3 STEPS: HOW PRODUCTS COME TO LIFE
A product is like a child. It's something that we imagine and daydream about, all day long. We think it will be like this way or that way, but we don’t really know. Finally, we take chance to bring our dream to reality. We nurture it, shape it, give it a few tests to see if it can withstand the challenges that the world will throw at it, and then we finally, refine and release. It's a beautifully powerful journey. Ask any project manager and they will say, creating a product is like giving birth. It's all your hopes and dreams, coming out of your mind and being born into the world. If you are waiting for this journey, these simple steps will guide you through the rough and the smooth.
Design phase
Firstly, it has to be done without ego. Designing a product has to be a pragmatic exercise. It's okay to have an idea, but don’t be married to it. You never know, something might occur such as raw material improvements, industry standards, regulations, government policy and or the structure is not viable under real world testing.
● Draw your product. Hiring a product sketch artist is the first step. Give them your ideas during a meeting and then some time to give you multiple different versions that have come from their imagination
● Speak with structural experts in product design. The product needs to be strong and tough, able to withstand whatever a customer does to it within reason
● Select the raw materials that will fit both the design and regulations requirements
Get it made
The next step is to get the thing made. This is when you will see if your design actually has the real world viability that you think it has. Select a manufacturer after you do a little research. It's a good idea to go to an industry event where manufacturers will be holding meetings with clients, exhibitions and just mingling with those that work in and outside of their industries. Here you should network with companies that have a good track record of creating prototypes. Prototypes are not difficult to make in terms of basic models, but when you get to working prototypes that’s a different story.
Prototype testing
The final step before you go to launch is to test the prototype. This part of the product design process is very exciting. It's an all-comprehensive stage whereby you will go through classic testing; such as heat, cold, compression, torque, blunt force, and dropping. If it can survive all of this, then it goes onto human testing. Essentially, you give the prototypes to people and see if they can harm them, within a reasonable real world standard. This could be stepping on the product by accident.
It can take a few months or a couple years for a product to come to life. It all depends on your efficiency in the design and manufacturing processes. Testing can also be swift but more often than not, it takes time to iron out the creases.