Partners of GBO Innovation makers: Erwin Boes, Rob Crins, Jeroen op ten Berg, and Jacques Gramser.
Samen vieren we de IF Gold Design Award van Twickto
From toys to rain barrels and from birdhouses to water softeners: GBO Innovation makers develops it all. The full-service design agency helps clients from the idea stage all the way through to the production and delivery of their product. In almost 30 years, they have carried out numerous projects for and with Jarola Group.
Jacques Gramser, one of the three founders of GBO, says: "The letters GBO stand for Gramser, Boes, and Op ten Berg. The last names of my partners and me. At the end of our student days, we founded our own design agency. Later, Rob Crins joined as a partner. Today, we work with more than thirty innovation makers spread across three studios. Jarola Group has been one of our regular clients since the early years."
The team is celebrating the IF Gold Design Award for Twickto.
The collaboration between GBO and Jarola Group began in the mid-1990s when Gert-Jan de Wilde was looking for construction toys for his children. Unable to find what he was looking for, he sat down at the drawing board himself. His work remained just sketches that eventually ended up in the safe. Over 20 years later, it is his son Robin who has built a real brand from his father's sketches. Within a year, Twickto was available in more than 550 toy stores in the Netherlands.
Jacques: "Our challenge was to develop a new type of toy, ready for production and of such quality that the start-up could challenge existing market leaders. Twickto it's our first and only product with which we have won a IF Gold Design Award . We are still very proud of this, as it is the highest achievable award in the design world.
The design and production of the latest generation of birdhouses was a significant moment for GBO. Jacques: ‘At first, production didn’t run very smoothly. We were working with four parties: the mold maker, the manufacturing party, the client (Jarola Group), and us. All four of us were looking at each other, waiting for the next move. This project prompted us to start producing our own designs as well. That way, we ensure that we remain on the client's side.
This project also intertwined a piece of history. Jan de Wilde made the first generation of birdhouses using a custom-built device.
Jacques: "I still find this so impressive. He was actually a businessman, but he also had mechanical understanding and developed his products himself, which he then sold in large quantities. This combination is very rare: creatively commercial and constructive. This is very close to our profession," Jacques enthusiastically shares.
The Wilnest 1 birdhouse was a milestone for GBO Innovation makers.
Over the years, GBO and Jarola Group have developed many products together. "In my opinion, Jarola Group has always been at the forefront of development. Just look at the impressive distribution center in Coevorden and all the new products and brands that have been established. Gert-Jan understands well that innovation can lead to significant progress. We have completed many projects together, and several patents have now been established by Jarola Group. I am also secretly convinced that we have set a new standard with the Rocko water tank. Initially, this product was not approved. But we persevered, and ultimately, after convincing and with a new standard, this product successfully entered the market," Jacques shares.
Jacques: "Gert-Jan and I are not only sparring partners during projects but also outside of them. This way, we overlap our networks and look for points of connection. Even the very first idea, Gert-Jan shared with me. He is incredibly creative and full of various ideas, so this happens regularly. For me, the art is to temper Gert-Jan, enthusiastic as he is, without him feeling like he’s being held back. He always has new ideas, which are great, but we also need to determine a direction. Together, we want to bring the most beautiful innovative creations to life."
We are known for our distinctive designs, with which we have already won many prestigious design awards. We develop products with the right choices of materials and constructions, using knowledge of the latest technology and always with attention to people and the environment.
