about apod
about us
Who are we and what do we do?
Ben Oakley Design (BOD) is a London and Kent based company. We are a creative team who are focused on delivering a great total customer experience with added value. We are passionate about design and friendships; we are decisive, swift and bold. We are experts at creating and developing new ideas as well as rejuvenating old ones.
Asthmapods is a trading style of Ben Oakley Design.
BOD’s team are actively developing a production line of innovative premium products. We have delivered successful commissions in furniture and lighting design, bespoke artworks, product design, graphics, and brand identity.
We believe that word–of–mouth-marketing is the centre of the marketing universe. People talk about ads they see, information they have read, and it is talk that persuades people to buy. We have successfully delivered commissions to the following clients: Unilever, Citroen UK, Renault UK, Firetrap, JVC, English Sports Council, HarperCollins Publishers, London Metropolitan University Schroder Salomon Smith Barney.
At BOD our top team always positions itself for value creation. We have a high level of confidence in ourselves as individuals and as a team. We enjoy and nurture relationships with our clients and are passionate about channelling our passion.
Our Team
Ben Oakley, Managing Director.
Ben Oakley is obviously the name behind Ben Oakley Design Limited.
Ben grew up in the graphics and photographic world of the 80's, before moving on to moving images where he worked in the glitzy world of film for 15 years supporting some of the world's most famous airheads!
Ben is in a continuous state of creativity, invention and reinvention. Outside of the business Ben enjoys showing off his latest works of art and realigning his vinyl collection in his man shed.
Paul Tebbutt, Marketing Director
Paul is a Londoner who is passionate about creating value and generating a buzz. A high energy individual who understands the roadmap to success and how to get there, he believes that we all can choose to be happy in our work and that everyone should have a happy development plan.
Marketing is just word of mouth if you have something interesting and of value to talk about, then talk, talk & talk.
Christine Hakewill, Operations Director
Know your people and your business; you have to be in touch with the day to day realities of your business down to the smallest detail or process. Christine is an expert in realism and doesn't mince her words. Implementation and follow through are her guiding principles.
Likes to have a laugh too, when she is not keeping us all on track!
Marcus Oakley, Creative Director
Marcus honed his creative design skills at London College of Printing, and has worked for a large number of blue chip companies producing cutting edge graphics and brand identities galore. His interests include music, sport and his beloved lambrettas.
The Apod story by Ben Oakley
The Apod was conceived on one of those evenings that we are all familiar with; a meeting of friends to celebrate my wife Helen's birthday. Just imagine, we are seated at a large circular table, and everybody is in rapport with the exception of one. Sitting next to me was Jane an incredibly organized and talented young lady, she had just put her mobile phone into her handbag and brought something else out concealed in the palm of her hand. Without trying to be too obvious I watched as she almost slid under the table turning her back and head away from everyone.
Within seconds Jane had put back, what I now know was her puffer. She turned around and said that "That horrible old thing, it's so embarrassing to look at"; This shocked me and I replied, "If I could replace your puffer with a new, funky looking design would it make things better?" Jane smiled and said "yes". The initial ideas and designs were conceived on paper serviettes that evening.
Isn't it strange I'd never thought of designing a cover for my own daughter when she was using her inhaler. However, after customising her blue inhaler we both came to the conclusion that the best type of asthma inhaler is the one that the individual feels comfortable with using anywhere.
I visualised the design in my mind; the next step was to produce some 3D Computer Aided Designs (CAD) Images from original drawings and take them to OMD offices in London, one of the top 5 media and communications agencies in the world. They conducted market research into the feasibility of the design.
The results were truly amazing especially the figure of 50% who thought the Apod would help reduce current stigmas / prejudice associated with inhalers / puffers. (click on Apod Survey for summary).
The 3D CAD images were produced at the Royal College of Art London together with the Prototype. After a few tweaks here and there the first physical Apod was created. The drawings on the serviette were now taking shape. I had a physical and visual product that I could now show to manufacturing experts
From the start we wanted to promote manufacturing in the UK. We chose Malton Plastics in York for the manufacturing and Mode 3 tooling in Hull to deliver the Moulds.
To enhance our authenticity as a company we are 100% committed to recycling and use recycled stock in our packaging. Our Pick Pack and deliveries are being channeled through B+K Ltd, an affiliate to Association of the Blind and the partially sighted.
Our first Apods rolled off the production line in April 07; we are selling them all over the world through our new funky website, making it easy for our customers to do business with us.
You may be wondering where the name Apod came from, well the 'A' stands for asthma and that's how it got its name, my son, aged 8 said "Daddy, you have an ipod so why don't you call this the Apod?"
Asthmapods will keep its web content up to date and relevant, we have identified to date two Universities, Imperial College London and Pittsburgh University USA, who are committed and have the research facilities to develop solutions for all asthma sufferers. We will be donating a percentage of our net profits to various Universities; details to be published in third quarter 2008.
how to use
To assemble place your 200 mdi inhaler into one half of the Apod then simply line up the clips together from the other half and push together. Place the plug into the mouth of the Apod and you are ready to go.
To open the Apod place your thumb on the linear indicators, located at the back, depress the right hand side and pull apart.
Always test your inhaler before inserting into the Apod.
contact
Asthmapods.com
St Julians
Sevenoaks
Kent TN15 ORX
Info: info@asthmapods.com
Trade Enquiries: trade@asthmapods.com
Managing Director: ben@asthmapods.com
Marketing Director: paul@asthmapods.com
Operations Director: christine@asthmapods.com