The Industrial Design Process
concept design | 3D CAD modelling | prototype | product design | product development |optimisation
Blending the best of technical and creative excellence starts with our transformation from concept to finished product. The creative journey begins at the point of initial contact. Assisting in every developmental phase, we create designs that level up your product’s performance, look, and usability. Our creative process is complete in five easy steps. Walking each client through every phase of the industrial design process ensures that your great idea is expressed through even better design.
1. Concept Design
From concept sketches to ergonomic models, this phase is contingent upon an outcome that meets the client’s ideas and end product results. Working closely together during the conceptual stage ensures that the market segment and audience are strongly considered in relation to current competitors and consumer needs. Our expertise provides new opportunities to generate your ideas into brilliant concepts for a product that innovates and enhances its functionality and usability while resolving any potential design problems early on.
2. Product Design and Development
Once the best possible solution is found, and the feature combinations are outlined for your product, we translate these variables into your new product design. From implementing aesthetics to appearance, colour, material options, interface, assembling, and more, the optimum product solution is created. The product design phase converts your ideas into a practical understanding of your product concept to the real world. We follow a systematic approach that ensures your idea is turned into a tangible product for the end-user. As a part of our product development, we match your product to the current market opportunity to ensure the end product sets you apart in today’s competitive environment.
3. 3D CAD Modelling
In this next phase, a high-quality 3D computer model is generated in CAD to provide an additional perspective of your product’s visual appearance and appeal. From materials, appearances, and lighting, the customer can identify subtle flaws in design and prevent potential issues by the time the product goes into production. We use some of the most popular 3D modelling practices to ensure a realistic shape and object are composed for evaluation. We can also if the customer wishes to offer rendered objects and provide various FEA simulations and interactions to test and evaluate future feasibility and performance. Our model and mapping tools will demonstrate the potentiality your idea has going forward.
4. Optimisation
Making small adjustments and tweaking the product’s shape, materials, and handling occurs before the end prototype is created. Various aspects are considered, ranging from safety, comfort, usability, and performance. This phase aims to generate the best results and maximise the performance of your product for real-world scenarios. During this time, we may typically focus on the functionality and manufacturability of the product, with an overall consideration given to the product’s lasting value and experience with its end users.
5. Prototyping
After the product design and product development are completed, we enter one of three different options for prototyping. Our client has the option to prototype for visual review or perform a functionality check to determine if their product is suitable for use and operates as intended. Lastly, you can perform a high-end functional prototype for both aesthetic and functional inspection. The best option for manufacturing a few parts in high quality is 3D printing, as we cover FDM, SLS, SLA, MJF for plastic prototypes and DMLS, SLM and EBM for metallic parts. The main purpose of that stage is to test the product from all aspects and if any design iterations need to be conducted.
We also offer vacuum casting and batch production up to 1,000 parts which can be ideal to get your parts manufactured to your product specifications. Through the prototype process, clients will formalise and evaluate the final result for end-users. In both 3D printing and vacuum casting, we offer a wide range of materials. With value and aesthetics in mind, the industrial design process is there to allow our team of engineers to use industry-grade tools and techniques to transform your idea into a viable solution and end-user product. This will significantly increase your market success rate and consumer acceptance. Through our collaborative team effort and expertise, we work closely with each customer through the industrial design process.
For more information about our industrial design process feel free to visit: https://3dtechnologies4u.com/product-design/ and talk to us about your project requirements.
From the initial concept to an entirely generated prototype, you will be assured that you will be receiving added value for your solutions.
For external reading please visit:
https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/01/comprehensive-guide-product-design/