In most new product development projects for electro-mechanical products, there comes a time when the company (and its investors) need to make a leap of faith when it comes to investing in tooling. They often need a lot of advice and discuss it with us. Let's discuss the conundrum buyers face of doing so before a final prototype is made. … [Read more...]
Why Packaging Is Important For Both Protection & Product Differentiation
We have worked with many companies that develop their own new product for manufacturing in China or Vietnam. They have spent months (or longer) on product design & development. But they completely overlooked why packaging is important, and merely plan to get to it at the last moment. Oh, but wait... they still want custom printing. That often means a 3 weeks lead time, AFTER a packaging material & type has been confirmed, AFTER the printing supplier has been qualified (a … [Read more...]
From New Product Design to Production: What Is on the Customer’s Plate?
Many people contact us with an idea for a new product they want to develop... and nothing else. We usually explain that they are not ready for talking to China-based manufacturers until they have done more 'homework'. Over the weekend, I listened to an episode of the Predictable Design Podcast (The Importance of Defining Project Milestones), which covered the main steps every new company that wants to manufacture a new physical product has to go through. It is a great listen. It inspired … [Read more...]
Product Reliability Testing | 7 FAQs
If you develop, manufacture, or distribute a product that has to perform its intended function for at least a certain duration, you probably need to do product reliability testing. Otherwise, you may have no idea how soon the product will fail and how it will fail, and that might cause you serious issues in the marketplace. Our clients often ask us questions on this topic. Read my responses to the most frequently asked questions. … [Read more...]
Incubator VS Accelerator VS Go It Alone: The Startup’s Conundrum
If you are a startup at a very early stage with growing your business and getting products to market, you have a few choices in order to get on the right path. Do you go with Startup Incubator VS Accelerator, or dispense with them and just go it alone? Here are the options in more detail (we'll focus more on hardware startups, rather than purely software startups, as working with them is where most of our experience lies): … [Read more...]
New Product Development: 12 Tradeoffs Every Hardware Startup Faces
After working with companies that develop their own products for manufacturing here in China, I started to notice a lot of similarities. Every project is different, its challenges are sometimes unique, but the main decision points tend to be the same. (My main focus here is new companies that develop electrical and/or mechanical products based on their own design.) Here are 12 questions you will likely ask yourself. And the pros and cons of each. … [Read more...]
Prototyping in China: 28 Best Options for Plastic, Metal, PCBA, Silicon and more
Putting the design of a new product idea that is going to be manufactured on paper (sketches) and in 3D drawings (computer-aided design) is usually not sufficient to confirm all aspects of the design. Before proceeding to tooling fabrication, certifications, component purchasing, and manufacturing, you will certainly need to make physical renderings by doing prototyping in China. … [Read more...]
New Product Concept Brief: 5 Things Your Industrial Designer Needs To Know
If you have a new product concept that you want to manufacture in China in mind, don't go straight to talk to a manufacturer (your concept is still too immature). Instead, you need to start working on 2 axes at the same time: Market demand confirmation - will a sufficient number of people want to buy your product? Industrial design - what will it look like? (I am assuming you are designing an electro-mechanical product.) To illustrate your product concept effectively, you'll be … [Read more...]
18 Electronic Product Design Firms For ‘Made-in-China’ Products
You just came up with a great idea for a new electronic hardware product that you plan to manufacture, and you are wondering what the next step is? The answer at this stage is working on electronic product design and probably not searching for a manufacturer, since they will need these elements: A detailed description of features List of components with specifications, and the product architecture PCB schematic A look-alike and work-alike prototype Testing stations Before you … [Read more...]
6 Tips To Nail Your Hardware Product’s Concept BEFORE Engaging A Design House
Many people have an idea for a new hardware product and call us, and in many cases, it is too early, and going to a design house now may also be too early! They need to work with an industrial designer. (I am thinking of electro-mechanical products here.) The logical steps are in this sequence: a. Concept > b. Aesthetic Design > c. CAD Design > d. Proof-of-concept Prototype > e. Work-alike & Look-alike Prototype So, getting the concept right is important. Here are 6 ways to … [Read more...]
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