From screws to auto parts to electronics, good product design is essential. An important part of designing products is understanding and choosing the right materials and components needed in the manufacturing process. One needs to determine if the products are designed for small-scale or mass production. Product designers need to possess in-depth knowledge on the product’s physical attributes (e.g., size, volume, weight, and color) and its intended function to achieve practicality. Are you new to product design? Here’s a beginner’s guide to product design fundamentals.
A Lot of Work Goes into Product Design
Designing a new product is no easy feat as there are several steps to take in order to create and iterate successful products. Product designers need to consider how end users interact with these products in any given environment. This is the most fundamental step in designing and creating products.
Product designers frequently collaborate with other professionals, such as marketers and engineers. In addition to product usability, individuals need to factor in manufacturing processes, costs, product applications, and regulations that certain products must pass before they are sold.
There is a wide range of fields that require sound product design, including jewelry, furniture, apparel, sports, tableware, cooking utensils, electronics, mechatronics, and medical devices. Everything we use on a daily basis started off as an idea and has undergone various iterations during the product design cycle.
Typical Product Design Phases
The product design process can be split into multiple stages, including idea generation, solution brainstorming, sketching and CAD, prototyping, and life testing. The goal is to establish a link between the end user and the product application, and the ability to solve real-word problems.
Product designers typically actualize their ideas via sketching digitally or on paper. While these practices still exist, product designers are increasingly incorporating computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3D modeling into their work. Product designers also test the feasibility of their ideas by creating working prototypes. This is a key part of product design as it helps individuals visualize the impact of their designs.
Product Design Examples
Today’s iconic product designs include Vespa, iPod, Coca-Cola bottles, and so much more. Be it the chair you are sitting on or the smartphone you are using to read the latest news, these products were successfully designed to meet your needs. Each and every one of them went through a rigorous product design process and a multitude of tests in order to be used by you.
Design Your Products with Kemperle Industries
Consult Kemperle Industries if you need help developing a product design from scratch. We specialize in Reverse Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Molding, and Manufacturing. Schedule an appointment with us today and our friendly customer representatives will get back to you soon.
