Industrial Designer — Sydney, nsw, australia
I see a glass half empty, so I can fill it up with more solutions
Half empty
I’m Derbhaile, an Industrial Designer working across furniture, devices and everyday products. My practice sits between careful research and hands‑on making - sketch, foam, CAD, prototype - until the object feels inevitable.
Selected Work
2021 — 2026 · five projects
01
WEARABLE · 2023
A waterproof wearable earpiece designed to enhance open-water swimming safety. Monitoring core body temperature and heart rate, it alerts swimmers to potential risks and uses integrated GPS technology to notify nearby lifeguards in an emergency.
Polycarbonate · Thermoplastic Polyurethane · Hydrophobic coating
02
Furniture · 2026
Designed to complement the Horizon basin, this vanity unit offers practical storage and contemporary aesthetics at an accessible price point.
Moisture resistant MDF · Powder‑coated steel
03
EVERDAY PRODUCT · 2025
Tailored to individual spaces and requirements, the design balances precision engineering (10mm tolerance), premium materials and contemporary detailing to create a seamless bathroom experience.
Toughened 10mm Glass · Anodised aluminium · Stainless Steel
04
SPORT EQUIPMENT · 2026
Redefining the traditional Pilates reformer through a balance of aesthetics, functionality and thoughtful design, creating a seamless user experience without compromising on luxury.
Anodised Aluminium · Solid Walnut · High-density Foam
05
VENTURA DESIGNS · 2021
Product Design Intern
Bouclé · Walnut · High-Density Foam
What I bring
Five things I do on every product, from first sketch to factory floor.
Industrial design is only part of the job. These are the threads that run through every project on this page, and the ones I’m happiest to be asked about.
01
Industrial design
Sketching, form development and ergonomics. I start on paper, move quickly into foam and card, and keep refining until the object feels right in the hand and honest on the shelf.
Sketching · Form language · Ergonomics · Mock-ups
02
Engineering
Parametric CAD, part breakdowns and exploded views. I design for assembly and tolerance, and for the realities of injection moulding, sheet metal and CNC.
CAD · Design for manufacture · Exploded views · Tolerance stacks
03
Manufacturing
Factory visits in China, prototype reviews and finish approvals. I’ve walked production lines, signed off colour, material and finish samples, and worked through tooling issues with suppliers face to face.
Factory visits · CMF approval · Prototype review · Tooling
04
Commercial awareness
Cost targets, material choices and where the market is going. Every decision is weighed against what it costs to make, what it’s worth to the customer and what the category will look like in three years.
Cost modelling · Material selection · Trend research · Positioning
05
Communication
Visualisations, renders and clear decision records. I make the reasoning behind a design visible so that teams, clients and suppliers can move faster with fewer surprises.
Rendering · Storytelling · Decision records · Presentations
About
Good products are quiet. They should solve the problem so cleanly that the design itself goes unnoticed — until you pick one up and realise how much thought it took.
I trained in Product Design in Maynooth and have since worked with great innovators and manufacturers on packaging, furniture and consumer goods. I care about honest materials, repairability and the small ergonomic decisions that make an object feel considered. Most days you’ll find me between the workshop and a CAD file. My dedication to design was recognised in October 2026 when I was named one of Bathroom Association’s 30 Under 30, reflecting my creativity, hard work and commitment to the industry.
How I work
Research
Interviews, context and constraints
Sketching
Fast, loose, lots of them
CAD & CMF
SolidWorks, 3d Max, KeyShot
Prototyping
Foam, 3D print, workshop
Manufacture
DFM and supplier liaison
Sketchbook
Exploration & Visualisations
A collection of personal sketches, concepts and renders offering a glimpse into my creative process. Inspired by emerging trends, everyday challenges, these explorations reflect how I approach design from different perspectives.
KBB STAND · 2026
Exhibition Stand
Designed 5 iterations of stands so we could share a teaser for clients of what the exhibition stand would look like.
IDEATION · 2023
Soleir
Drone window cleaner for skyscrapers
RENDER · 2026
Boho Vanity
Researching trends and materials to come up with renders of what could be next.
TREND · 2026
Wall Mounted Tap
Bringing mixed material yet minimal design to life for a tap idea.
Sketch · 2024
Coffee Machine
Brief was to create a unique shaped coffee machine to stand out from competitors
RENDER· 2026
Hands-free Fan
A heat wave hit the exhibition last year, so the idea was to bring a shower head inspired fan to the next exhibit for customers.