The Financial Services Authority is the governing body for the financial sector. Although they have had their hands full with dealing with the list of things that have evolved since the start of the global credit crunch and bankers scandal, and although they normally take a very back seat when it comes to matters that fall outside their realm, it appears that the increase in new product design projects has caused the agency to get involved.

Lord Turner who is the FSA Chairman expressed his concern at how product design issues in the past had been dealt with. “We’ve had a whole series of customer complaints and lots of settlements and money paid out. That isn’t good for consumers or the industry.”

Obviously new projects need significant invest to get them off the ground as can be seen from the television show Dragon’s Den, which appears on primetime BBC programming. The Financial Services Authority has clearly decided that there needs to be more done to protect investors against loss of investment in unplanned and uninsured projects.

Lord Turner will put it to the board at a meeting later this month and will ask the question to the board members whether they have got the current format correct, or should they take a more active role and in fact become product regulators?

Whatever happens there will be a number of potential inventors around the UK listening on with interest to the FSA’s findings.

The series, which offered one lucky designer the chance to spend a 6 month stint at Philippe Starck’s design school in Paris involved 12 British designers. Ilsa won over Starck with her innovative walking aid – Flo. Following her time with the famous French designer, Parry returned to Liverpool and established her own design agency – Rethinkthings. Her new product is being stocked by Firebox.

Isla and 5 of the other contestants displayed some of their work at 100% Design last month. Suggesting that she’s enjoying the freedom of her own agency, the designer said ‘I am excited by the prospect of freely exhibiting what we personally believe to be innovative solutions, without the agenda of the TV producers and the Starck team to overshadow our imaginations’.

Here at Applied Product Design we only too happy to talk with people who have an original idea that could be developed into a marketable product. We have extensive experience in developing concepts of all kinds into highly sellable pieces of product design, so why not contact us and see how we can help you?

Companies in the UK know that in many areas, the quality of China’s output has increased dramatically over recent years. With this in mind, manufacturing facilities in China can take on the whole spectrum of manufacturing, from the simplest household items to high technology items such as digital cameras and flat screen TVs.

Along with quality, China’s manufacturing facilities offer a level of price competitiveness that few other nations can match. The combination of quality and cost effectiveness has made China a great place to do business, and a place where entrepreneurs from the UK and indeed around the world see great opportunities in the country in terms of developing products that meet strong demand. In the past, the cost of manufacturing certain items in the UK or a western nation might have been prohibitive.

Here at Applied Product Design we embrace the many opportunities that China offers our clients. We have built a number of strong working relationships with manufacturing facilities in China, putting us in a strong position to organise the manufacturing of items at a speed few others can match. If you have a project that would benefit from our experience and contacts in this field, contact us now.

Each week another entrepreneur gets to pitch to the new dragons for up to a maximum of £50,000. In order for anyone to take part they have to first apply to www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden where the BBC choose the most innovative and entertaining ideas to be pitched to the online Dragons. The BBC makes their choice after viewing the entrepreneur’s video clip of their idea which they have to submit.

The new online show is presented by Dominic Byrne, whose work has included working on Radio 1 on the Chris Moyle’s show.

The online Dragons are –

Shaf Rasul who is an investor in internet companies and property, as well as running an optical storage distributor E-Net Computers.

Julie Meyer has also supported many internet and technology companies through New Media Investors, including backing companies like Lastminute.com

If your product is not quite ready for either the Online Dragons’ Den, or the Dragons’ Den TV show, either because you need drawings, prototypes, or production, or because you need to protect your Intellectual Property through Patents, Trademarks, Copyright or Design Registration, then please contact Applied Product Design.