The best product designs often represent the outpouring of ideas from many individual contributors with different perspectives and objectives. A great analogy to describe this process is to compare it to eight people standing around a statue and describing what they see from their perspective. Each person will view the same object from a different position and thus describe it from their point of view. The culmination of all these interpretations will provide a much truer description of the statue, versus a single viewer’s point of view. This process of collaboration is often referred to as brainstorming. Effectively managing a
Read More
Archives for Ergonomics
Design Analysis: A Critical Part of the Design Process
Industrial design and product design are often thought of as creative professions that are exclusively motivated by a free and open spirit, focused on developing a revolutionary new product. Although there is some truth in this ideal, there is another essential aspect to design that is often ignored: design analysis. The reason design analysis is ignored is because it isn’t exciting or emotionally charged. Really good design analysis requires patience, logic, objectivity, extensive technical knowledge, keen observational skills, and methodical procedures. Great designs are never developed from start to finish without numerous revisions and checkpoints throughout the process. The need
Read More
The Top Five Essentials for a Successful Product
What are the five topmost important considerations for a successful product? This brief editorial will answer this question with the list of equally-weighted factors provided below: Number 1 – Satisfying Market Needs with Product Solutions All products fulfill market needs at some level of importance. A highly successful product provides potential customers with major benefits that increase their value and demand. The challenge for entrepreneurs as well as established companies is identifying market opportunities. Once those opportunities have been defined, designers and engineers are called upon to develop a product that will satisfy the needs of the market. Product success
Read More
Invest in Product Design for Greater Cost Reduction
Investment in product design for greater cost reduction applies to many production industries. But, one of the great ironies of rotational molding—a good illustration—is that the primary benefit of low-cost molds is also the reason most investors are not willing to invest in good design. Perhaps this mindset originates from the simple fact that mold is tangible. After investing money in a mold, the result is a physical thing that can yield production parts. If the mold can be created with minimal design at the lowest possible investment, why should there be an additional investment in product design? Mold is
Read More
The Unrelenting Expectation of Excellence in Design
Not long ago, many of us experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Those times were tough for business, and a quick turnaround was nowhere on the horizon. So, what does a business do when the US economy is in a slump? Maybe you can stop working and live off the government, or you can seek new business opportunities through innovation. Innovation, hopefully, leads to new products, new markets and increased sales. What’s more, innovation can fuel positive change in the best of times. Innovation starts with an idea that is developed into a successful
Read More
How Industrial Design Improves Your Product in the Marketplace
Industrial designers provide a unique perspective to a product’s embodiment, bridging the gap between engineering and marketing. Although the industrial design profession has existed for more than 80 years, it remains largely unknown by many people. Worse, it is underutilized by industry. Industrial designers provide the conduit between marketing and engineering by interpreting concepts into visual embodiments of the new product. Unlike engineers who focus on function, performance, reliability and manufacturability, industrial designers focus their attention on the application and the user. All products are designed to serve a purpose ultimately benefiting mankind. They should, therefore, be designed with a
Read More
Good Design Makes All The Difference in the World
When I attended an international business and industry conference a while back, I was pleasantly surprised to see and hear a great deal of interest in excellence in product design. I spoke with many CEOs of major rotational molders in the US and around the globe who were either hiring designers directly or seeking qualified consultants. Many of the presentations, including the event’s keynote address, emphasized the importance of good design. It always plays an essential role in the development of the rotational molding industry. I have been writing about the importance of product design excellence for many years and
Read More
Transparency: The Critical View of Your Customer
Designing products is always challenging. Perhaps it’s industrial design, medical product design or other projects in the industry, a number of personalities and talents are required to create the next best wonder widget. Talented product designers must be empathetic, observant, open-minded, analytical and creative. Plus, they must be convincing, opinionated, stubborn and extremely creative. But, another trait that is often overlooked is being a great communicator. Yes, designers must be good communicators with project team members as well as with their customers. Effective communication requires insight into another person’s perceptions and thought processes. Therefore a designer must also be perceptive
Read More
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.
Read More
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
Read More