Fredricks Announces the Addition of Dave Miller to Our Team!

Fredricks Announces the Addition of Dave Miller to Our Team!

by | Feb 21, 2018 | Company News

Dave Miller

On February 19, 2018, Fredricks Design, Inc. welcomed Dave Miller, BSME, to our team.

Dave graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He spent the last few years as an engineer in the manufacturing environment at Gentex Corporation in Zeeland, MI. His true passion is in new product development, design, and engineering. He brings a strong skill sets in 3D CAD modeling, prototyping, testing, design for manufacturability and understanding of the manufacturing process. Dave will be a tremendous asset to the design and engineering team at Fredricks Design and our Clients. He will be based in our Grand Haven, Michigan studio.

Please join us with an enthusiastic welcome for Dave!

Maury Fredricks

CEO

Fredricks Design, Inc.

Fredricks Design, Inc. is a full-service design and engineering firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan. The firm specializes in working as an extension of the client studio and engineering team to identify the right problems and accelerate development of solutions from early ideation, feasibility, concept development and production of mock-ups, prototypes and show properties. Fredricks works with key Clients in the automotive interiors and seating industries, advanced rides and show action projects for themed attractions, furniture, and consumer products markets.

fredricks.com

 

Autoshow 2018: Tricky Times Ahead

Autoshow 2018: Tricky Times Ahead

by | Jan 31, 2018 | Company Insights

2018 Ford GT at Detroit Auto Show

Image courtesy of Maury Fredricks

Just returned from a trip to attend the Industry Preview Days at the Autoshow in Detroit. It’s about a three-hour drive down I-96 from our home in Grand Haven. Typically, drivers are doing an average of 15 over the prescribed limit and traffic is tight in spots. You can move swiftly across the state and it’s worth the drive to check out the NAIAS, the Autoshow. As designers and engineers, we go to witness and take note of styling and technical trends. For us, it’s a bit of a museum of the past and lens to the future. Ironically, the most innovative vehicles shown may be the death of the show itself.

As I confirmed through multiple conversations at Cobo Hall, the show is dying from the inside. Difficult to change the course of a large ship and the NAIAS is at risk of not being able to adapt to the blurring social and technological landscape. (more…)

Ben Fredricks Celebrates 8 years with Fredricks Design, Inc.!

Ben Fredricks Celebrates 8 years with Fredricks Design, Inc.!

by | Nov 30, 2017 | Company News

We are delighted to announce Ben Fredricks’ 8th anniversary with our family company!

Our journey began in 2009 when Ben returned to Michigan from Colorado. It was a calculated risk for all of us. We’ve enjoyed almost every project and learned a lot along the way.

We celebrate our past work together as we look forward to future projects with some of the world’s most demanding companies…

Thanks for everything, Ben! Let’s make it another big day…

Maury Fredricks

CEO

Fredricks Design, Inc.

Fredricks Design, Inc. is a full-service design and engineering firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan. The firm specializes in working as an extension of the client studio and engineering team to identify the right problems and accelerate development of solutions from early ideation, feasibility, concept development and production of mock-ups, prototypes and show properties. Fredricks works with key Clients in the automotive interiors and seating industries, advanced rides and show action projects for themed attractions, furniture, and consumer products markets.

fredricks.com

 

We Have a Food Problem in America

We Have a Food Problem in America

by | Oct 19, 2017 | Company Insights

Two different viewpoints…

Recently, I’ve attempted to wean myself from daily media sources and the talking heads. It’s a hard habit to kick. My primary sources of news lean towards liberal publications and daily news programs. It does not matter which side of the political divide you’re on, the world is in rough shape and nothing is getting done in the capitals of the world. It’s a pretty depressing picture.

There was an article (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/dining/kimbal-musk-food.html) published in the NY Times last Monday that prompted a welcome diversion in my thinking and a refreshed viewpoint on a few key issues.

Kimbal Musk is a tech entrepreneur who made his early fortune working with his brother Elon. He has the resources to do great things and his ideas about the food ecosystem in this country are worth reflection. His heart is in the right place and I was beginning to embrace his thinking until mid-way through the article. The goal of scale for the food business runs contrary to the immediate need in many communities for healthy sources of food and clean water. The need is now and urgent. Scaling industries takes time, capital and environmental resources. “The problem is that the people who made their money in tech understand disruption and scaling and all of these terms, but they don’t know how to get their hands dirty and engage the neighbors and the farmers and the cooks who make a food community”, said Michel Nischan, the founder and chief executive officer of Wholesome Wave.

Real change happens at the community level and we all have the power to affect positive change.

(more…)

Fredricks Design, Inc. Welcomes Rogerio Miguel Back to Our Team!

Fredricks Design, Inc. Welcomes Rogerio Miguel Back to Our Team!

by | Jul 5, 2017 | Company News

Rogerio Miguel

We are excited to announce the addition of Rogerio Miguel, Design Engineer + MBA to our team effective June 30, 2017.

Rogerio worked with us from 2000-2002 before returning to Brazil. He brings deep and diverse automotive experience and advanced degrees in business, computer sciences, IT and design. He is also is a PLM solutions consultant with deep experience working with international Fortune 500 companies in North America, Brazil and Europe . The addition of Rogerio to our core team will expand our services working with key clients in product development and PLM. He will be based in our Grand Haven, Michigan studio.

This is an especially exciting announcement since we’ve built our friendship and working relationship over the past fifteen years. Please join us with an enthusiastic welcome for Rogerio, Deise and their children!

Maury Fredricks

CEO

Fredricks Design, Inc.

Fredricks Design, Inc. is a full-service design and engineering firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan. The firm specializes in working as an extension of the client studio and engineering team to identify the right problems and accelerate development of solutions from early ideation, feasibility, concept development and production of mock-ups, prototypes and show properties. Fredricks works with key Clients in the automotive interiors and seating industries, advanced rides and show action projects for themed attractions, furniture, and consumer products markets.

fredricks.com