Spotlights
Spotlight on Creativity
April 2008
April's spotlight on creativity is local entrepreneur, Peter Bressler. As founder and leader of Bresslergroup, a full service product development firm in Philadelphia, Peter is responsible for the firm's strategic direction, development of user-centered product design solutions and strategic product planning activities.
Peter has authored or co-authored over 60 design and utility patents and has received over 40 national design awards. He has been an active member in his professional society for over 30 years and a former President of the Industrial Designers Society of America.
In addition, he has served on the Industrial Design faculty at the Philadelphia College of Art and has lectured at the Rhode Island School of Design, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, University of the Arts, Lehigh University, and Drexel University.
Your name:
Peter Bressler
Firm Location:
Center City, Philadelphia
Firm/Company:
Bresslergroup
Occupation:
Founder
What are the assets of the product and merchandising design industry in Philadelphia?
One positive aspect of the Philadelphia Region is the accessibility to travel. This is one of few cities in which the center of town is so close to an airport. Because of the ability to travel, Bresslergroup can service a significant number of clients in the region and out of the country.
The Philadelphia Region also has a number of schools that graduate talented professionals. We must try to keep them in the Philadelphia Region.
How has the product and merchandising design industry grown over the past five years? Ten years?
From when I started in the business, over 30 years ago, until now [there has been] a phenomenal difference. When I started, there were only two other firms in the region. Now there are 25 or more, all different sizes. There has been improvement in the depths of talent and awareness of the industry.
What is your advice for young professionals working in/trying to break into the product and merchandising design industry?
Try to carefully analyze what company you want to work for the most. Do whatever you can to get your foot in the door, even if you have to work for nothing. This industry is very competitive. A person who can get in the door and demonstrate what he/she can do for minimum or little pay for a few months can then try to get hired.
What are the challenges of owning a business/working in your industry in the Philadelphia Region?
There has been a lack of awareness of how good the design firms are in the Philadelphia Region. But it is interesting to find that clients who went to larger companies [in cities other than Philadelphia] were dissatisfied with the work and then came to us.
Bresslergroup says that the process leading to innovation begins with strategic product planning. The company specializes in services such as research, product definition, product management, industrial design, engineering development, product implementation, manufacturing support and production follow-up.
Bresslergroup serves consumer, industrial, commercial and medical clients throughout the region and the world. Clients include Black and Decker, Sony, Scott Paper, Kodak and IBM, to name a few.
Over the years Bresslergroup has won more than 75 major design awards. Most recently in 2007 they were awarded an Appliance Design Award and ID Magazine Design Review for Infrascanner.
To learn more about Peter and his work in the region, visit: http://www.bresslergroup.com.