CZ / EN
Industrial Design for Hardware Startups
From working prototype to buildable product.
Industrial design, product architecture and CAD for hardware startups, deep-tech teams and university spin-offs.
Selected work
Heeskof Xyla / Case study
Large-format 3D printing replaced outsourced cabinetmaking and gave Heeskof Audio more flexibility to produce in-house. The enclosure was designed around the process: arches print without support and the front face is oriented for accurate driver openings. The one-piece shell brings sculpted geometry and tailored acoustic chambers into a more accessible hi-fi price range.
Ondřej Pechal · Industrial design, CAD and design for FDM printing
Jakub Pavel · Acoustic development
Ongoing collaboration with Heeskof Audio
Batteree / Case study
Stackable steel trays hold individual battery modules and let one design serve different storage capacities. The trays are used in operating installations. Cabinet and cladding variants address a different scale of the same design problem: where the system sits and how it fits into places people use.
Ondřej Pechal · Tray design, integrated locating pins, CAD and development with production
Installation photo · Batteree
Urban Charger / Case study
The design study explores how EV charging can fit into an established streetscape. Opposing controls give each driver room to plug in, while the location of the charger and the route of the cable help keep the pavement clear. A lower version brings the controls within reach for wheelchair users.
Ondřej Pechal · Concept, industrial design, ergonomics and CAD
Faculty of Architecture, CTU in Prague
Services
Where are you now?
Proof of concept
Define the product
Set the intended use, component layout and physical interfaces while the architecture is still open.
Typical outputProduct architecture, a concept direction and the questions to test next.
Prototype or CAD
Plan the next prototype
Review the existing design and refine the enclosure, assembly or controls around the next test, demo or pilot.
Typical outputRevised CAD, a prototype plan or a physical prototype, with findings from the review.
Preparing for production
Prepare for supplier review
Develop parts for the intended process and volume. Work through fastening, finishes, service access and supplier feedback.
Typical outputCAD and drawings for supplier review, with open decisions documented.
How collaboration works
An independent designer working with your team.
Ondřej works directly with in-house engineers and product teams. Regular reviews around CAD and prototypes keep decisions visible and give everyone a chance to flag constraints while changes are still straightforward.
Ondřej can draw on a network of specialists and suppliers for specific manufacturing processes, prototyping and small-series production. He can also bring in a product photographer and lead the art direction.
More projects
A smart radiator valve concept. Rocking the shell adjusts the temperature, and a wraparound e-ink display keeps the mode visible from across the room.
A slim, minimalist EV charging bollard designed to serve two adjacent parking bays on a city street.
A sculptural cast-iron radiator for period interiors. The curved faces of its cast sections read as one continuous volume.
A study of autonomous long-distance travel in the 2030s, from the layout of two passenger decks to seat ergonomics and the onboard interface.
About
Ondřej Pechal
Ondřej Pechal is an independent product and industrial designer based in Prague. His work connects how products are used, how they are built and how they fit into their surroundings. A collaboration can start with a focused review and continue through a defined design phase or ongoing development support.
FAQ
Before you start.
When should we bring in an industrial designer?
As soon as the technology has a clear purpose and decisions about the enclosure, components and controls are still open. With an early proof of concept, the first task is often deciding how the product should be used and how its parts fit together.
Can you work with the prototype or CAD we already have?
Yes. A review can identify what to keep, what needs to change and what the next prototype should prove. A short description of the current design and your next milestone is enough for the introductory call.
Is a working prototype ready to send to a manufacturer?
A working prototype can start a conversation about manufacturing options. Before requesting a quote for production or committing to tooling, define the intended process, volume, materials, critical tolerances and assembly. A supplier review helps identify what still needs validation.
What should we build for an investor demo, a pilot or production?
A demo should make the use case and core function clear. A pilot needs to hold up under the conditions users will encounter. A production prototype should also validate process, materials, tolerances and assembly with the intended supplier. The next milestone determines what is worth building now.
Do we need industrial design, mechanical engineering or both?
Industrial design covers product architecture, ergonomics, enclosure and physical interfaces. Detailed mechanisms, structural analysis, electronics and firmware call for the relevant engineering specialists. Ondřej can work directly with your engineers and manufacturing partners on interfaces, design reviews and supplier feedback.
Can we start small, and how is the work priced?
Start with a focused review or one design phase. An estimate depends on the starting material, the deliverables, prototype rounds and the level of supplier involvement. The proposal sets out those items and identifies separate costs such as prototype fabrication or tooling.
Can you help us hand the design over to a manufacturer?
Supplier support can include preparing CAD and drawings for a quote, reviewing design-for-manufacturing feedback and assessing samples. The scope defines who owns each decision and which checks need to happen before tooling or production.
Which files do we receive, and how are IP and NDA handled?
The proposal defines the files and usage rights before work starts. Depending on the phase, the handoff can include editable CAD, STEP files, drawings or a review summary. An initial conversation can start with a non-confidential overview. An NDA can be agreed before a detailed technical review.