Question 1

What does it cost to work with Catino?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the scope and complexity of your project. We structure our work in phases, which means you can start with a defined first step without committing to a full project upfront. Get in touch and we can talk through what makes sense for your situation.

Question 2

What does your design process look like?

Accepted Answer

We work according to a proven process in four steps: Extract, Explore, Evaluate and Evolve. In Extract we define the problem, user needs and project constraints. In Explore we generate ideas and develop concrete concept directions. In Evaluate the concepts are tested and refined. In Evolve the chosen direction is developed into production-ready documentation. The process is divided into clear phases, which means you can make decisions along the way rather than committing to the full project from the start.

Question 3

Can we start small before committing to a larger project?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We structure our work in clear phases, which means you can begin with an initial phase to map the problem and explore directions, then decide whether to continue. Many of our clients want to understand what a project actually involves before making a larger commitment. You do not need to lock in the full project from the start.

Question 4

How long does it take to develop a new product?

Accepted Answer

It varies depending on the complexity of the product, the number of components and whether the project requires testing or certification. An initial phase covering problem definition and concept development typically takes 6 to 12 weeks. A complete project from first brief to production-ready documentation usually takes 4 to 24 months. We always agree on a clear timeline at the start of the project.

Question 5

What do you deliver at the end of a project?

Accepted Answer

The final deliverable is a complete set of production documentation, everything a manufacturer needs to produce the product: engineering drawings, material specifications, surface finish and prototypes. Depending on the scope, the deliverable may also include user testing results, concept presentations and decision materials for interim stages.

Question 6

How involved do we need to be in the project?

Accepted Answer

We work closely with our clients, not just for them. Your knowledge of the product, the market and the business is essential for us to develop the right solution. In practice this means a few key meetings and ongoing feedback, not day-to-day operational involvement from your side.

Question 7

Is our idea protected when we share it with you?

Accepted Answer

We treat all client information as confidential and are happy to sign an NDA before we discuss the details of your project. That is standard in how we work, and you never need to share more than you are comfortable with for us to assess whether we are the right partner for you.

Question 8

How do we get started?

Accepted Answer

It starts with a conversation where we listen to what you want to achieve and share how we typically work. From that we put together a suggested scope and approach. Reach out directly and we will set up a meeting.

Question 9

What kind of companies do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We work with companies that manufacture or sell their own physical products and understand that design and engineering need to work together for a product to actually reach the market. The people we typically work with are CEOs, product managers and heads of innovation who are driving real product development, not just strategy.

Question 10

We have a vague idea, not a finished brief. Is that okay?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is often better that way. A vague idea means we can define the problem correctly from the start rather than efficiently solving the wrong one. The Extract phase is specifically designed to take you from ambiguity to a sharp, well-defined foundation. We do not need a finished specification to begin.

Question 11

What sets Catino apart from a regular design agency?

Accepted Answer

We are not a pure design agency. We combine industrial design and engineering expertise under one roof, which means manufacturing, materials and construction are considered while we are still shaping the concepts. What we design can actually be built, and we do not need to recalculate the whole project once engineers get involved, because they have been involved from the start.

Question 12

Do you only work on new products, or also on developing existing ones?

Accepted Answer

Both. We work just as often with companies that want to take an existing product a step further as with companies starting from scratch. The need to clarify the problem and explore directions is the same regardless of whether the product is new or already on the market.

Question 13

Where are you based, and do you work with clients outside Stockholm?

Accepted Answer

We are based in Stockholm but work with clients across Sweden and the Nordics. Most of a project can run remotely, but we value in-person meetings at the stages where it makes a real difference, such as early concept reviews and prototype presentations.

Question 14

What have you done before?

Accepted Answer

We have developed products that have won 14 international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award. Our references include 1080 Motion, whose sprint product we helped develop and which contributed to the company doubling its revenue to 108 MSEK. We worked with Plejd during their early growth phase, from six to two hundred employees, and we were behind Mendi's crowdfunding campaign, which became the most backed in Swedish history in 2020 with 31 MSEK raised.

Question 15

How do we know that what you design can actually be manufactured?

Accepted Answer

We account for manufacturing requirements from the earliest sketch phases. Engineers are involved from the Explore phase, not brought in at the end, which means materials, tolerances and production cost are factored in while the concepts are still being shaped. What we deliver is production documentation, not renderings. That is one of the clearest differences between us and a pure design agency.

Question 16

Do you use external suppliers or do everything in-house?

Accepted Answer

The core of our process, design and engineering, we do in-house. On some projects we collaborate with specialists from a network we have built over many years, for instance for advanced electronics or specific material expertise. In those cases we remain your single point of contact and take full responsibility for holding the whole thing together.

Question 17

What if we are not happy with the direction during the project?

Accepted Answer

We work iteratively with frequent check-ins, so you always know where things stand and can influence the direction as we go. If we see mid-project that a direction is not working, we would rather have that conversation early and adjust scope than deliver something we do not believe in. We are not selling hours, we are selling the right result.