cycling champion on the sly, Daniel considers himself lucky because he gets to devote his working hours to one of his many life passions: design. After a professional career in endurance sports which sparked his interest in design and product development. As a young, professional cyclist and triathlete, he was frequently called on to test product innovations from participating sponsors who faced the challenges of updating existing styles and creating new products. By his career’s end, he walked away with more than seventy race wins and an insider’s intuition for new product development.

Today he leads as the Director of Industrial Design and Design Lab founder at Enventys, a full-service product development and creative marketing firm headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. He is passionate about innovation and understands first-hand how design can contribute to the success, or failure, of equipment operation and retail sales. The design portfolios he develops for clients are used to build a conceptual framework that will prepare the new products and technologies to enter the market. Because Daniel attacks projects with the drive of a professional athlete, he also plays a vital role in the capital-raising phase of client projects. Daniel is known to his clients as a “conceptualizer” “or” “stylist of concept.”

Daniel’s design experience at Enventys has encompassed everything from working on high-confidentiality military projects to developing designer fashion apparel. He takes on singular projects, such as the latest exercise trend seen on Direct Response Television, as well as full product lines, such as Riddell’s complete lacrosse equipment collection. Daniel’s legacy at Enventys speaks not only to his versatility, but also to the mastery of his craft. For instance, the conceptual portfolio of interactive packaging that he developed for Masterfoods in 2004 had the highest market test acceptance rate score the company had ever seen.

Daniel also acts as the lead designer for a new PBS television series featuring amateur inventors, entitled Everyday Edisons. Set to begin airing nationwide in May 2007, Everyday Edisons chronicles inventors and their inventions throughout the product development process, from initial concept to finished product. Although the show has yet to launch, the conceptual art he developed for one of the show’s featured products has already been named a top ten product for 2006.

Daniel is proud to be a third-generation designer, following in the footsteps of his woodworking grandfather and father who specializes in environmental design. In addition to industrial design, he has experience in environmental graphics, exhibits, interactive packaging and creating brand image icons. Daniel graduated at the top of his class from Savannah College of Art & Design with a degree in Industrial Design.

Autodesk:
Thank you, Daniel, for taking time to meet with us to discuss your use of Autodesk AliasStudio software. We’d like to get your story in your own words. Tell us what you do and what are some of your main business objectives?
DB: I am the Director of Industrial Design for Enventys, the Charlotte-based product design and development firm as well as the Lead Product Designer for the new Everyday Edisons™ television show on PBS.
Please don’t confuse the title “director” with someone who only points fingers. I actually do the creating too. I could never work in a corporate office where I only respond to emails and review presentations day in and day out. What keeps me in this industry is my passion for creativity and inspiring others—inspiring others to be creative, to approach a manufacturer, to begin his/her marketing and PR efforts—basically, to see their dreams through.

Autodesk: What is fun/rewarding about the work you do?
DB: I delight in the creation of design deliverables. It’s that phase of creating something fresh, new, and exciting that I enjoy the most—beginning the first set of drawings at the drafting table, or opening Autodesk® AliasStudio™ software to begin stylizing the concept. There is a natural excitement that comes with starting each project, and I think that is what I enjoy the most about the work I do. I also enjoy when my conceptual energy gives clients a second wind to continue to pursue their dreams. They see that I have adopted their vision and know I’m going to help them make it as best as we possibly can.

Autodesk: Describe the range of products you design.
DB: There is a wide range in what we do here. From raw material exploration on a new concept to structural packaging for a product that has been in the market for 12 years, we explore it all. It’s the blend of innovation, style, research, and our enthusiasm that really gets the evolution of a product rolling. Inspiration from project to project is very high. For instance, a military product can inspire a children’s toy three years down the road or a Pantone chosen for candy color can make an apparel concept pop.

Autodesk: How long have you been using design software, and which ones?
DB: I have been using AliasStudio for almost eight years and a variety of other software for about 13–14 years. Other programs include Freehand, Adobe® Illustrator®, and Adobe® Photoshop® software. A good designer is able to use all mediums—from pencil and paper to developing AliasStudio renderings. Because this industry is so deadline oriented, you have to be able to fill your quiver. The traditional road of design can’t always be taken. In the past, there would have been no way to create 12 presentation renderings for a last-minute project. Sometimes you need a presentable concept in a short amount of time in order for a client to seize an opportunity. Using products like AliasStudio allows you to give your client options in a short amount of time. These renderings also serve as ammunition to present to manufacturers, potential licensees, and retailers.

Autodesk: What is your personal philosophy of design?
DB: It’s a combination of attacking and exhausting the job. Designers do get to a point where they have enough experience to say to a client, “Here it is, the final product.” But 80 percent of designers aren’t there yet. You really have to attack the concept and just wear it out. There is a lot that would be missed if only two or three ideas were explored. Full exploration of an idea allows you to fully realize all of the directions, competitors, and the depth of conceptual features a product can have.

There are a lot of “product development firms” that should be retitled “consultant firms” because they say here is how you should do it. I think you should come back to your client and show several ways you can do it. The presentation of concepts and renderings shouldn’t be “this is the best,” but rather, “this is why it’s the best.” Sometimes this comes with ideation, sometimes with research—it usually involves a little bit of both and always involves capturing your client’s vision.

Autodesk: Briefly describe your design process from ideation to finished article.
DB: I would say the design process must have the ability to morph depending on the type of project. But here’s a shot:

1. Define
2. Establish “design criteria”
3. Research
4. Conceptualize
5. Realize
6. Stylize
7. Evaluate
8. Refine
This process is always collaborative with the client.

Autodesk: What are the particular challenges you face in bringing successful, high-quality designs to market quickly?
DB: I think one of the biggest challenges I face is fear. I think we live in a country where the mediocre is seen as the way to go. If a design or concept is too stylish or too innovative, it is put on the back burner until it becomes the mediocre norm. Most of my clients are scared to take a chance on the new color, the new shape, or the latest innovative technology—and it is truly sad and frustrating. Instead of following the status quo, they could be setting the bar themselves.
Another challenge I feel designers face is the influence of market research on the direction of the design. In my short career, I’ve learned that if you base your design solely on market research, you inevitably end up with a “black box.” While market research is important, it is only one of several components to be considered in the design. Those participating in the market research are not innovating, but simply taking a test based on what they already know.

Autodesk: How does Autodesk software fit into this process?
DB: AliasStudio has been a lifesaver for a lot of reasons. We have used it to acquire capital and to encourage a client to go to engineering and manufacturing. We have even used AliasStudio renderings to sell units on a website, which allowed us to bypass the expenses of tooling and production. An AliasStudio rendering has even been used in an industry catalogue to showcase a product in a top-ten list.

Autodesk: What are the benefits of using AliasStudio in terms of?
• Development cycle/time to market?
DB: First, speed. Second, AliasStudio makes the design/project malleable. The ability to make quick changes is a huge benefit of AliasStudio. We don’t want to be locked down to one idea even if we have spent days on the project. You don’t need to stifle the design process just because a change will take too long.

• Visualization and communication?
We have all types of clients with a variety of experience. From Fortune 500 companies that have a product development arm to clients who have never seen design renderings. An AliasStudio rendering allows our clients to see multiple views of the product and really helps them understand the look, feel, and features of the product. There have been times when I have been in a presentation and a client has asked for a close-up view of a specific product feature. With just a click of the mouse, I am able to show them.

• Preservation of design intent through all phases of product development?
When you hand off the design to engineering, you are handing them a surface to enrich with wall surfaces, tolerances, functionality, and so forth. They know the challenges and limitations they must overcome. You, as a designer, are challenging them to create something new while still encapsulating the project in its conceptual shell.

• Providing accurate engineering/tooling data?
AliasStudio allows you to react to challenges quickly and even helps to expose engineering issues. You can seize an opportunity rather than having to wait for the next one to come around.

Autodesk: Why do you like using AliasStudio?
DB: I like using AliasStudio because it is the best way to create a conceptual manual. If you want the surface to be transparent, it’s transparent. If you want it to have some texture, there’s texture. If you want to see it in three different colors, you run three colors—whatever you want, it’s there. I also like that it creates the purest deliverable for the project/task. You don’t have to ask your client to imagine anything. It also creates a “par” for the engineers to hit, which progresses our firm’s conceptual abilities.

Autodesk: What is your favourite AliasStudio feature/tool? Why?
DB: I really like the surface control features in AliasStudio. I like the ability to mold the design just as if I was sculpting it.

Autodesk: Do you use a CAD system? Which one?
DB: In the office we use everything from Adobe Illustrator and DXF™ files to STEP files for rapid prototyping. The great thing about AliasStudio is that it is able to work on both ends—from importing files from our graphic designers to exporting files to our engineers.

Autodesk: How effective is data exchange between AliasStudio and your CAD system?
DB: For design purposes, it is very effective. Sometimes it leaves out details, but generally it suits our purposes well.

Autodesk: What does effective data exchange mean for you in terms of maintaining design intent?
DB: It means that the conceptual idea is truly captured in the hand-off to engineering.

Autodesk: What does effective data exchange mean in terms of the overall product development process?
DB: Effective data exchange is very important. It influences a project’s speed to market and the ability to produce a final product that is everything you intended it to be.

Autodesk: Would you recommend Autodesk software to a friend or colleague?
DB: Absolutely. My interns have a chance to use it when they are here for summer design lab, learning several tricks of the trade with the program. It extends the designer’s process, influencing thinking and conceptual ideas.

Wow Daniel! With a write up like that I’d have a Chesire grin too. Impressive.

Daniels smile reminds me of those teeth you wind up and watch chatter, but hey I watched the last episode and all the snacks you guys got, so there’s a reason to be happy hey Daniel “what would you do for a klondyke bar”….just playing. I know you may not remember me I was second in the edison line from the atlanta casting call, and when it was time to go present you seen I was nervous and boy did you have fun with it, but I’m not mad at ya

darrell,

im sure i was just trying to make you comfortable at the casting calls and i would have to say, as a total you inventors do a pretty good job of presenting"

Hey daniel it’s cool after the presentation I met Todd we talked and I was good and ready for the next judges up until I had to go in there, the ironic thing about that was that Michael Cable is from where I live. Before they started filming him and I talked about our schools and who had the better football team, it was very comforting after that and I nailed the presentation I think.

Good Job", The thing to remember is that the product development process is full of presentation’s you are constantly selling your concept along the way. if not to a customer, eng, manufacture and so-on

Daniel,

What is the difference between an Industrial Designer and Industrial Engineer? Thanks.

Margaret,

That’s a good question” the two fields have very similar names because the Disciplines came out of the industrial revolution. To tell you the truth at dinner parties when I say am an “industrial designer” most conjure an image of a factory.

Industrial design: is an applied art whereby the aesthetics and usability of mass-produced products may be improved for marketability and production. The role of an Industrial Designer is to create and execute design solutions towards problems of engineering, usability, user ergonomics, marketing, brand development and sales. The name is derived form the industrial revolution, when products shifted from being artisan to mass-produce. Before the revolution, the designer was often the craftsman of the product.

Industrial engineering: is a branch of engineering that concerns the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems for industry. Example: (In lean manufacturing systems, Industrial engineers work to eliminate wastes of time, money, materials, energy, and other resources). Most industrial engineers are involved in the set-up of heavy machinery and industry process and production cycles.

Daniel Bizzell

Thanks Daniel! I’m really going to pick your brain (if you don’t mind) since this is a field I’m very interested in. What kind of qualities do you think a good industrial designer should possess? What kind of education is necessary? Thanks again!

M,

ID is really a combination of disciplines: The process of design may be considered creative, but many analytical processes also take place. In fact, research is a huge component”, that you really do not see much of on the show", of course Sketching and working through ideas in a conceptual realm is the bulk. We also use 3D software, to move from concept to presentation or production. Designers also spec overall form of the object, the location of details with respect to one another, colors, texture, sounds, and even interaction aspects “such as game-play”. As design director, in most cases I lead the team from conception all…. the way to approving the final colors in production. There are a few select universities for ID and they very based on whither they are being directed by an art focused or engineering focused school. And in most cases students graduate with a 4 year BA with an additional year for their internship requirements and thesis. The IDSA is the gov org.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/en_images/user-2094