Here's an example of how a savvy, experienced industrial design consultancy can help established companies find success in new market segments. When Bernzomatic sought to expand from the construction sector into the consumer market, they tapped ID firm Thrive.EMPOWERING PROPANE EXPERTS TO MEET NEW CONSUMER MARKETSLeveraging Bernzomatic's professional-grade propane know-how in an untapped consumer market required the brand to rethink how it kindled new fans.We engineered the world's first no-assembly-required patio heating system. Bringing the Heat to Untapped MarketsBefore Thrive stepped in, Bernzomatic was known only for its propane expertise in the construction industry, having no share in the "outdoor living" consumer market. We changed this by creating a product that homeowners felt safe assembling on their own and were happy to use on chilly evenings.Designing from the Ground UpPropane cylinders were unfamiliar (and a little scary) to the home market. To solve this, we re-thought the entire category, working from the ground up to engineer new propane and gas flow regulators, a new propane nozzle, burner assembly and jets, and a unique heat distribution system. We then packed it all inside a never-before-seen "nested" design that made it easier to ship.Collapsible Heater Requires No Assembly Getting Technical While Addressing the EmotionalDespite the prevalence of gas-powered grills in backyards, our research revealed that the typical homeowner was pretty frightened of gas appliances and lacked confidence when it came to assembling them. So, we started from scratch here too, designing a sleek heater that required zero assembly. Buyers simply unboxed the unit, pulled up on the top, and then locked everything into place with a twistone step, no tools, no worries.Twist and extendGas rail & burner assemblyHeat deflector assembliesRaising the Bar for CompetitorsThough Bernzomatic was new to the consumer market, it entered with a serious spark thanks to our expertise in fluid dynamics, structural engineering, material science and manufacturing, as well as our emphasis on consumer-optimized safety, heat output and shipping costs. In short, by rethinking every aspect of what made an ideal patio heater, we made sure that our product stood out, and competitors could not rely on quick fixes to match it.You can see more of Thrive's work here.