Industrial Design Case Study: How We Designed Three Award-Winning Products to Save Lives and Change the World

Draper is a leading research and development organization specializing in advanced technology solutions for problems in space exploration, healthcare, energy, and national security.

Our Boston-based product design studio was engaged by Draper to develop physical forms for three breakthrough concepts. Together, we transformed cutting-edge technology into impactful, human-centered industrial design solutions that have gone on to win global awards, attract significant funding, and change lives.

Turning Breakthrough Technologies Into Real-World Solutions

Draper’s scientists and engineers had developed revolutionary technologies, each aimed at tackling urgent global challenges—from plastic pollution and food insecurity to access to cancer treatment. But, they needed a product design partner who could translate scientific complexity into usable, desirable, and manufacturable products.

Each project came with its own technical demands, but they also raised a broader question: how should Draper’s mission-driven innovation look in the real world? As a product design agency, our challenge was two-fold—first, to design three radically different products, each intended for vastly different use environments; and second, to define a cohesive Visual Brand Language (VBL) that could unify them under Draper’s identity and values. This required a holistic, cross-functional approach to industrial design, product development, and design strategy.

Microplastics-Sensing UAV 

Microplastics—tiny, often invisible plastic particles—pose a growing threat to our oceans, ecosystems, and human health. These contaminants are difficult to detect and nearly impossible to map at scale using traditional sampling methods. The challenge is vast: how do you make the invisible measurable?

Our industrial design studio partnered with Draper and the EPA to design the world’s first real-time microplastic-sensing autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)—a powerful application of design engineering and product innovation. This drone detects and analyzes microplastics in situ, tracing their density, origin, and type across vast bodies of water. By scanning the ocean’s top nine meters—where most microplastics accumulate—it collects and transmits live GPS-tagged data for environmental analysis.

Our product design team focused on functional performance and rugged industrial design. A large front intake filters water through internal sensor arrays while dual proximity sensors guide navigation. Twin side-mounted thrusters and rear rudders enable precise maneuvering, and a modular outer ring houses batteries, controls, and an induction charger. Built for fieldwork, the open chassis design allows quick deployment and retrieval.

To extend operation and reduce environmental impact, the AUV docks with a wind-powered, self-charging buoy. Engineered for autonomy and durability, the system redefines how we study and combat microplastic pollution.

Mobile Thermoelectric Refrigerator

Refrigeration remains a major challenge in global food systems—especially in rural communities where access to electricity, infrastructure, and cold-chain logistics is limited. In India, the world’s largest milk producer, millions of dairy farmers lack a reliable way to store milk overnight or transport it safely to processing facilities.

To address this, our product design studio designed a rugged, thermoelectric mobile refrigeration unit that operates off-grid and supports last-mile dairy logistics. The system enables farmers to store milk safely and transport it up to 15 miles to pasteurization centers, preserving quality and preventing contamination from airborne pathogens like Listeria. Designed to require minimal energy, the fridge operates using thermoelectric cooling and can be powered via solar, regenerative, or conventional means.

Sprout’s industrial design team focused on real-world usability. A modular chassis allows the top chiller to be removed for cleaning while the base remains in use. An anodized aluminum frame keeps it lightweight and rust-resistant. Airless wheels with regenerative hubs generate power while in motion, and an ergonomic handle lets users pull the fridge by hand or hitch it to a bicycle or motorbike for rapid transport.

Immunotherapy Bioprocessing Device

Cell-based immunotherapy holds the promise of reprogramming a patient’s immune system to destroy cancer and other mutated cells. But access remains limited due to the high cost, long timelines, and complex lab processes.

Our product design team worked with Draper to develop a revolutionary bioprocessing device that streamlines three key processes—cell separation, gene delivery, and electroporation—into a single, benchtop solution. 

We focused on usability, cleanability, and intuitive interaction in clinical settings. The design includes a patient-specific cartridge system that visualizes each step of the process with subtle visual cues for technician guidance. A modular rear manifold supports customization based on disease profiles, and an alert system provides real-time updates and live video feeds directly to a technician’s smartphone.

This compact device combines three formerly disjointed processes into one streamlined solution that takes one-tenth the time and is predicted to cost one-fifth of the price of similar treatments.

The Results 

Our design partnership helped Draper secure millions in investment funding to advance these technologies, and other world-changing innovations.  

The products went on to receive global recognition including placements on Fast Company’s World-Changing Ideas and TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions lists. 

Following this success, our product design studio partnered with Draper to scale the Visual Brand Language system across the organization—hosting internal workshops and creating a comprehensive design system to ensure cohesive, future-ready execution.

Let’s Design the Next World-Changing Idea

Designing for impact means thinking beyond aesthetics. It means solving real problems with empathy, rigor, and purpose. When you combine groundbreaking engineering with thoughtful, strategic design, you don’t just make things—you make change.

As a product design studio, we’re passionate about helping mission-driven teams bring world-changing ideas to life—whether you’re developing a first-of-its-kind product or tackling a global issue.

Let’s build what the world needs next. Click here to get in touch with our product design team.