DCA Design
About us
DCA is a world-leading product design and development consultancy based in the UK. We help global brands and start-ups improve their success of through product innovation. For over 65 years, our work in the Medical, FMCG, Commercial and Transport sectors has allowed us to tackle almost any type of design challenge.
The combined experience of our researchers, industrial designers and engineers provide a deep understanding of the consumer, brand experiences, technical feasibility and sustainability. In the last 10 years, this has resulted in our clients being granted over 1700 patents and receiving 100 design awards.
Much of our work in FMCG is dedicated to product dispensing formats and structural packaging. We are experienced in developing innovative concepts in a broad range of formats from simple card structures to aerosols and complex digitally connected devices.
Products & services
Sākuru サークル
Sākuru サークル (Circle) is a near-future cosmetic concept vision that aims to meet the sustainability ambitions of the current cosmetic consumer. Sākuru is a refillable home make-up printing system that produces a complete range of make-up formats in any colour you can imagine, delivering a highly personalised and luxurious beauty experience.
Lifefuels Smart Nutrition Bottle
Having met LifeFuels by chance at CES 2016, DCA’s industrial design and engineering teams, worked in a close collaborative partnership with the East Coast US tech start-up to completely redesign and engineer the bottle and refill system. Since its relaunch at CES 2018 the new design has been an overnight success.
APS miniMist - a sustainable alternative to aerosol
miniMist is a refillable, non-aerosol, propellant-free dispensing system that delivers long-lasting and high quality, mist-like spray. Developed for Alternative Packaging Solutions, it is a sustainable, consumer-preferred alternative to conventional aerosol and pump spray systems, driven by a self-pressurizing mechanical engine. miniMist is activated by a simple ‘twist & spray’ mechanism, providing a repeatable and controllable spray. miniMist is covered by a strong portfolio of global patents and is available for license today.
Reckitt - SBP Dupla Proteção
Dupla Proteção is a unique 2 in 1 aerosol insecticide developed for Reckitt under the Brazilian brand of SBP. The product incorporates a rotating cap that allows the rapid selection of two targeting options. One option provides a wide spray of mist for the broad coverage needed for flying insects, while another provides a narrow, focussed jet to quickly eliminate crawling insects. DCA and Reckitt’s Global Design and R&D teams worked with manufacturing partners Aptar to bring this truly disruptive aerosol innovation to market. DCA shortened the design and development time by integrating rapidly tooled parts over fully validated actuator components so that functional and believable prototypes could be evaluated by Brazilian consumers. The design of DuplaProteção builds on the strong 3D brand language we have created with the Reckitt Global Design Team, that visually unites this range over its different formats.
Huel - Nutrition shaker
DCA and Huel worked closely to design and develop a sustainable and on-brand alternative to their current shaker. Huel needed this new design to accurately reflect the modern lifestyles of their customers and be something they would be proud to possess.
HEX
HEX is a disruptive circular refill platform for solid stick dispensing that preserves user convenience but reduces packaging waste. The durable dispenser uses a unique mechanism that first anchors the refill after which a rotating thread carves a channel that drives it forward or backwards. The continuous feeding of new refills, mean that there is zero product waste. The simplicity of the mechanism means it is easy to clean and can be moulded from a wide variety of sustainable materials. The platform is suitable for dispensing a broad range of refill formulas from deodorants and make-up to laundry soaps or even glues. The hexagonal refill packaging tessellates to optimise transport efficiencies, uses minimal renewable materials and is 100% biodegradable. This truly sustainable, patent-pending and Red Dot Concept winning system is now ready for further development.
INC - Inclusive Makeup Accessories
Each year at PCD we showcase a new thought-provoking concept to stimulate discussion in the cosmetics sector. This year we are addressing the subject of designing for diversity. INC will be revealed by DCA's Human Factors specialist, Dr. Dan Jenkins, at the panel discussion titled “Diversity beyond skin tone – The future of Inclusive Design”. He will be joined by Estee Lauder and Fenty Beauty in a dynamic discussion to consider what is currently being done and where we are going next.
Our 'Little Book of Structural Packaging' contains 10 principles that demonstrate the benefits of good packaging design.
The true power of great structural packaging design is that it can deliver multiple benefits to both your consumer and your brand, on many levels, often all at once. Our 'little book of structural packaging' contains 10 principles that demonstrate its benefits, how to leverage them and why it is so important to get them right. Drop by our stand for a free copy.