A human-centered global design firm and innovation consultancy.

We apply our unique capabilities and process to research, branding design, product design, industrial design, product development, engineering, and innovation.

About Page Panoramic View of the Studio
About Page Panoramic View of the Studio
A human-centered and award-winning top product design firm, industrial design company, product development firm, and innovation consultancy.
We apply our unique capabilities and process to research, branding design, product design, industrial design, product development, engineering, and innovation.

About us

RKS Design is a global design and innovation firm that creates solutions for clients that are relevant to the market, build the brand, and create emotional connection.

We service the full range of companies, from funded startups to multinational corporations.

Founder Ravi K. Sawhney cultivated a people-centric approach modeled from his work at Xerox PARC in the 1970’s, where innovative methods using psychology as an essential factor in design resulted in the first-generation touch screen graphic interface as well as many other breakthroughs. RKS came to national attention shortly after its founding by developing the production design of the animated Teddy Ruxpin, one of the greatest disruptive success stories in the history of the toy industry. 

Success followed success, with RKS being in on the ground floor of tablets with Alan Kay, Pocket Arcades with Sega and the game-changing dental whitening system for Discus Dental. Another milestone was the turnaround of MiniMed, developing a discreet personal insulin pump that allowed millions of diabetics to shed the stigma of being seen as “sick.” This inspired design took MiniMed from a declining $40M in revenue to $270M in three years, leading to its acquisition by Medtronic for $3.6B.

The 1990’s brought a confluence of deep introspection and humanity, along with insights into how the work of Joseph Campbell and Abraham Maslow could inform design. This direction led to RKS Design’s highly acclaimed Psycho-Aesthetics methodology.

About Page Work Space Panoramic

About us

RKS is a design and innovation firm that creates solutions for clients that are relevant to the market, build the brand and create emotional connection.

RKS services the full range of companies from funded startups to multinational corporations. Founder Ravi K. Sawhney cultivated a people-centric approach modeled from his work at Xerox PARC in the 1970’s, where innovative methods using psychology as an essential factor in design resulted in the first-generation touch screen graphic interface as well as many other breakthroughs.
RKS came to national attention shortly after its founding by developing the production design of the animated Teddy Ruxpin, one of the greatest disruptive success stories in the history of the toy industry. Success followed success, with RKS being in on the ground floor of tablets with Alan Kay, Pocket Arcades with Sega and the game-changing dental whitening system for Discus Dental. Another milestone was the turnaround of MiniMed, developing a discreet personal insulin pump that allowed millions of diabetics to shed the stigma of being seen as “sick.” This inspired design took MiniMed from a declining $40M in revenue to $270M in three years, leading to its acquisition by Medtronic for $3.6B.

The 1990’s brought a confluence of deep introspection and humanity, along with insights into how the work of Joseph Campbell and Abraham Maslow could inform design. This direction led to RKS Design’s highly acclaimed Psycho-Aesthetics methodology.

Our work elevates the human experience. ​

Our Impact

around the world

Dozens

of countries

Hundreds

of expeditions

Thousands

of interviews

Design approach of RKS Design consultancy in Los Angeles smaller image

Psycho-Aesthetics™ (P/A)

Our Advanced Human-Centered Design & Development Methodology

Top design is no longer just about winning awards and creating great portfolios—it’s much more. The best products create lasting emotional connections between the product, brand, and service, and the user. The basis of this connection is a foundational understanding and user’s needs and wants. Crafted over forty years, our advanced design thinking approach, Psycho- Aesthetics (P/A), allows us to understand and quantify these emotional connections. Unique among product design companies, this human-centered methodology is deep the bones of our firm. Our product design agency uses it to conceive and bring to life new innovative technologies, new products, and services, new brands, new digital experiences, new environments, even whole new companies. Our best work is done when we create solutions that remain fresh, inspired, relevant, and human. Using this approach, we work with our clients to create lasting, impactful projects that grow their businesses to new heights. United by Psycho-Aesthetics, our design firm creates a common languages with our clients that can be used over the life of the relationship.

Our work elevates the human experience. ​

Our Impact
around the world
Design approach of RKS Design consultancy in Los Angeles smaller image

Dozens

of countries

Hundreds

of expeditions

Thousands

of interviews

Psycho-Aesthetics™

Our Advanced Human-Centered Design & Development Methodology

Human Centered Product Design Firm View of RKS Psycho Aesthetics Hero's Journey Graphic Portraying how a user interacts with a product
Top design is no longer just about winning awards and creating great portfolios—it’s much more. The best products create lasting emotional connections between the product, brand, and service, and the user. The basis of this connection is a foundational understanding and user’s needs and wants. Crafted over forty years, our advanced design thinking approach, Psycho- Aesthetics (P/A), allows us to understand and quantify these emotional connections. Unique among product design companies, this human-centered methodology is deep the bones of our firm. Our product design agency uses it to conceive and bring to life new innovative technologies, new products, and services, new brands, new digital experiences, new environments, even whole new companies. Our best work is done when we create solutions that remain fresh, inspired, relevant, and human. Using this approach, we work with our clients to create lasting, impactful projects that grow their businesses to new heights. United by Psycho-Aesthetics, our design firm creates a common languages with our clients that can be used over the life of the relationship.

We Create Solutions For Our Clients That...

Elevate the
Brand
Are relevant to the
Market
Create Emotional
Connection

Our legacy

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Our impact over the years

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Clients that have moved with us

Meet our awesome leadership

Play Video about Lance Hussey Explains Product Design
Clients that have moved with us
Meet our awesome leadership
Play Video about Lance Hussey Explains Product Design
Ravi Sawhney acting silly profile photo
Founder, CEO
Ben Azzam Executive Vice President at RKS design consultancy smiling
Executive Vice President

Lance Hussey creative director at RKS Design consultancy smiling
Creative Director
Cary Chow smiling at RKS design consultancy
Exec VP Program Management

John Vernon design engineer at RKS design consultancy
Director of Product Development
VP Partnerships

Armando Pena Profile Image
Head of Software Development

Alex Levine Senior Design RKS Design
Chief of Staff

Explore some of our work

Meritech

Automated handwashing made smart to eliminate pathogens and ensure hygiene and wellness delivering consistent and effective results.

Singular Genomics G4

An innovative benchtop sequencing platform with novel, high-performance chemistry, and advanced engineering optimized to deliver unmatched power, speed, and versatility.

Miravel

The miravel wall garden is a wall mounted hydroponic pond that uses the elegance of AI to grow any small plant in the comfort of your own home.

Interested in more?

Explore some of our work​
Meritech
Automated handwashing made smart to eliminate pathogens and ensure hygiene and wellness delivering consistent and effective results.
Singular Genomics G4
An innovative benchtop sequencing platform with novel, high-performance chemistry, and advanced engineering optimized to deliver unmatched power, speed, and versatility.
Miravel
The Miravel wall garden is a wall mounted hydroponic pond that uses the elegance of AI to grow any small plant in the comfort of your own home.

Interested in more?​

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