Last month FS Design, the product design and development company, where innovation, trust and passion comes as standard, were winners of The Echo Portfolio Award for Technology.

Proud directors Shaun MacIntosh and Clare Head established the business back in February 2002 to deliver outstanding product development solutions to their clients. They can now boast of a seven year relationship with Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK) which produced an opportunity to develop an integrated Apple iPod system. This was launched to coincide with the Micra’s 25 year anniversary.

Working closely with NMUK and their audio supplier to hit an extremely challenging deadline of just 16 weeks, the team delivered a full design, development, test and manufacture of the bespoke docking station with time to spare. Now it has been confirmed FS Design will control distribution of the iPods system direct to vehicle customers in 27 countries around the world.

FS Design is based at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland, employs seven staff and has a turnover of approximately £1.8 million. Clare Head said: "It was an honour to be recognised in the Portfolio Awards and we have already attracted new business from companies outside of the automotive industry interested in our skills and turnkey product development solutions.”