neutraltools is an industrial and product design studio in Hong Kong. We combine human-centered research and product development to create products people want to use and buy. From the first brief through production, we work with your team to balance customer needs, environmental responsibility and lasting commercial value.
01 / Understand
Human-centered research & product strategy
We start with the people who will buy, use, install or maintain the product. Interviews, observation and field studies reveal everyday needs and constraints. We translate the findings into product opportunities and a design brief that the team can act on.
During his in-house role at d.light, Ti led qualitative research and prototype testing with off-grid households and created the final S1 product design.
Contextual research
02 / Design
Industrial & product design
We turn the brief into physical product concepts, exploring form, ergonomics, materials, colours and finishes. Models and prototypes help the team compare alternatives and refine everyday handling, product identity and manufacturing requirements together.
Ti designed the Treecup range through neutraltools for NOWASTE. Its restrained form brings cups, lids and sleeves together while leaving room for each customer’s branding.
Form and material development
03 / Interact
UX & interface design
Physical controls and digital interfaces should make the product’s state and next action easy to understand. We map tasks for each user group, develop control and screen layouts, and use interactive prototypes to review the experience before implementation.
The product design and interface address two users: installers who need a practical product to fit and explain, and homeowners who need a clear indication of their water protection.
Physical and digital interaction
04 / Develop & test
Product development & prototyping
We develop the physical design in CAD and work through fit, tolerances, assembly and function with prototypes. Siemens NX supports the mechanical development. Where electronics, firmware or specialist testing are required, responsibilities are defined with the client and development partners.
HOME MAX brings the battery, controls and charging connections into a compact unit. The case describes Ti’s product design and innovation role at IONA, alongside the brand and business behind it.
CAD, fit and prototype development
05 / Produce
Tooling & production support
We review the design with manufacturers and mold makers, resolving plastic part details, tooling feedback and sample revisions. The agreed handover can include drawings, specifications, bills of materials and quality requirements. Manufacturers retain responsibility for their tooling and production processes.
Three main components, integrated functions and a simple customer connection reduce assembly effort while supporting everyday use, repair and material separation.
At Smart Design in New York, Ti redesigned kitchen tools for OXO with a brief to optimise production processes and support the brand’s design strategy. Comfort and control remain central to the product story.
Tooling and sample review
Getting started
A clear brief. A shared scope.
Work directly with Ti el Attar and the Hong Kong studio, with meetings in Tin Hau by appointment. We support startups and established brands, connecting design decisions with manufacturing partners in the Pearl River Delta. The scope can be a focused research or design phase, or development from the initial brief through production support.
Tell us who the product is for, the problem it needs to solve and where you are in development. Existing sketches, prototypes or specifications help us understand the starting point. Share the target market, manufacturing constraints and any known budget or launch requirements.
We define the next phase together: what we will deliver, what your team will provide and which specialist partners are needed. Research and testing can continue throughout development; reviews keep design decisions connected to user needs, technical realities and the business behind the product.
