Product Discovery
The most important step of the brainstorming process is defining the problem you are trying to solve. It is important to fall in love with the problem, not the solution. Too often inventors get so excited about their idea, they let this tunnel vision into the true brainstorming process. We want to be selective about the constraints we allow to guide the brainstorming process. The trick is to isolate which parts of the idea solve the problem and which parts are just added features.
Researching the competition and similar products is a big part of this. We need to see what we are competing with and what mechanical features we can resemble without infringing on existing intellectual property.
Even in this early stage, we should be considering the manufacturing process. While we don’t yet need a full understanding of how it will be manufactured; we don’t want to be designing features that can not affordably be made. Although the product will evolve through the prototyping phase, it is important to emerge from the brainstorming process with a solid potential concept of the final product.
Researching the competition and similar products is a big part of this. We need to see what we are competing with and what mechanical features we can resemble without infringing on existing intellectual property.
Even in this early stage, we should be considering the manufacturing process. While we don’t yet need a full understanding of how it will be manufactured; we don’t want to be designing features that can not affordably be made. Although the product will evolve through the prototyping phase, it is important to emerge from the brainstorming process with a solid potential concept of the final product.
Prototyping
We usually start this phase with 2D sketches that can be modified rapidly to quickly visualize different configurations. Once the basic idea is laid out, the 2D sketches are converted into a 3D design. The goal for the first few prototypes is to have a minimally viable version of the product good enough to test but made as cheaply and as quickly as possible. This often means we use methods of manufacturing that are different from mass manufacturing. We will utilize off-the-shelf parts, 3D printing, laser cutting, custom metalwork, handmade parts, etc. Sometimes we can even make a prototype by just modifying an existing product.
With each prototype, we try to get as much testing data as possible. We will set up parameters to scientifically test specific variables as well as field testing to see how users react to the product. The lessons learned in this testing process are used to inform design changes for additional iterations of prototypes. When possible, we like to design modular prototypes so that parts can be swapped out for quicker more throughout testing. It is through this product evolution that we come up with final features and attributes for a successful final product.
With each prototype, we try to get as much testing data as possible. We will set up parameters to scientifically test specific variables as well as field testing to see how users react to the product. The lessons learned in this testing process are used to inform design changes for additional iterations of prototypes. When possible, we like to design modular prototypes so that parts can be swapped out for quicker more throughout testing. It is through this product evolution that we come up with final features and attributes for a successful final product.
Design for Manufacturing
Once we have an understanding of the best version of the product, we focus on designing for manufacturing. We work closely with talented industrial designers to get the desired aesthetics and ergonomics. We usually intentionally hold off on focusing too much on aesthetics until this stage to avoid specific design concepts from having too much of an influence on function and features.
We then send the design to factories and suppliers to get quotes. Sometimes we will send multiple versions to get the lowest cost possible. At the end of this stage, we develop one final prototype as close to the final product as possible with the same materials if possible. This version is used for additional testing as well as marketing materials.
We then send the design to factories and suppliers to get quotes. Sometimes we will send multiple versions to get the lowest cost possible. At the end of this stage, we develop one final prototype as close to the final product as possible with the same materials if possible. This version is used for additional testing as well as marketing materials.
Crowdfunding
For some products, we run a crowdfunding campaign before going to manufacturing. Crowdfunding is a way of pre-selling the product to test the market before investing in manufacturing. The most important step of this process is to build a pre-launch audience. We want to send your campaign to hundreds, if not thousands, of customers who already said they want to order your product on day one. This explosion of interest and orders early on makes the crowdfunding platform take you seriously, creates a compelling story for the press, and provides social proof for customers through the campaign. If you are looking for customers after your campaign has launched, it is already too late.
It is important to note that while crowdfunding is often seen as a source of capital, we view it more as a go-to-market strategy.
It is important to note that while crowdfunding is often seen as a source of capital, we view it more as a go-to-market strategy.
Manufacturing!
Now that we have an aesthetically pleasing manufacturable design we jump into the manufacturing process! This typically has a few rounds of back and forth as we fine-tune the design and the machines to manufacture. Once you get the first article off the assembly line, additional testing and modifications can be done before the final assembly run.
Retail
We will support you with online e-commerce and getting your invention on store shelves!