Everyone has heard the term “product branding.” These words are often used by marketing companies, advertising firms, industrial design firms and the media. But what does product branding really mean and how is it affected by product design? Product branding refers to the instantaneous association you make between a product and its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Corporations have discovered how effective product branding is as part of their marketing strategy, and utilize it as an extremely important marketing tool. Product branding plays such an important part of sales and marketing that companies invest hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars
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Archives for Rotational Molding
Top Six Capabilities Designers Want in Custom Rotational Molders
Over the years, I’ve designed many rotational molded parts and projects. And I’ve worked with dozens of molders throughout the country. Although the process is called rotational molding, each molder is actually unique. Their work is based on a plan layout, staff, equipment, business model, preference of resins and capabilities. The United States claims to have more than 400 rotational molders, but only a small percentage of this list are willing or capable of molding complex custom molded plastic parts. Many custom molders, for example, require high production minimum orders before quoting a potential project. Some molders limit part size,
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Starting Gate: How to Successfully Begin Product Design
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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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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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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How to Optimize Design Collaboration for Success
Design is an activity unique to the human species. It’s a creative process requiring a combination of skills exclusive to the domain of humans. These skills are based on our ability to react to our environment with the creation of a tool, device or mechanism. And that enables us to change our lives and environment to better suit our needs. Historically, individuals have developed significant inventions and designs. Today, however, most products are comprised of complex subsystems requiring specialized skills that can only be fulfilled by specialists. Consequently, successful products represent well-managed product design collaboration. These are individuals who cooperatively
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