I'm not someone who likes acronyms. Most of the time they cause more confusion than clarity, and half the people using them couldn't tell you what they actually stand for. But there is one I'm happy to stand behind. At Sketch, our process comes down to three letters: GSD. We are a small team. That means we have to outperform and outpace our competition, including engineering teams with far greater headcount and resource. Working harder isn't the answer. Working smarter is.

The Model Is Becoming the Document There's a familiar kind of problem in engineering. The 3D model says one thing. The drawing says something slightly different. Someone has to decide which one to trust — and whatever they choose, someone else will question it later. Onshape's latest update introduces integrated Model Based Definition (MBD), and it's a direct response to that problem. What MBD Actually Means Since 3D CAD became standard, engineering teams have effectively bee

In our last blog, we shared a roundup of 2025 and reflected on how it became a defining year for Sketch Design Consultancy. It was a year where momentum built steadily — relationships deepened, the team grew, and the business found a clearer sense of who we are and how we work. If the end of 2025 was about building momentum, then the start of 2026 has felt like a horse breaking into a gallop. A Fast and Focused Start January began with an immediate priority: a working prototy

Some years announce themselves loudly. Others unfold more quietly, only revealing their importance once you pause and look back. For us at Sketch Design Consultancy, 2025 was very much the latter. It didn’t begin with big strategic shifts or bold declarations. It began steadily, almost unremarkably, and that turned out to be part of the lesson. A Familiar Starting Point As the year opened, we were doing what we knew well. We were working with our key clients, progressing proj

"Valley floors to open doors - it's two way ya know. " Collaboration is key. We have all heard it. But how many companies ACTUALLY DO IT. Let's go back a step, and set the scene before the new age of AI. I grew up in the South Wales Valleys, hilly, rugged and towards the end of the valley, a large amount of manufacturing still lingered. Old school machinists, fabricators and the forge masters site. Good, gritty engineering where the smell of oil and grease permeated the air.

"4 projects, 1 office move, 0 compromises on what matters" 4 projects running simultaneously across our team at Sketch Design Consultancy Ltd And in the middle of it all? We moved into our new office space. It would have been easy to let things slip. But our core values kept us grounded: Customer first - Every decision started with our clients’ deadlines and needs. Projects didn’t pause because we had boxes to pack. We maintained delivery schedules and kept communication tran

This month has been a whirlwind. We’ve taken on two new contracts — both with completely different requirements — hired a new mechanical engineer, bought new equipment, started looking into office space, and had a crash course in writing policies and getting systems in place for a bigger team. Exciting? Absolutely. Stressful? Without a doubt. Coffee consumption? Let’s just say the local shop might need to increase their stock levels. Running a small business is a constant bal

In the second post of our “Finding Our Why” series, co-founder Gregg Bennett reflects on how his early foundations in the family engineering business shaped his approach to design. He shares why reconnecting design with manufacturing — and building strong, collaborative relationships — is central to how Sketch works today.

In our first blog, one of our founders shares the journey from aerospace engineer to design consultant — and the "why" behind starting Sketch. It’s about staying hands-on, solving complex problems, and building something better for clients and engineers alike.