Clearly, the most critical phase of any design project is the first step. At the starting gate is when you set the all-important criteria and some concepts for your product design. Accurately defining specifications is absolutely essential for launching any successful industrial design project. The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after because without knowing that, you’ll never get it. It’s surprising, but this step is either trivialized or omitted in the design process. I often work with companies developing a new product based on a sketchy description of what it is and how it should perform.
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The Importance of Designing With Impact!
Exactly WHY do some companies outsell their competitors by ten to one…and at premium prices? Usually, it’s because their products resonate with, and are highly desired by, their customers. Plus, these buyers are willing to pay the bigger price tag for a brand name product. These products have earned a branded reputation for a number of reasons, all of which can be summarized in one word: IMPACT. Products with strong brand-name recognition make an impact and connection with their target audience. Product branding describes the marketing strategy that establishes a strong preference and allegiance for a particular product versus the
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How Engineering, Product Design and Art Achieve Quality
Engineering, product design and art are distinctly different from one another. Yet they all share the same principles of quality…and lead to success. To illustrate, the engineering field is always associated with technology and the application of sciences to achieve a utilitarian objective. Design, on the other hand, embodies the disciplines of engineering with artistic values to achieve an aesthetically utilitarian objective. And art is frequently associated with nonfunctional mediums that express emotional, religious, social or political perspectives with symbolism. It’s interesting to note, however, that these three disciplines are all interrelated. They will often blur the boundaries between each
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Industrial Design Versus Engineering Design
It’s fairly universal: You think and therefore you can design. And, believe it or not, everyone has designed something in his or her life. Beginning at an early age…when you created your first crayon drawing or clay blob. But, designing products is far more complicated and challenging than creating clay blobs as a child. The millions of products on the market are the result of designers, who specialize in specific disciplines, effectively performing their jobs. The two major disciplines within the product design profession are industrial designers and design engineers. Each specialist makes an invaluable contribution to the successful design
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Characteristics of Product Design
Exactly what does product design or industrial design have to do with these human characteristics? My answer is EVERYTHING. The design process requires you to think, analyze, assess options and make decisions based on your values. It doesn’t matter if you are designing a logo, a chair, a building or a rotationally-molded tank, the final design solution will depend upon your character, integrity and morals. How are these human traits related to design? Here are my thoughts. Let’s start with honesty. I’m sure many of you have heard someone use the term “honest design.” But what is honest design? It’s
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Concept Refinement and the Road to Design Perfection
Previously, I’ve written about the importance of developing many concepts before settling on a final product design direction. Developing a concept is a critical step in product design that defines the premise for all subsequent decisions throughout the development process. Design concepts loosely define the project direction. The specificity of a concept may range from something as vague as a scribbled sketch or cardboard model to a photorealistic industrial design rendering. In any case, concepts always require further, detailed development. Concept refinement can take any number of paths depending on the project and the designer. Here are some design concept
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Is the Industrial Designer’s Job Ever Finished?
That’s a tough question…and it’s one that has troubled nearly everyone who has developed and manufactured a product. Just when does the industrial designer’s job end? For most of us, the answer isn’t a sharp line. It’s somewhere in a wide gray zone. It all depends on the individuals involved, the product, staff, resources, expectations, commitments, knowledge and skills. Large corporations with virtually endless resources of manpower, money and equipment can restrict specific responsibilities within very well defined boundaries. In some instances, industrial designers will be limited to overall styling, product branding, aesthetics, concept development and human factor design considerations.
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Answering Classic Design Challenges in the New Stand Up MRI Product
Medical products have always presented design challenges because of their complexity, functional specifications, cost constraints, aesthetic requirements and size. These issues forced designers to constantly search for cost-effective and commercially proven manufacturing methods and materials to transform their ideas into marketable products. A few years ago our design firm was awarded a project that represented a classic case study involving these challenges. Integrated Design Systems, Inc. was chosen by Fonar Corporation to develop a set of covers for their new Stand Up MRI system. This project was a unique and exciting opportunity for many reasons. First, we had an opportunity
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Essential Concept Development Elements in Product Development & Design
Welcome to the second in a continuing series of articles about successful product development & design for designers, inventors and plastics experts. The previous article focused on defining product specifications, the process to create a baseline and objectives defining the product. YOU CAN READ IT HERE Without a well-defined set of specifications, it is virtually impossible to design any product. And after the product has been accurately described, creative thinking must be harnessed to begin the design process with refined concept development. The transition from research, information gathering, analysis and organization to creative thinking is not easy. Some people are
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Define the Specifications: The Critical First Step in Any Product Design Project
Before anything else, every design project or product must comply with a set of functional requirements. It is a defined plan. Otherwise, it isn’t a product at all. Perhaps it’s simply a useless object or trash. Or maybe it is artwork. The first, and most critical step, in any product design project is to define the specifications in detail. This establishes the common foundation upon which all subsequent decisions will be made as the project evolves. A well-written set of product specifications not only outlines the definition of the product but also provide a framework for setting priorities and performance
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