Project
Role
Thinking
Better idea.
Better function.
Better form.
Better unboxing experience.
Brett Shipley — it ships.
Industrial and packaging designer, Los Angeles. I work at the intersection of form, function, and production reality — home goods, beauty, and CPG, where getting the details right is what separates a product that moves from one that doesn't.
What makes the practice different is what happens after the file. I source manufacturers, vet suppliers, review samples, and manage timelines — so you don't have to piece together a team when things get complicated.
A love of materials, proportions, and the details people don't notice until they do.
Kickoff, competitive research, constraint mapping. I need to know what success looks like before anything gets designed — who buys it, where it lives, and what it costs to make.
Two to three directions, each solving the brief differently. Sketches, 3D, references. You pick a direction — or the best parts of each. Nothing gets refined until we agree on the path.
Detailed 3D modeling, material spec, engineering drawings a factory can read. Iteration until it's right — not just acceptable. I stay on it until the file is production-ready.
Vetting suppliers, reviewing samples, communicating design intent to manufacturers. The handoff is where things go wrong — I stay engaged so they don't.
Product launch, packaging refresh, or just a conversation about fit — all worth a message. I'll get back to you within 24 hours.