At Whistle Design Group, we’ve always believed that great design is more than just problem-solving—it’s about pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible. That’s why we’re proud to announce that our collaboration with WORX+, the Grindworx King Series Concrete Grinders, is now officially design award winning, having received two accolades at the 2025 Good Design Awards.

Recognised for Excellence in Engineering and Industrial Design

The design award winning King Series was honoured in both the Engineering Design category and the Product Design – Commercial and Industrial sub-category. These awards celebrate the grinders’ innovative mechanical systems, intelligent automation, and ergonomic design—hallmarks of a product built for performance and precision.

• Engineering Design: Acknowledging the advanced control systems, permanent magnet motor technology, and modular chassis that redefine serviceability and grinding accuracy.
• Product Design – Commercial and Industrial: Celebrating the grinder’s bold aesthetics, intuitive user interface, and human-centred design that enhances operator comfort and efficiency.

A Vision Realised

From its debut at World of Concrete 2025 in Las Vegas to the stage at the ICC Sydney, the King Series has captured attention for its forward-thinking approach to industrial equipment. Designed for professionals in surface preparation and construction, the GK-700 and GK-850 models combine raw power with refined usability.

Key features include:

• Split-Chassis Enclosure for modularity and control
• Remote Control & Autopilot for seamless operation
• Advanced Automation with real-time feedback
• Human-Centred Touchpoints for intuitive interaction

Designing for “Better”

This year’s Good Design Awards theme “Rewarding, Defining and Celebrating Better ______.” invited designers to explore what “better” means today. For Whistle Design Group, “better” means smarter, safer, and more sustainable design. The design award winning King Series is a testament to that philosophy.

Looking Ahead

We are grateful to WORX+ for their partnership, and we are honoured to be recognised together among the world’s leading innovators. The King Series isn’t just a product—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when engineering meets empathy, and design meets durability.

Explore the project: Worx+ King Series Concrete Grinders
Learn more about the awards: Good Design Australia

The industrial design industry is evolving rapidly, driven by innovation, sustainability, and user-centred thinking. To keep pace, design education must stay aligned with real-world demands. RMIT University’s Industrial Design Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) plays a key role in this mission. Among its members is Paul Connor, Founder and Design Director at Whistle Design Group, who brings over 20 years of experience to help bridge the gap between academia and professional practice.

Bridging the Gap Between Design Education and Industry Practice

The IAC is a collective of professionals from across the design sector. Its purpose is to ensure that RMIT’s programs remain relevant, future-focused, and aligned with industry expectations. Members include designers, business leaders, and educators who provide strategic input on curriculum development, research, and partnerships.

This collaboration ensures that students graduate with the skills, mindset, and experience needed to thrive in today’s competitive design landscape.

Whistle Design Group’s Role in Advancing Industrial Design Education

Paul Connor’s involvement in the IAC reflects Whistle Design Group’s commitment to advancing design education. His expertise in product development, design strategy, and creative leadership helps shape academic content that mirrors real-world challenges.

By sharing insights from active projects, Paul ensures that students are exposed to current trends and opportunities. His contributions help RMIT produce graduates who are not only technically skilled but also strategically minded and industry-ready.

Driving Innovation, Collaboration, and Career Readiness

The IAC’s impact is significant. Key contributions include:

• Curriculum Development: Embedding real-world design methodologies and tools into student learning.
• Industry Collaboration: Facilitating internships, mentorships, and networking opportunities with leading design firms.
• Research and Innovation: Supporting exploration into sustainable materials, emerging technologies, and user-centred design.
• Graduate Employability: Ensuring students are equipped with the practical and strategic skills needed to succeed in the field.

These initiatives help RMIT maintain its reputation as one of Australia’s most industry-connected design institutions.

The Power of Partnership: Academia Meets Real-World Design Challenges

The RMIT Industrial Design Industry Advisory Committee plays a vital role in shaping the future of design education. With Paul Connor’s leadership and Whistle Design Group’s involvement, the committee ensures that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of a fast-changing profession.

As the industrial design industry continues to evolve, partnerships between academia and industry will be essential. Through collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise, RMIT and its advisory committee are helping to develop the next generation of design leaders.

Get in Touch

Want to learn more about how Whistle Design Group is contributing to the industrial design industry? Contact us today — we’d love to hear from you. Call us on (03) 9122 8520.

We’re excited to share a major milestone from one of our standout collaborations this year. In May 2025, our client ataraxyBSC successfully secured full funding on Kickstarter for their innovative sports science project, the vabsRider™ — a revolutionary split bicycle seat designed to enhance rider comfort and performance.

This achievement not only marks a crowdfunding success but also highlights a significant advancement in sports science. The project showcases how thoughtful design, and biomechanical insight can transform the cycling experience.

A Collaborative Sports Science Journey

At Whistle Design Group, we partnered with ataraxyBSC from the early concept phase. Their bold idea — a bicycle seat that moves with the rider’s body — evolved into a refined, high-performance product through close collaboration between our industrial designers, engineers, and the visionary team at ataraxyBSC.

From Concept to Market-Ready Innovation

The ataraxyBSC seat exemplifies the power of a well-executed sports science project. Its dynamic split-seat mechanism adapts to rider movement, reducing pressure and improving ergonomic support. Our team helped bring this concept to life by focusing on:

• Biomechanical alignment for natural motion
• Smooth mechanical operation for fluid riding
• User testing and iteration to perfect every detail

The result is a sleek, performance-driven product that reflects the best of modern sports science. 

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to have contributed to this innovative sports science project and thrilled to see it resonate with the cycling community. Congratulations to the entire ataraxyBSC team on their successful Kickstarter campaign — a true testament to their passion and precision.

Ready to Launch Your Own Sports Science Project?

Let’s talk. At Whistle Design Group, we specialize in turning bold ideas into breakthrough products. Whether you’re developing a new concept or refining an existing one, we’re here to help bring your sports science project to life.

Startup product design is thrilling — it’s where vision becomes reality. But for startups, it’s also where big mistakes can cost time, money, and momentum. At Whistle Design Group, we’ve helped many founders navigate the product design journey — and we’ve seen the patterns.

Here are the 7 most common startup product design mistakes — and how to avoid them.

 

1 – Designing Without the User

The mistake: Building for yourself, not your customer.
Why it matters: Great startup product design starts with empathy. Ignoring user needs leads to products that miss the mark.

The fix: Talk to real users early. Understand their pain points, needs, and behaviours before committing to your own assumptions.

 

2 – Skipping the Prototyping Stage

The mistake: Avoiding prototypes to save money.
Why it matters: Skipping prototyping is a fast way to burn through cash — and deliver a flawed product.

The fix: Use rapid prototyping to test, learn, and iterate. It’s a core part of smart product design for startups.

 

3 – Overcomplicating the First Version

The mistake: Building too much, too soon.
Why it matters: A feature-packed product can overwhelm users and delay your launch.

The fix: Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) — the simplest version that solves a core problem. Then evolve based on feedback.

 

4 – Ignoring Manufacturing Constraints

The mistake: Designing without understanding how things get made.
Why it matters: A beautiful design that can’t be manufactured efficiently is just an expensive prototype.

The fix: Collaborate with an industrial design team (like us!) that understands real-world production from day one.

 

5 – Forgetting About IP Early

The mistake: Publicly revealing your idea before protecting it.
Why it matters: Intellectual property (IP) is critical in startup product design — and often overlooked.

The fix: Get IP advice early. We connect startups with trusted patent attorneys and guide you on protecting your product before market exposure.

 

6 – Underestimating Time & Costs

The mistake: Assuming it’ll be fast and cheap.
Why it matters: Product design takes longer — and costs more — than many founders expect.

The fix: Build a realistic roadmap. We help scope timelines and phases clearly, so you’re not caught off guard.

 

7 – Not Asking for Expert Help

The mistake: Delaying expert involvement to save budget.
Why it matters: DIY design can lead to costly mistakes in engineering, compliance, and manufacturing.

The fix: Involve experienced industrial designers and engineers early. The cost of expert advice is nothing compared to the cost of getting it wrong.

 

Final Thought: Design Smart from the Start

Startups don’t have time or money to waste. Avoiding these common startup product design mistakes means a faster, smarter path to market — and a product your customers will love.

At Whistle Design Group, we partner with ambitious startups to design products that work, look great, and get made right.

 

Got an idea you don’t want to mess up?
Contact us today — and let’s design it the right way from the start.