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Innovation starts on the inside.

Mind map whiteboard drawing of company values and connections.
how we work

Our process.

Discover and Define
Kickoff Workshop
Solve
Innovation Sprints for critical unknowns
FORM
Sketches and Industrial Design
Function
Sub-systems design and testing
Prototype
Build; Test; Learn; Repeat
Design for manufacture
Redesign and optimize for Manufacturing
how it all began

SGW Designworks was founded in 2008 by three friends.

Tasche Streib, Ryan Gray, and Mike Witt (SGW), united by their experiences in product development, noticed a glaring gap in the market for adept business solutions in product design and engineering. So, they set out to fill that void, kickstarting their venture from a modest coffee shop in Boise, Idaho.

In 2008, SGW Designworks began carving out its niche for insightful development and unfaltering integrity, and by 2012, their work was spotlighted in Eric Ries' NYT #1 Bestseller, "The Lean Startup." This recognition ignited the business's growth, expanding the team to over twenty creative and passionate members.

Today, SGW Designworks stands as a powerhouse for comprehensive product design and engineering solutions, catering to businesses of all scales. On any given day, SGW has ten to twenty active projects spanning industrial design, mechanical, electrical, firmware, software, machine design, fabrication, research, prototyping, and manufacturing management. We have a particular knack for ruggedized industrial and consumer products, specializing in intricate electromechanical products and bespoke equipment.

The three founders sitting on a couch together, exhausted, enjoying a beer.
who you are working with

Our team.

Join us
Ryan Gray
Co-Founder, CEO

Favorite invention: Weber DCOE carburetor

Mike Witt, P.E.
Co-Founder, COO

Favorite invention: LASIK eye surgery

Rob Regent
Director of Operations

Favorite invention: Transistor

Addie White
Mechanical Developer

Favorite invention: Roman Aqueduct

Josh Reeder
Director of Business Development

Favorite invention: Phone Jack

Artemio Ambriz
Product Designer

Favorite invention: Molcajete

Jeff Hill
Mechanical Engineer (EIT)

Favorite invention: Internet

Brennar Schindel
Embedded Systems Developer

Favorite invention: Air Conditioner

Sherri Rowe
Business Manager

Favorite invention: Paper Shredder

Jordan Lundgren
Mechanical Designer

Favorite invention: Bicycle

River Drake
Mechanical EIT

Favorite invention: Music Box

Jeff Moeser
Manufacturing Specialist

Favorite invention: Amazon Kindle

Bob Basham
Mech & Embedded Developer

Favorite invention: Lathe

Steven Szymeczek
Product Developer - Mech

Favorite invention: 3D Printer

Elise Batten
Intern - Industrial Design

Favorite invention: AeroPress Coffee Maker

John Fitzgerald
Senior Engineer

Favorite invention: Hubble Space Telescope

Dave Bohan
Firmware Developer

Favorite invention: Microwave

Amber Daley
Content Strategist, PR

Favorite invention: Ballpoint Pen

Jim Scanlan
Logistics & Production

Favorite invention: Barcode Scanner

Emmett
Branch Manager

Favorite invention: Hoomans

testimonials

What our clients are saying.

"I have worked with the team at SGW on a handful of projects, and I continue to be impressed with the depth and breadth of talent and capabilities they bring to the table. SGW is easy to work with, competent, and they operate with integrity. They make you want to do more business with them. Highly recommend!"

David Sheehan, Engineering Manager

"These guys get it. They are a rare blend of creative and technical talent. Honest, flexible, fun to work with and incredibly competent. As a designer, they make me look good, bringing my ideas to life through their insight and experience."

Preston Lewis, Co-Founder & CCO

"SGW is an amazing company with the flexibility we require for innovation. They have also assisted us in developing our designs for a new innovative product that will be launched very soon in tactical operations. Thanks to the team at SGW."

Jason Semple, Co-Owner

"Even though SGW Designworks is in Boise and the project was in Baltimore, I selected SGW because these guys are good and they know the molded foam process, the foundry process, instrumentation, and design of experiments. They are a really talented & creative group of engineers."

Barry Ramsay, VP of Operations

"What I found valuable about working with SGW was their approach to development. In initial brain storming sessions, the team came together with me so that they could understand my goals and constraints. Then in a couple of weeks the team presented various options for development. As the project progressed, design review sessions were very helpful as a way to assure me that things were on track, and that the SGW team was there to help mitigate my anxiety as well as the risks of developing a new product."

Tim Fulton, Founder

"As the patent owner and inventor of the SiPsHitchTM system, I would like to congratulate SGW in achieving an amazing result which exceeded our expectations. The thing that stood out the most and basically sealed the deal for us was the instant understanding of the product and how it would operate in our industry. I’m not sure if there is any product idea, concept or project that this team could not take on and achieve the same successes that I have experienced."

Rod Gray, Director & VP

"The team at SGW Designworks was able to identify and test multiple solutions to a complex development challenge in a short period of time, then carry those findings over to a full development effort. This had a real impact on the speed of our development project."

Calvan Allen, Senior Program Manager

Our awards placeholder title and logos lorem ipsum dolor amet.

Emerson logoBASF logoJarden corporation logoEotech logoSVB logoSensata logoSmoke Guard logoBayer logoOCI logoDecked logo
we might have some of your questions answered

Frequently asked questions.

How do we get started?

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It starts with a conversation. We’ll quickly determine if we’re a good fit for your business and your product. If we’re not, we’ll let you know, and try to make a referral to a better fit. If we are, we’ll get an engagement agreement in place and schedule a start date for working on your first project.

How much will it cost?

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SGW projects typically range from $15k to $2MM in development and prototyping costs.

The cost to develop a product is driven by many factors:

  1. Product complexity
  2. How much cost-optimization is required
  3. Regulatory requirements
  4. Level of design refinement desired
I already have internal engineering resources – can you work with our internal team?

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Yes. Over half of our clients have internal engineering or R&D teams. These businesses hire us for a few different reasons:

  1. Their internal teams are already overburdened with the day-to-day sustaining engineering required for existing product lines.
  2. They’re lacking the specific skills and expertise required for product development (as opposed to sustaining engineering or primary R&D).
  3. Projects are behind schedule, and a fresh approach or perspective is needed to get things moving again.
When are we not a good fit?

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The companies that have been most successful working with us have realistic budget and timing expectations, know their market space well, have access to users, and are willing to question their own assumptions about how people buy and use their products.

Developing products from scratch requires an understanding of how intellectual property is developed to create something novel enough to be compelling in the marketplace. It is through build-learn-build that innovation makes it to market. The more you do it, the more unique and valuable your solution will be. This can look unattractive to someone just wanting to know "what it will cost". Assume it will cost 3 times more than you think.

For these reasons SGW is typically not a good fit for:

  1. Speculative startup ideas that are not ready to get started. Honestly, this goes for any firm. You don't want to engage a firm too early. Reach out when you are ready to move forward and have a budget.
  2. Limited-funding, "Start and stop" projects. Getting going and then stopping can be very costly. Pausing and restarting means continually needing "to get up to speed" or having to communicate updates when not much is happening. The more dedicated you, are the more productive you are. It's best to get your ducks in a row and then move fast. That's the best way to create momentum, stay excited and save money in the long run.
  3. Self-funded, DIY Inventors. Self-funding adds a complex emotional layer that can stifle innovation. Innovation means taking risks. Those risks are the path to success but often they are mistaken for failure. Likewise, DIY inventors have an emotional connection that is hard to let go of, they are only used to spending money on materials and not an expert's time. Without a high level of respect and trust for those whom you are hiring, you can end up being disgruntled by the cost to get someone up to speed on all that you have tried and learned to this point.
What’s it look like to work together?

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We can be your team or we can extend your team.

We need to fully understand your business goals and your constraints so that we can make development decisions that will work for you long term. We’ll be talking a lot about:

  1. Cost targets
  2. Target users
  3. Feature tradeoffs

All of these factors impact not just the product, but also your business more broadly.

You can expect regular collaboration with our team (e.g. weekly progress reviews).

You can expect us to learn unexpected things along the way (e.g. that a feature needs to be excluded, or that a different material is better suited to a certain part). Many of the products we work on pivot from the original vision in some way during development based on findings from prototype testing.

Read all FAQs
Knowledge share

Here are a few recommended reads.

Solar panel array on a motorized arm to follow the sun's path

3 Important Factors in Solar Product Development

There has been a surge of interest in solar product development in recent years, driven by the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions.
Read more
A device built using rugged product design principles

Rugged Product Design: How to Get It Right

Durability is one of many categories to consider when your team is developing a new product.
Read more
Closeup of electrical components on a PCB

Electronic Product Design — and the Technology That Makes It Possible

As time goes on, more products are designed with integrated electronics to provide specific functionality or connectivity.
Read more
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We improve human existence. We do it by designing rugged new products and industrial equipment that matters.
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