New Ideas are driven through inspiration, but there’s a lot more to it than that — A Proper Development Process, Appropriate Skills and Knowledge, and Most Importantly, Access To Professionals With Expertise In Modern Product Development, New Product Development, Product Design And Development, and Provider of Professional Prototype Developer Services.
Whether you have a new idea and you’re a consumer or business attempting to widen your product line-up, knowing how to take a concept from an idea to the market effectively will allow you to maximise your potential time, reduce your costs and increase your success. By Reading This Guide You Will Learn How The Product Design And Development Process is undertaken in Australia, and What You Should Expect from It, How You Will Benefit By Working with Product Design Professionals, And How You Can Develop An Idea Into A Valid Commercially Viable Product.
What Is Product Development?
Product Development is the development of an idea into a marketable and saleable product, including: concept development; prototyping; testing; and refinement of the product’s design; and the preparation of the product for mass production.
In Australia, product development is usually supported by a team of engineers, designers, manufacturers and prototype specialists. Their combined expertise and experience will ensure that the final product meets the requirements of functionality, meets Australian standards and is appropriate for its intended market.
New Product Development is Important to the Business
To be competitive, to solve customer problems or to take advantage of new markets, it is important for businesses to invest in the development of new products. By developing new products, a company can create:
- Additional Revenue Streams
- Increased Customer Loyalty
- A Competitive Advantage over Other Companies with Old or Limited Solutions
- Increased Ability to Adapt to Changing Market Needs
Whether developing a simple consumer product or a highly engineered system, the use of a structured product development process will help reduce risk and enable informed decisions made with the backing of research and technology.
Stages of Product Design & Development
Typically, professional product design and development occur in several stages. Each stage reduces uncertainty and adds clarity to the design until it is ready for production.
1. Idea Exploration & Concept Development
All successful products begin with a problem to address or an opportunity to improve upon an existing product. To do so, designers and engineers will work closely with their clients to:
• Understand their problem or user requirements
• Review existing products or competitors
• Determine the limits of technology or manufacturing processes
• Identify desired features and functions, as well as potential materials to make the product from
This initial exploration forms the foundation for all future decisions regarding the design.
2. Industrial Design & Engineering
The design team will then take the initial idea and begin creating a working product that meets the customer's needs. The design team will:
• Draft 2D sketches and 3D digital mock-ups of the concept; and
• Add both ergonomic and aesthetic features to the design; and
• Engineer the components that comprise the overall structure of the product; and
• Plan to ensure that the product can be manufactured using the planned manufacturing processes.
All Product Designers in Australia take into consideration the durability of the product, Safety Standards, the availability and cost efficiency of the materials required, and the overall cost of production prior to going into production.
3. Digital Modeling and 3D Development
The reliance of currently designed products on Digital Modeling has become a key step in Digital Product Development. The creation of accurate 3D computer models by Digital Model Designers offers the ability to review every angle and detail of the product before producing any physical prototypes.
Using 3D Prototype Modeling and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technologies, Product Design Professionals can evaluate:
- Mechanical functioning
- Fitting together of components
- Behaviour of materials selected for the product
- Probabilities with proportions, sizes and dimensions associated with design
Digital Models provide Product Design Professionals with a means of identifying potential problems prior to producing physical prototypes. As a result, considerable time and resources can be saved later in the Design Development Process.
4. Digital Modeling and 3D Development
The creation of physical prototypes to test how the product works in a realistic setting is a crucial process within product design and development. Prototype Developers produce tangible physical samples of products that allow a customer to experience what the finished product will be like.
There are typical prototype types:
- Prototypes created using 3D Printing abled as an early evaluation, for Form Studies and as proof of concept.
- Functional Prototypes used to test motion, mechanisms and durability of a product design.
- Pre-Production Prototypes that are being developed using the actual materials or an alternate to help create a more refined version for production.
By using prototypes in the pre-production phase, clients can use them to see how effective a product will be for their customers, provide valuable feedback to make the best improvements before they invest in mass manufacture.
5. Testing, Refinement, and Compliance
Product testing, refinement, and compliance are part of the overall process for developing a product. Testing involves determining whether a product's design meets quality standards and works as expected based on its design parameters. Product types can have different testing requirements, such as:
- Strength and durability testing
- Water-resistance/chemical-resistance testing
- Safety assessments
- User experience testing
In Australia, many products are subject to a set of performance standards and/or regulatory controls, so it is important for experienced product developers to ensure that these are followed from the beginning of the development process. This approach reduces future costs associated with making major changes to the design of a product to meet compliance requirements.
6. Manufacturing Preparation and Production Support
Preparing for Manufacturing and Supporting Production includes providing assistance for various activities to prepare the way for manufacturing a product, including:
- Selecting materials for use in the product
- Optimising costs
- Sourcing suppliers for the product
- Designing tools (including moulds and dies) for the product
- Verifying and documenting production-quality specifications and inspections.
Working with either Australian manufacturers or established global suppliers to produce a product will help to ensure that a product is produced to a high standard and delivered on time and within budget.
Working with an Australian professional prototype developer
An experienced developer provides valuable insight into how an inventor's or business' product will perform under actual working conditions. A professional prototype developer offers the following benefits:
- Access to top-quality materials and the best equipment available
- Engineering expertise to find solutions to technical issues
- A shorter development time
- Improved communication and documentation
- An accurate quote for mass production of the product.
The proximity of an Australian prototype service company makes collaboration easier, while also making it easier to review progress on the project and to make sure that the final product meets the original vision.
What to Expect from Product Design and Development Services in Australia
When partnering with a product development company in Australia, expect a custom, personalised service in order to give your idea the attention it deserves. Every product development team has the capacity to provide complete service, including:
- Concept generation
- Design strategy
- CAD modelling
- 3D prototype
- Testing and technical refinement
- Manufacturing support
- Project management to completion.
These are valuable services for entrepreneurs, new businesses, industrial firms and established companies updating product lines.
The Advantages of Professional Product Design and Development.
There are many benefits to using professionals with experience;
1. Improved Quality and Durability, as professional designers understand the behaviour of material and the requirements necessary to be able to produce stronger, safer and market ready products for consumers.
2. Costs are decreased by professional designing of products - as it can remove much of the trial and error that can lead to costly delay during production.
3. Production Time is Reduced. With the use of proven production processes, the design team will be able to move quickly through the development of your product (from concept to production).
4. Assistance with Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Professional designers assist their clients with the selection of suppliers, the production of their products, the creation of tooling, and the development of cost estimates.
5. Development is Confidential and Secure. Many reputable Australian companies provide their clients with strict confidentiality clauses and can provide assistance with the use of the IP protection process (e.g. patent application) during development.
How Do I Know if my Idea is Ready for Development?
Your idea might be ready for New Product Development if:
1. You have identified a real problem or need in the market.
2. You have considered the way the product will be used.
3. You have written down your ideas in initial sketches or concept notes.
4. You are receptive to expert opinions and are willing to accept suggestions for technical improvements.
5. You are willing to follow a step-by-step process to develop the product.
If So, A Professional Development Team Can Refine and Structure Your Original Concept.
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