Where are we going to put all this hardware? Along with the Muse, DNA Paris, and the world-renown Red Dot, the award-winning product development firm, Mako Design, adds another award to the list for the ROVER Packhopper. This time, our design was chosen as an Official Selection in the USE category as one of the best product designs in the 2020 LICC (London International Creative Competition).
Since its inception in 2006, the LICC’s mission has been to recognize and reward the world’s most fresh and progressive creative talents. They routinely award those who draw outside the lines and reject doing things by the book. “We’re the first product development firm to go against the grain,” states Kevin, President and Founder of Mako Design + Invent. Indeed, we are the pioneering firm that provides world-class services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Kevin continues, “With multiple award-winning products like the Packhopper, we’ve proven time and again that we are the catalyst that enables inventors of all skill levels to compete head-to-head with the industry titans.”
The LICC jury judges each submission based on the originality, function, and innovation of the design. The Packhopper ticks all three boxes with ease. It’s no wonder we’re an award-winning product development firm.
Originality
Whether you’re a novice or experienced, every player knows tennis practice can get very messy, very quickly. From cleaning up the balls to transporting their gear, tennis players bring tons of equipment to the court. Typical tear-shaped tennis bags are great for carrying racquets, a few balls, a change of clothes, and a towel. But what if you want to maximize your time on the court? Then you’ll need to drag one of those cumbersome wire hoppers and a ball pick-up net or mower. Our client, ROVER, came to our award-winning product development firm to build a solution to this problem.
The Packhopper is a novel product – it’s the first of its kind. It’s an ultra-durable tennis bag, a portable ball hopper, and a convenient ball collector all-in-one. It’s the ultimate tennis companion.
Function
Our award-winning product development firm believes the key to innovative design is simplicity. At first sight, the Packhopper may seem like a typical rolling tennis bag that does all the standard features really well. High-capacity 100+ ball storage space, a durable compartment to protect two racquets, and plenty of pockets for accessories.
However, there’s more than meets the eye. It’s portable and lightweight so you can use it as a backpack. Ditch the car and bike or walk to the court with everything you need for a great practice. Pop up the top and the Packhopper becomes a ball hopper. To clean up, just roll your Packhopper over a ball to pick it up – it’s that simple.
Innovation
Despite the number of features packed in this bag, it’s an accessible product that looks and feels familiar. That’s what our award-winning product development firm believes makes the Packhopper unique and innovative. However, what’s most impressive is how the mower is intelligently hidden at the bottom. This minimizes intrusiveness and seamlessly loads the ball directly in the hopper as the user rolls over a ball. And with all the buckles, zippers, and compartments, there’s plenty of places to click or clamp your favorite accessories to personalize the Packhopper and make it your own.
For more information about the ROVER Packhopper and our award-winning product development firm, you can check out the dedicated blog post here! You can also purchase the Packhopper here!
About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!
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