4139Design is an industrial design and development consultancy focused on small to medium, consumer product brands. Everyday, I strive to enable my clients’ success by creating innovative, client-driven solutions to problems in all aspects of design, development and project management. I make your products more salable, so you have the freedom to concentrate on your strengths (sales, marketing, or whatever else is needed). Contact me to discuss your next project.

• Beautiful • Innovative • Functional • Sustainable • Intuitive • Enduring •

My goals are innovative solutions and to make all of my customers repeat clients, through results that match the client’s true needs.

4139Design

4139Design offers consulting services in consumer product, packaging and POP design, development, sourcing, production, IP navigation and marketing.
Projects

Rob Nathan

4139Design is me, Rob Nathan.
I am an award-winning, Art Center-trained, freelance industrial designer with a diverse education, wide skill set and varied experience. I have been in the design field since 1997. About Rob

My Clients

Most of my clients are small to medium, consumer product brands. They know where their strengths are, and they hire me to help in other areas, like design and development. Contact Me

About Rob Nathan

4139Design is me, Rob Nathan. I am an award-winning, freelance industrial designer with a diverse education (Art Center and Middlebury College), wide skill set and varied experience. I have been in the design field since 1997, including studying industrial design at Art Center, and have worked as an in-house and freelance designer and developer in the US and Canada. I have been instrumental in bringing numerous products from concept to retail, with projects ranging from footwear to high tech and trade show booths. Originally from the States, I settled in Vancouver, BC in 2003 and was the Product Director and head of industrial design at SOLE for nine years before launching 4139Design.

I decided to start a freelance design consultancy because I crave diversity and appreciate freedom, both in what I work on and with my time. Smaller businesses may not need a full-time designer, but may need help with technical and aesthetic design, development, finding vendors, navigating Intellectual Property laws, marketing their products, and deciding how to expand their product line. This type of diversity and opportunities to increase, and show, my competence and expertise are what drive me in industrial design. Working with different clients gives me more variety than I would get working as an in-house designer or manager with a particular brand.

When not working on a design project, you can find me spending time with my kids, skiing, reading, mtn. biking, hiking, surfing, traveling, or shooting landscape and wildlife photography.

Board of Directors of BC Industrial Design Association (BCID)
Board of Directors of Association of Canadian Industrial Designers (ACID), representative of BCID.
BSID from Art Center College of Design.
BA in English Literature from Middlebury College.
Past member of OIA Eco-Working Group.
SNEWS BOB Award 2010, Winter Outdoor Retailer Booth
Outside Magazine’s favorite footwear of the summer, 2010, SOLE Sport Flips
Best footwear award, first ever OTS Novel Innovations Awards, 2010, SOLE Sport Flips
“I.D.” Magazine 55th Annual Design Review 2009, Honorable Mention (Consumer Products) SOLE Sport Flips. “The best flip-flops ever.”
“I.D.” Magazine 48th Annual Design Review 2002, Bronze (Student Work) LAB/Assistant
“I.D.” Magazine 46th Annual Design Review 2000, Silver (Student Work) RC Ice Boat Frostbite
“Print” Magazine, 1999, Volume LII: IV, Burton Trade Shows
POPAI Outstanding Merchandising Achievement Award, 1998, Burton POP Display

Why 4139Design?

Industry Knowledge

Save time and money, and mitigate risk by making use of my knowledge, gleaned over years of working in the field.

Innovative Design

Get a competitive edge and differentiate your products.

Diverse Experience

Not just design & development, but also Intellectual Property navigation, sustainable material choices, vendor management, copy writing for marketing and technical material, etc.

Problem Solving

Develop innovative and cost-effective solutions, sometimes before the problem even arises.

Product Development

Improve ease of use and functionality.

3D CAD and Rapid Prototyping

Mitigate risks of product innovation and reduce manufacturing costs by making sure the final design is perfect for you and your target market.

No Overhead

The seasoned experience of a freelance industrial designer without the overhead of a full-time employee.

Product Conceptualization

Add to a product line to increase market share or penetrate a new market

Specialization

Add a designer’s skill set to what your employees already bring to the table.

Knowledge of Sustainable Materials

Competitive advantage for your products, combined with doing the right thing.

Production Aid

Produce on time and on budget, with vendors who work well with your company.

Flexibility

Able to meet your timelines and schedules.

Testimonials

I’ve enjoyed working with Rob both as a colleague and a consultant. He produces quality work in a reasonable amount of time. I’ve learned a lot working with him both as my senior and as a consultant for my company: he’s a good listener and teacher. Rob is a good mix of entertaining and professional and I’d highly recommend working with him.

Karen HenryCo-Founder of Kneed Footwear
Rob was an invaluable part of our team, bringing not only a great depth of experience but also critical insight into the industry. He was the ultimate professional: timely, creative, detail-oriented and responsive. Rob is an absolute pleasure to work with and we hope to be able to involve him in many more projects in the future.

Alice BrownFounder/CEO of GoodSteps
Rob worked closely with G3 and the results were very good. The renderings he worked on were particularly good and we continue to use him as a valued supplier.

Oliver SteffenCEO of Genuine Guide Gear (G3)
Rob brings a lot of experience and insight to my designs. He pays close attention to my project needs and executes with detail. His experience and broad knowledge is very helpful when approaching a new product category. I look forward to continuing to work with Rob on future projects.

Sharon BlumbergFounder of Chooze Shoes
Rob was briefed to create merchandising concepts that were scalable and applicable in a range of retail cultures; he exceeded our expectations and delivered on time and budget.

Greg FowerakerManaging Director of Innate
Rob has been great to work with. Quick at responding, clear about timelines, and the end result of our graphic renderings was just what we needed.

Jamie BondDoglotion Media Inc. for G3
I worked under Rob as an Industrial Designer at SOLE. He was a great team leader with excellent Project Management skills. He is a detail-oriented and thorough manager who excelled at keeping our design tasks on point, ensuring all projects were completed exceeding expectations. In my mind he was pivotal to the company as a key core employee, always ensuring the business was running as best as it could.

Joss WarburtonGlobal Director of Design Innovation for Sports and Nutrition at PepsiCo
Rob is an excellent product designer, who is great at juggling multiple projects. Exceptional attention to detail and expertise.

Matt LambertSenior Software Engineer at CA Technologies
After working with Rob for seven years, I can attest that he is capable of juggling multiple, complex projects without missing a detail! He is an exceptionally hard worker that doesn’t settle for anything less than his best.

Brandi WestonCommunications Consultant
Rob is an exceptional industrial designer who has significantly contributed to the development of our technology. He’s always delivered at a high caliber. He’s a great team player and someone I’ve always found it easy to work with.

Quin SandlerCEO of Plantiga