Design That Works: How Industrial Design Powers Product Success at Goddard

A conversation with Omar Bermudez on usability, real-world impact, and the value of design-led development.

Engineering is one of the pillars of product development, but new and innovative products also require a keen visual eye. Enter industrial design. Goddard’s industrial design team, led by Omar Bermudez, ensures that not only does the product work as it’s supposed to, but that it is user-friendly, stands out in its chosen market, and functions efficiently. We sat down with Omar, who has been with Goddard Technologies for nearly a decade, to learn more.

“I help create solutions that are both intuitive and production-ready, balancing innovation with real-world constraints,” explained Omar. He began his career in industrial design, focusing on consumer products and ensuring they were not only functional and aesthetically refined, but also competitive in the marketplace. His role soon expanded from traditional industrial design into the intersection of usability and engineering. “This evolution led me to collaborate more closely with human factors specialists and engineering teams, applying design methodologies to enhance ergonomics, safety, and overall user experience in complex systems,” he elaborated. (Learn more about Design for Manufacturing here.)

After nine years at Goddard, Omar has seen projects of all shapes and sizes—and faced every type of challenge. One he frequently encounters is justifying the value of industrial design. “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was working with a client who saw design as an expense rather than an investment,” he explained. “They thought of design as ‘nice to have,’ like fancy throw pillows. I shifted their mindset by showing how good design drives real returns—from improved usability that reduces support costs to better ergonomics that boost customer satisfaction.”

With Omar’s guidance, Goddard introduced early prototyping and user testing, catching critical issues before launch. The result? Overwhelmingly positive customer feedback—and a client who became what Omar calls “true design believers.”

As a bicoastal product development consultancy, Goddard offers a range of product development services—from fully bespoke engagements to Goddard ACE (Advanced Collaborative Engineering), which embeds our multidisciplinary teams directly into client projects. In his time at Goddard, Omar has embedded on over 50 projects of varying sizes, and brings a unique perspective on ACE’s value.

“We provide a fresh perspective; we help to refine products and systems for better usability, ergonomics, and efficiency. By integrating seamlessly with existing teams, we enhance the design and development process without the need for long-term staffing commitments, allowing projects to move forward with high-quality, user-centered solutions,” he said.

Learn more about how Omar and the industrial design team can support your product development needs here, and Go Goddard today.