1960_

Polivka_Logan was founded in 1960 as Polivka-Sharfenburg. Back then, the Cold War was in full swing, Elvis was in the army, John F. Kennedy was elected president, and industrial design was just becoming the hot new marketing tool.

One of the first industrial and architectural design firms in the Midwest, Polivka-Sharfenburg began racking up a list of diverse portfolio of achievements, ranging from the Minnesota welcome center at the Wisconsin border to a variety of household products for General Mills that capitalized on the streamlined trend of the day. Logan Johnson joined the company at the end of the decade.

1970_

With a new name and a new attitude, Polivka Logan Designers (PLD) focused all of its energies on industrial design. During the 1970s, PLD became one of the preeminent industrial design firms in the Midwest, shaping the brand identity of major computer-based companies like Sperry, Univac, Control Data, NCR Compten, Zycad and Cray Research.

1980_

In 1984 the company was sold to Gene Reshanov, who expanded the industrial design offering to include a more structured approach to ergonomics and usability. Soon PLD was changing the way old styling clients saw their products.

Two years later, Danny Cunagin came onboard, bringing with him a world of expertise in mechanical engineering. The company that had built a reputation for transforming its clients’ products began transforming itself, by integrating the disciplines of industrial design and mechanical engineering.

1990_

During the 1990s, Polivka_Logan Design began developing a specialty in the design and mechanical packaging of small electronic and medical devices. This led to a further expansion into electrical and software engineering when, in 1998, Polivka_Logan launched Logic Product Development.

2000_

Logic quickly earned a reputation for best-in-class technology, and along with it, a national customer base that included Motorola and Intel. In 2001 Danny Cunagin assumed the role of President/CEO, and in 2003 he recruited Brad Lohrding to lead Polivka_Logan.

Today_

Working in partnership with Logic Product Development, Polivka_Logan is uniquely positioned to offer clients award-winning product design, along with leading edge capabilities in user research, engineering, manufacturing and distribution.

Brad Lohrding’s vision for the company is as simple as it is far-reaching. “We are designers because we want to make a difference. We want to create innovations that can live outside of the design studio greenhouse without the constant care of a gardener. Innovations that take root and spread throughout society and business.”