Here is your first glimpse at the product design process steps required to move a physical product from the idea stage to being a real item for sale.
The length of time it takes for you to run through this precess really depends on the amount of time you can devote to this project every week. Of course you are able to leverage virtual assistants and contract workers to complete many of the tasks, reducing the amount of direct work you have to put in. However, if you are acting as the project manager for getting your product developed, you will have to be sure you can devote some of your time to outlining tasks for your workers and to ensure that all of the processes are running smoothly.
Idea generation
This is of course the first steps towards having a product in the marketplace.
Since you are here on this website, you likely have an idea in your head already. Or if you are like me, you likely have 50 ideas, are unsure which one to persue, and are overwhealmed by the enormous number of things you could work on at any given time.
Even though I’m an engineer and love a geeked out list of technical features, the best products are those the provide an obvious benefit to the customer. There’s an often repeated saying that “Customers buy benefits, not features”.
Of the possible benefits, solving a problem or pain point for a customer gets you off to a great start for having a successful product. Things are looking even better for you if you are helping them to improve their health, fitness, or appearance.
The best possible product idea is one that either helps the prospective customer to make or save more money.
Initial design
Now that you have an idea, you have to get an initial design completed to help you to show this idea to prospective customers to help gage the market and start to create interest.
The typical first step is to scratch your ideas down on a napkin or envelop to capturing the most basic functions of the product.
At this point, you can either learn a 3D modeling and design program, or contract someone to crank out the initial design.
Once this is complete, you will have a 3D model to send for prototyping and some great rendering images for marketing or discussion purposes.
Prove market and approach possible crowd funding
With a 3D model and some nice renderings, you are able to begin testing the market to gauge the need and acceptance of your product.
But sometimes it is desirable or even required to already have a prototype built from your design. This allows customers and other stakeholders to better understand the product, as well as see the level of commitment that you have to completing the process.
Crowd funding has become a very popular method of determining that a market exists for your product, as well as generating funds to get the product manufactured.
Popular sites for crowd funding are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
Prototype
A prototype better allows you to show prospective customers the benefits and functions of your product.
It is also a great brainstorming aid, allowing you to streamline the function, improve the visual design, and likely even dream up more uses for your product.
Popular methods of prototyping include 3D printing, custom machining out of metal or plastic, and even being made by hand using wood, styrofoam, cardboard, glue, staples, and paint.
Sometimes you will make so many changes to your prototype that you will modify the design and build a second prototype to further refine your product idea
Final design – Finish the Product Desing Process
Once you are happy with the prototype and are all ready to start thinking about manufacturing your product, it is time to finalize the design. Again you will either complete this yourself or hire out some CAD design services.
This step does require a skilled designer because important characteristics of the product are decided at this time: material, dimensional tolerances, how parts fit together, surface finish, and other design characteristics to maximize strength and durability. Also, the final looks of the product are developed at this time.
Manufacturing drawings can be created from this final design.
Approach Manufacturers, decide on process and materials used
With a finalized design, you can begin to approach manufacturers – whether domestic or overseas. A quality manufacturer will have advice for you on manufacturing process and optimal materials – however, you definitely need to have an initial understanding of what material and manufacturing process will result in a functional product before beginning.
This step is the easiest to describe, but can be very time consuming.
How to trust that a manufacturer can produce the component correctly, consistently, and on time?
Whether to manufacture in China, USA, or elsewhere in the world.
Manufacturing considerations will be covered in depth on this website.
Shipping & Warehousing
This step is much simplified if you manufacture domestically, but it is still something you have to consider.
If your factory won’t make a single unit at a time for you (too expensive), or if they won’t warehouse and drop ship for you, then you will have to store your product somewhere.
To start, maybe you are renting a storage locker, using your garage, or even putting your products under the bed. At some point this becomes less scalable and you may have to move to a more professional option: renting your own warehouse to sharing space in a facility. Both are investments that require much more careful analysis.
Of course, if you are manufacturing in China or elsewhere overseas, then shipping becomes a big deal as well.
In the beginning you will have smaller orders and ship Less Than Container loads (LTC), but the best pricing on manufacture and shipping will come when you can afford to fill a 20 foot ISO shipping container.
Floating a 20′ or even a 40′ container across the ocean is by far the most economical way to approach offshore manufacturing. Be sure to have very complete product specifications and quality control guidelines – and ensure the factory understands them.
Sales, Ecommerce, and Customer Service
This is the final (and most fun) step of the product process – setting up your own online store, making cold calls, cutting deals, sending out invoices, and collecting money.
Definitely a topic that will be covered in depth here.
But the best tips are:
1) Sell the benefits of your product, not the technical features.
2) Listen to your customer, solve their problem, and sell them what they need, not what makes you the most money.
3) Don’t commoditize yourself – don’t compete solely on price.
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