Team CDG
Our team is small but agile and ready to roll out to your business and get stuck into your projects. We are a multidisciplinary design team with 60+ years combined experience, and with a 50/50 male/female split we are uniquely positioned to offer a wide range of skills and diverse point of view. This is why many female founders and clients feel comfortable and confident to work with us and trust us with their ideas and vision.
Click the links below to jump to a section, or scroll down and enjoy the journey!
Neil Davidson
Felicity Davidson
Sara Pontoppidan
Rohan McEvoy
Alex French
Isabel Thalacker
Angus Shaw
Glenn Pritchard
Amanda Wardle
Francesca Symmons
Angelina Ross
Oliver Plumb
Neil Davidson
Founder | CEO - Design Innovation Director
Neil's journey in industrial design has been marked by significant accomplishments and contributions. Growing up on a cattle property on the Darling Downs, Neil developed a deep appreciation for design, which led them to pursue studies in Industrial Design at QUT in Brisbane.
In 2001, Neil graduated from QUT with a Graduate Diploma of Industrial Design, achieving the distinction of being the Valedictorian of the Bachelor of Built Environment School, a first for a designer (excluding engineers we believe).
Neil's career took off with an intern position at CMD Product Design and Innovation (CMD), a world-class consultancy in Brisbane. By 2003, Neil became a senior design consultant, demonstrating expertise and exceeding industry standards.
In 2005, Neil assumed the role of Design Manager at CMD, contributing to the company's success and expansion. Throughout this time, Neil also served as a sessional tutor and lecturer at QUT, maintaining a strong connection with his alma mater.
In 2012, Neil took on the role of Creative Director at CMD, now an internationally renowned Tier 1 consultancy, where Neil led a team that ranked among the three largest consultancies in Australia. During Neil's 14-year tenure at CMD, Neil was directly involved in delivering over 500 successful products and projects, partnering with clients ranging from then local startup success stories like Vaxxas, Tritium, and Groundprobe to established multinationals such as Bombardier, Virgin Australia, and Orica Mining.
In 2014, Neil ventured into freelance consulting, establishing Clandestine Design Group (CDG). The demand for his services grew rapidly, leading to the expansion of the team with talented graduates from AUXILIARY, a Design School Neil also confounded in 2015.
Clandestine Design Group is now a highly regarded consultancy of 10 employees, with esteemed and established corporations such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Villeroy & Boch, and Sunbeam constituting 50% of its client portfolio. This enables them to offer Queensland start-up companies subsidised fees for access to thier world-class design and innovation expertise. Audeara, Field Orthopaedics, RapidAIM, Ceres Tag, and MAXTRAX are some QLD startups and businesses that have benefited from CDG's business model, innovation, design, and manufacturing consulting.
Neil's expertise extends beyond client work. They actively contribute to the design industry as a Good Design Ambassador for Good Design Australia, promoting excellence in design and supporting the Australian Design Council's advancement of design practices.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Neil and the CDG team participated in the National Covid-19 Design Task Force and the QLD Health Rapid PPE Development response programs. Leveraging their design expertise, they played a crucial role in developing innovative solutions and contributing to public health initiatives.
In 2021, Neil and the CDG team received a special commission from the Good Design Awards Australia to design and manufacture the prestigious International GDA trophy, showcasing their talent and sustainable design principles.
Neil's dedication extends to mentoring and supporting the next generation of designers and entrepreneurs, actively engaging in industry advocacy and mentorship programs.
In summary, Neil's professional journey is characterised by academic excellence, successful consultancy roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. His contributions actively shaping the design industry and making significant impact on Queensland's business ecosystem. With a visionary mindset and unwavering commitment to excellence, Neil continues to inspire and empower others, solidifying his position as a leader in Industrial Design and of innovative Australian businesses in general.
Learn more about Neil on LinkedIn
“I worked long enough in the big, high profile consultancy model to know that Clandestine needed to be different. We are not here to revel in the limelight! We are about being collaborative, covert, quiet and quick in execution and delivery of both, world quality product innovations and real value to our clients.”
Felicity Davidson
Business Manager | PR Communications
Felicity has more than 15 years experience in marketing and corporate communications roles, providing coaching and guidance to more than seven CEO’s and executive teams. She worked in businesses with 15 000 – 65 000 employees - developing strategic plans, writing, coordinating and creating corporate communication channels; and contributing to major change and reform programs.
Outside of work Felicity loves binge-reading books and uses this passion, volunteering as a literacy coach for kids in foster care.
Learn more about Felicity on LinkedIn
Sara Pontoppidan
Design Director
My Scandinavian upbringing fostered my love for design. Everything in our environment ought to be functional, beautiful, and sustainable. For me good design is "omtenksom". The holistic big picture and small details have all been thoughtfully considered and addressed.
Drawing from a passion for future tech, sustainability, and emotional design I strive to balance user, market and business needs to turn ideas into purposeful products and experiences. For me, it’s just as important to create the right product, as it is to develop the product right.
I am excited about design’s potential for positive impact, and work to advance it wherever I can. Many of my projects have received accolades and I have participated in the judging panel for competitions like the Australian Good Design Awards. I have been a judge / TV presenter on "Australia By Design: Innovations" and mentor in the youth and design communities.
Learn more about Sara on LinkedIn
“I love using design to creatively solve high impact problems. The best projects are those where you have reign to really push the bounds of innovation.”
Rohan Mcevoy
Senior Designer
After working on construction sites and on tools for the better part of a decade, I wanted to have more say in the early design stages rather than blindly following blueprints. Since joining the Industrial Design industry, I've had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects ranging from medical devices to consumer electronics, furniture, home goods, and sporting/ recreational products. My passion is for simple, well-thought-out designs that have a positive impact on clients and their customers.
Learn more about Rohan on LinkedIn
“Having such a diverse client base means that my work is always interesting and engaging...there’s always something new and unique to delve into.”
Alexandra French
Senior Designer
As an industrial designer with a huge passion in good design, I strive to create products that not only function well but also elicit empathy and understanding from their users. I believe that successful design involves not only creating aesthetically pleasing products, but also understanding the needs and desires of those who use them.
I've had the opportunity to work on a variety of innovative projects throughout my career, including the Capricorn Tent and the MAXTRAX Recovery Rope System, the Tow Hitch, and, most recently, the Aerohart product portfolio.
My passion for adventure, sports, and the outdoors inspires me to design lightweight, durable, and portable products. I am devoted to developing products that cater to the specific needs and desires of their users. As an industrial design consultant, I am eager to pursue projects that emphasise sustainability, human-centered design, and cutting-edge technology. My ultimate goal is to improve people's lives and inspire others to do the same.
Learn more about Alex on LinkedIn
“ Design should be intuitive, empathetic, and joyful. I strive to create meaningful products that prioritise people’s needs, and collaborate to design a better, more sustainable world.”
Isabel Thalacker
Senior Designer
Growing up in Germany with half a family tree of engineers had a major influence on my upbringing, which inspired my career choice as an adult. My industrial design career has taken me to Australia where I was privileged to work across many industries including consumer electronics, sports equipment, and cutting edge solutions for the Australian Defence Force.
I am deeply passionate about solving complex problems and crafting user-centered, meaningful products. I am committed to bringing innovative solutions to life, driven by a genuine desire to equally consider sustainability, empathy, longevity and aesthetics.
Learn more about Isabel on LinkedIn
“Every design solution is an opportunity to innovate and enhance the user experience.”
Angus Shaw
Senior Designer
I've always enjoyed creating, experimenting with, and communicating ideas through visual and constructed outputs. For me, the practical progression for this process was Industrial Design. It is a vast and diverse discipline with numerous applications. I consider myself a well-balanced designer who strives to create with equal consideration for aesthetics, usability, and manufacturability. I am also an artist who enjoys blurring the lines between these two disciplines, allowing each to inform the other.
Learn more about Angus on LinkedIn
“ Working in a consultancy encourages a designer to explore the expression of purpose and the expression of art, as efficiently as possible.”
Glenn Pritchard
Industrial Designer
After studying engineering, I became interested in industrial design and was fascinated by its broad range of applications around the world, as well as the human-centered approach to problem solving. I enjoy the challenge of combining business strategy, engineering innovation, and artistic intent to create an amazing solution. I want to continue to keep working with great people on interesting projects at an industry-leading level. I believe that a collaborative process greatly improves design outcomes by bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences, which leads to creative and innovative ideas.
Learn more about Glenn on LinkedIn
“ As a designer I cherish the opportunity to have a real impact on something that will exist in the world, which brings a level of inherent responsibility and focus to every project I work on.”
Amanda Wardle
Junior Designer
I, like many others, had never heard of industrial design until I attended a university open day. At this point, I was convinced that I was destined for a career in architecture. Then I was shown what industrial design was all about and was completely blown away. Problem solving, empathy, creativity, and critical thinking skills are deeply ingrained in me, and they are foundational elements of industrial design. I remember thinking that this is exactly what I should be doing. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work in China, utilising my industrial design skills while also observing the design culture and manufacturing sector firsthand. I've also worked in plastic injection moulding, which has greatly influenced my understanding of design for manufacturing.
Learn more about Amanda on LinkedIn
“ To be is to make, and to make is to help.”
Frankie Symmons
Junior Designer
I was determined to major in interior design in school. However, I was fortunate to meet an industrial designer who challenged me on interior design. I adored the furniture, lighting, and flow of the interior spaces. "But, do you want to pick existing pieces or do you want to design the pieces people pick?" he inquired. Having never heard of industrial design before, I did a quick Google search and was sold.
I am inspired by the limitless possibilities for design innovation. Because no two minds think alike, your ability to come up with something novel excites me.
Apart from receiving first-class honours at university, I entered the industry as soon as I could and have worked for many brilliant designers and entrepreneurs as a result. These opportunities and learnings have been invaluable for someone who is just starting out in their career.
Learn more about Francesca on LinkedIn
“I love how in this profession you are introduced to people from all walks of life, who wholeheartedly believe in an idea or product solution they have discovered. Their passion and drive is contagious.”
Angelina Ross
Junior Designer
As a child I remember constructing a CD player out of cardboard boxes and disassembling broken tape recorders for fun so my interest in creating and tinkering was already in my blood. It wasn’t until I was studying something that I didn’t love and searched for other career options that I came across Industrial Design. Having also undergone the AUXILIARY X program, I have been fortunate enough to work with CDG early on with the Vostok Space Beer project. What really excites me about Industrial Design is being hands-on at every stage of the process. From sketching, to CAD, then prototypes to production, you have the ability to create, change and influence the product.
Learn more about Angelina on LinkedIn
“You can design, create and build the most wonderful things in the world. But it takes people to make the vision into reality. ”
Oliver Plumb
Junior Designer
For as long as I can remember I have been designing and making. It all started with backyard projects where I would always be making things for the fun of it. Many interests have come and gone but one thing that has never left is the excitement of creating something new. From intricate mechanisms to obscure automobiles, I love it all. After being introduced to the world of Industrial Design through QUT, start ups and manufacturing, I haven't looked back. I still cannot believe that my life's passion has been able to flow into my line of work.
Learn more about Ollie on LinkedIn
“The access to innovate and collaborate in so many areas of design is what really excites me about consultancy work.”
Welcome to the Team
You are the other part of the team. You and your resources are critical in any design programme. You provide, history, context, business acumen, and access to customers as well as your rich and valuable experience in the market.
Together we will combine your experience with our design led practices to gain new understanding of your customers to develop innovative, exciting, valuable and highly desirable products and services.
We will roll our sleeves up, get dirty and get into this problem. CDG are skilled at seamlessly engaging collaborative partners to continue to deliver programme milestones and meet your expectations.
Once you’re part of the team, you have access to our group.
Great things in business are never done by just one person…
Complex user experience and new product development programs often require more design specialists involved than just industrial designers. Advanced electronic products for example, may require design and engineering input from Electronic Hardware, Software and Graphic User Interface (GUI) developers.
When we are working on projects that focus on improving a businesses customer experience we often require digital and physical design and strategy expertise. These experts can be drawn from brand, communication, sales and spatial areas as well as the typical product design expertise associated with new touch point interactions.
By no means does working with Clandestine mean you have to work with our network partners referenced below...we are collaborators first and foremost and we cherish the chance to meet, engage and work with new people every day.
Having said that though it has been a great honour and pleasure for the Clandestine team members to have had the chance to work with these engaged, exciting, inspirational and professional design and engineering partners over the last decade or so...
Meet the Group
Our group covers:
- Quantitative Market Research
- Brand Strategy
- Graphic Design
- Digital Communications
- Architecture, Interior and Spatial Design
- Digital Communications
- Cloud, App & Web Software Development
- Intellectual Property Protection
- Advanced Mechanical Engineering
- Electronic Hardware Engineering
Become part of the Group - introduce yourself...
If you would like to be part of the Group, fill out the form below and one of our team members will get back to you. Alternatively, feel free to pick up the phone and give us a call...we are always happy to chat.
