{"id":8930,"date":"2020-06-09T19:10:48","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T19:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staginggembah.wpengine.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T15:08:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T21:08:46","slug":"ultimate-guide-product-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Product Design"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1507\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Product-Design.jpeg\" alt=\"two guys looking at product options\" width=\"1647\" height=\"1103\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Think of the last time you used a product that took your breath away. What was unique about product design? How did it make you feel? What about the aesthetics that caught your attention? Did the color pop? Was it a unique shape you couldn&#8217;t have imagined, but made sense? <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Or, was using it easy and seamless?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">No matter what emotion the product caused, you need to find an industrial designer to thank. They deserve it for a job well done. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The ability to elicit emotion is the <\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.technologyrecord.com\/Article\/the-importance-of-industrial-design-in-product-development-nx-plm-7575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">importance of\u00a0industrial design.<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Form, fit, and function drive emotional responses from people who use a well-designed product. The visual appeal of the product encourages someone to give it a shot, who may not have otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, futuristic-looking wine openers like\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rabbitwine.com\/products\/the-original-rabbit-corkscrew\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Rabbit<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0you can use to open a bottle with one hand. Or the\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.motionpillow.com\/en\/home.do#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Motion Pillow<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> that has a sleek design but is also packed inside with features that track and analyze your sleep patterns for more restful sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After using these, I doubt you&#8217;d be turning back the older versions. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Intelligent industrial design leads to loyalty.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#What_is_Industrial_Design\" title=\"What is Industrial Design?\u00a0\">What is Industrial Design?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#History_of_Industrial_Design\" title=\"History of Industrial Design\">History of Industrial Design<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#What_is_Design_Thinking\" title=\"What is Design Thinking?\u00a0\">What is Design Thinking?\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Design_Thinking_as_a_Non-Linear_Process\" title=\"Design Thinking as a Non-Linear Process\">Design Thinking as a Non-Linear Process<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Five_Phases_of_Product_Design\" title=\"The Five Phases of Product Design\">The Five Phases of Product Design<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#An_Empathetic_Understanding_of_the_Problem\" title=\"An Empathetic Understanding of the Problem\u00a0\">An Empathetic Understanding of the Problem\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Assuming_a_Beginners_Mindset\" title=\"Assuming a Beginner&#8217;s Mindset\u00a0\">Assuming a Beginner&#8217;s Mindset\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Developing_User-Based_Studies\" title=\"Developing User-Based Studies\u00a0\">Developing User-Based Studies\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Engaging_With_Extreme_Users\" title=\"Engaging With Extreme Users\u00a0\">Engaging With Extreme Users\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Bodystorming\" title=\"Bodystorming\u00a0\">Bodystorming\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Design_Problem_Statement\" title=\"The Design Problem Statement\u00a0\">The Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Four_Ws_of_the_Design_Problem_Statement\" title=\"The Four W&#8217;s of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0\">The Four W&#8217;s of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Five_%E2%80%9CWhys%E2%80%9D_of_the_Design_Problem_Statement\" title=\"The Five &#8220;Why&#8217;s&#8221; of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0\">The Five &#8220;Why&#8217;s&#8221; of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Product_Ideation\" title=\"Product Ideation\u00a0\">Product Ideation\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Value_of_Product_Ideation\" title=\"The Value of Product Ideation\u00a0\">The Value of Product Ideation\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Prototype_Development\" title=\"Prototype Development\u00a0\">Prototype Development\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Prototyping_Categories\" title=\"Prototyping Categories\u00a0\">Prototyping Categories\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#The_Gembah_Product_Design_Process\" title=\"The Gembah Product Design Process\">The Gembah Product Design Process<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Phase_1_Establish_the_Product_Design_Vision_and_Goals\" title=\"Phase 1: Establish the Product Design Vision and Goals\">Phase 1: Establish the Product Design Vision and Goals<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Gembah_Design_Problem_Statement_Elements\" title=\"Gembah Design Problem Statement Elements\">Gembah Design Problem Statement Elements<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Phase_2_Product_Concept_Refinement\" title=\"Phase 2: Product Concept Refinement\">Phase 2: Product Concept Refinement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Phase_3_Product_3D_Modeling\" title=\"Phase 3: Product 3D Modeling\">Phase 3: Product 3D Modeling<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Product_3D_Modeling_Steps\" title=\"Product 3D Modeling Steps\">Product 3D Modeling Steps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/#Phase_4_Product_Engineering_and_Manufacturing_Specification\" title=\"Phase 4: Product Engineering and Manufacturing Specification\">Phase 4: Product Engineering and Manufacturing Specification<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Industrial_Design\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is Industrial Design?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Industrial design<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is the process applied to mass-manufactured goods.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span>Industrial design<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0hasn&#8217;t always been a focus for those who develop products to take to market. It&#8217;s a relatively new discipline, with roots in the Industrial Revolution, but mass adoption not taking place until the late 1910s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s important to consider how we got here to understand how product design became such an essential part of brand development and industrial growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Today, product design is essential for the success of modern companies. Companies like Apple, IKEA, and Zara have built empires on a design-forward mindset. Functionality still matters but takes a backseat to an eye-catching design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Industrial_Design\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">History of Industrial Design<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The public&#8217;s desire for efficient, standardized, and functional products is <\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.technologyrecord.com\/Article\/the-importance-of-industrial-design-in-product-development-nx-plm-7575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">central<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to the <\/span>history of industrial design<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. After World War I, the United States experienced rapid technological advances and industrial growth. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Concurrently, New Zealander designer <\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joseph_Claude_Sinel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joseph Claude Sinel<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>coined the term &#8220;<\/span>industrial design.<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8221; Companies around the world began to think of industrial design as a school of thought.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">During the 1920s, industrial designers applied design to automobiles, trains, and electrical appliances before these products were mass-manufactured. This new design practice would eventually usher in an era where aesthetics mattered as much as functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1510\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1510\" style=\"width: 990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1510\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1928_Model_A_Ford.jpg\" alt=\"1928 Model A Ford\" width=\"1000\" height=\"829\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1510\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H\/T Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">From 1930-1950, however, efficiency was king. Production efficiency and cost-effectiveness briefly replaced aesthetics with the onset of the Great Depression and World War II.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This shift lasted a few decades. Since the early 1960s, American culture has been obsessed with the role form, function, and fit play in a product&#8217;s attractiveness. Over the past few decades, product design has been a powerful driver of company success. Some of the world&#8217;s most influential and powerful companies lead due to a consistent design voice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Good design helps companies succeed. No one wants to buy ugly but functional products. There has to be a marriage between style and utility for a product to be attractive to your potential buyers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Design_Thinking\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is Design Thinking?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">First mentioned by Nobel Prize winner Herbert Simon, in his 1969 book,\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Sciences of the Artificial,\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.interaction-design.org\/literature\/article\/what-is-design-thinking-and-why-is-it-so-popular\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>des<\/em>ign thinking is\u00a0a non-linear process<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The process seeks to understand who will use a product and identify problems that aren&#8217;t obvious on the surface which the product can solve.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design thinking has earned popularity in both business and design circles. Particularly among people who think about the role products play in our world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> also helps challenge ideas about who wants certain products and why they want them. Companies want to avoid making products people aren&#8217;t going to use. An unfortunate mistake many companies make is to create <strong><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/brainstorm-new-product-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpil=\"url\">new products<\/a><\/strong> because they are possible, or from what sounds cool or trendy at first glance, without considering the product&#8217;s utility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This can lead to costly mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/glass\/start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Google Glass<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is the <\/span><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.business2community.com\/tech-gadgets\/5-reasons-google-glass-miserable-failure-01462398\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>most notorious example<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. It was maybe a cool idea, but the assumption people would want constant internet access, and computing features from a pair of glasses, turned out to be deeply flawed.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1508\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1508\" style=\"width: 990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1508\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Google-Glass.jpg\" alt=\"guy wearing google glass\" width=\"1000\" height=\"552\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1508\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H\/T ExtremeTech<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There were safety issues related to the radiation the glasses emit being so close to your skin. Also, the potential Glass could illegally copy movies in theaters, their clunky features, and general lack of utility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Simply put, Google Glass was an underdeveloped idea. Therefore, the execution of the product didn&#8217;t have a chance. This trap is one to avoid when diving into design thinking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design thinking helps industrial designers consider how a product can solve hidden problems. It also uncovers ideas for impactful products which previously seemed unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Design_Thinking_as_a_Non-Linear_Process\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design Thinking as a Non-Linear Process<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Design thinking<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> doesn&#8217;t follow a straight line. Much like a winding creek that crosses all types of terrain, industrial designers don&#8217;t follow a well-worn path.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design thinking considers several very human processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These four questions are important to ask:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How do people use the product?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why should this product get created?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Who is the target user?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Industrial designers who empathize with their customers&#8217; needs start to understand how to address those needs. Creatively solving problems requires assumptions to be challenged. There&#8217;s no reason to do something because &#8220;that&#8217;s how we&#8217;ve always done it.&#8221; Instead, a deeper dive can reveal some valuable insights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why create a product that doesn&#8217;t have a noticeable impact? There are too many products that don&#8217;t serve a purpose. They simply exist because they exist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Understanding your target audience and how they will use your product is essential to understanding the product&#8217;s core function.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The surprising part is that your target user can be different than who you initially believe them to be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Next, let&#8217;s take a closer look at the ideation process that&#8217;s central to design thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design thinking doesn&#8217;t occur in a vacuum. There are many human factors involved. Being empathetic allows industrial designers to put themselves in their customers&#8217; shoes and challenge assumptions that lead to fresh solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Five_Phases_of_Product_Design\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Five Phases of Product Design<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To best understand how product design unfolds, it&#8217;s a good exercise to look at five phases:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An Empathetic Understanding of the Problem<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Design Problem Statement<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product Ideation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prototype Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product Testing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Empathetic_Understanding_of_the_Problem\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An Empathetic Understanding of the Problem\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/empathy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>According to Merriam-Webster<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, empathy involves being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully-communicated to you explicitly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s the ability to put yourself in another person&#8217;s shoes and understand what they are feeling without them telling you directly it&#8217;s how they feel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.interaction-design.org\/literature\/topics\/empathy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">There are several methods<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> which Stanford University&#8217;s d.school outlines that help designers empathize with potential customers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Assuming a beginner&#8217;s mindset<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Developing user-based studies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Engaging with &#8220;extreme&#8221; users and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bodystorming<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Assuming_a_Beginners_Mindset\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Assuming a Beginner&#8217;s Mindset\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Assuming a beginner&#8217;s mindset is simple: Don&#8217;t bring assumptions into the design thinking process. Our assumptions inform how we make decisions. These assumptions are important in our daily lives. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, the opposite is true in the design thinking process. If you have your own assumptions about impactful design that cloud your vision, you can&#8217;t also be empathetic to other people&#8217;s needs. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The two mindsets don&#8217;t work well together.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Developing_User-Based_Studies\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Developing User-Based Studies\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1511\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1511\" style=\"width: 922px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1511\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Focus-Group.jpg\" alt=\"a focus group\" width=\"932\" height=\"620\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1511\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H\/T Meeting Your Mission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s fascinating to document how people experience tough situations. User-based studies include taking photos or videos &#8211; with consent, obviously &#8211; of people struggling with a problematic situation your product could solve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can also document what people said during the experience, how they were feeling, and how they were acting. When you understand how people struggle with an issue, it helps develop empathy for that struggle and to think about how your product can make lives easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s also essential to engage with your &#8220;extreme&#8221; users to get an idea of what makes them tick. These users will be early adopters and loyal customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Engaging_With_Extreme_Users\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Engaging With Extreme Users\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although extreme users may be a small part of your target market, they can still say a lot about product design. If you can empathize with this small group, it&#8217;s easier to understand your broader base of customers. Once purchased, e<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">xtreme users would take advantage of every feature of your product. Let&#8217;s assume your product is a dinner table that&#8217;s comfortable for four people. But, it is extendable using a leaf and extensions at each end of the table. Your extreme user would be sitting ten people at that table because they have a large family that likes to eat dinner together several times a week.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Understanding your extreme customers makes it easy to solidify your product&#8217;s unique value to the market.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"banner\">\r\n    <div class=\"title\">\r\n        <span class=\"light\">Launch Your Product Faster<br> with<\/span>\r\n        <span class=\"bold\">Gembah<\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"subtitle\">\r\n        <span>1000\u2019s of vetted factories, designers, and experts are a few clicks away!<\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a href=\"\/expert-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"cta-button\">Get Started Now<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<style>\r\n    .banner {\r\n        background-color: #0692FB;\r\n        background-image: radial-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.07) 1.6px, transparent 1px);\r\n        background-size: 7px 7px;\r\n        color: #ffffff;\r\n        padding: 30px;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\r\n        border-radius: 12px;\r\n        max-width: 540px;\r\n        margin: 20px auto 40px;\r\n        box-shadow: 0px 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .banner .title {\r\n        font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif;\r\n        font-size: 28px;\r\n        margin: 5px 20px 0;\r\n        text-shadow: 1px 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\r\n        line-height: 1.2;\r\n        color:#ffffff!important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .banner .title .light {\r\n        font-weight: 400;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .banner .title .bold {\r\n        font-weight: 900;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .banner .subtitle {\r\n        font-family: 'Jost', sans-serif;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n        font-weight: 400;\r\n        line-height: 1.25;\r\n        margin: 14px 60px 20px;\r\n        text-shadow: 1px 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\r\n        word-spacing: 0.8px;\r\n        color:#ffffff!important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/* More specific selector with !important overrides *\/\r\n    .banner a.cta-button {\r\n        background-color: #fdbc52 !important;\r\n        color: #1e1e1e !important;\r\n        font-family: 'Jost', sans-serif !important;\r\n        font-size: 20px !important;\r\n        font-weight: 900 !important;\r\n        padding: 9px 19px !important;\r\n        border-radius: 6px !important;\r\n        margin: 15px 0 10px !important;\r\n        cursor: pointer !important;\r\n        text-decoration: none !important;\r\n        display: inline-block !important;\r\n        transition: background-color 0.3s ease !important;\r\n        box-shadow: 0px 6px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .banner a.cta-button:hover {\r\n        background-color: #e6a946 !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {\r\n        .banner {\r\n            max-width: 90%;\r\n            margin: 20px auto;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .banner .title {\r\n            font-size: 20px;\r\n            margin: 0px 0;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .banner .subtitle {\r\n            font-size: 16px;\r\n            font-weight: 500;\r\n            margin: 20px 20px 0;\r\n            margin-bottom: 30px;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        .banner a.cta-button {\r\n            font-size: 16px !important;\r\n            padding: 10px !important;\r\n            width: 100% !important;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bodystorming\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bodystorming\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bodystorming helps you empathize with potential customers.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this process, you interact with a product prototype under conditions and in a similar environment where your customers would use the product. By experiencing a product as a user would, you can see the struggles and challenges they may encounter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This process helps to fine-tune details which will make a user&#8217;s experience more positive and seamless. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When you have empathy for your target users, it&#8217;s easier to understand the problems your product will solve for them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">People&#8217;s desires aren&#8217;t always what they seem. Bodystorming helps to solve this puzzle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Developing empathy for your product&#8217;s target user makes the problem-solving process easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Design_Problem_Statement\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Uncovering the design problem you are facing involves some mind-reading. No, we&#8217;re not saying you need to develop Extra Sensory Perception. Although it would be fun, right?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You need to think about the\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.toptal.com\/designers\/product-design\/design-problem-statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unconscious desires people have<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0your design can address.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Developing a formal design problem statement helps you work through uncovering these desires. There&#8217;s a brilliant example of this in a famous Henry Ford quote: <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The supposed problem was slow horses; Ford&#8217;s solution was automobiles, not faster horses. The actual underlying need was to get places faster. Lack of speed was the real problem. In other words, there&#8217;s a more deep-seated need people have, which your product design addresses. They aren&#8217;t yet aware of what they need. Therefore, it&#8217;s your responsibility to define the problem, then treat it with a solution.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When you treat a problem with a unique, problem-solving product, you&#8217;ve won a loyal customer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s essential to consider a few things when writing a design problem statement, namely the four W&#8217;s and the five &#8220;whys.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Four_Ws_of_the_Design_Problem_Statement\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Four W&#8217;s of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are four &#8220;W questions&#8221; to answer:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Who is affected?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The answer is your target product user.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is the problem?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What&#8217;s standing in the way of the ideal experience and what are your target user&#8217;s pain points?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Where does the problem usually appear?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Is there a physical space where the user faces challenges? Is it the same space every time, or different?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Why the problem matters is self-explanatory. It&#8217;s a problem.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">First, ask your design team these questions. This approach ensures everyone can freely express their ideas about a product&#8217;s design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Secondly, ask these questions of a focus group that fits your target audience or who you think could benefit from your product. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You&#8217;re likely to get very different responses. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And that&#8217;s a good thing!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finding common threads helps to flesh out the design problem and know who will benefit most from your solution.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Five_%E2%80%9CWhys%E2%80%9D_of_the_Design_Problem_Statement\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Five &#8220;Why&#8217;s&#8221; of the Design Problem Statement\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mindtools.com\/pages\/article\/newTMC_5W.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>five why&#8217;s<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">help you drill down even further to surface your customer&#8217;s core problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A great example comes from <\/span><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getvetter.com\/posts\/159-taiichi-ohno-an-intro-to-the-father-of-lean-manufacturing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Taiichi Ono<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the creator of the 5-Why Technique, and many consider the &#8220;father&#8221; of lean manufacturing:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why did the robot stop? <\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">circuit has overloaded, causing a fuse to blow.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why is the circuit overloaded?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There was insufficient lubrication on the bearings, so they locked up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why was their insufficient lubrication on the bearings?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The oil pump on the robot is not circulating enough oil.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why is the pump not circulating sufficient oil?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Metal shavings clogged the pump intake.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why is the intake clogged with metal shavings?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Because there is no filter on the pump.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">See how these questions flow toward a resolution? Applying this method to your <a href=\"\/blog\/industrial-product-design-process\/\">industrial design process<\/a> helps formulate your design problem. And then complete competitive and market research to determine how that problem is best solved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A design problem statement helps identify the root issue your product seeks to solve. This process also prepares you for competitive research and market research which are essential to define your unique value proposition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Product_Ideation\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product Ideation\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Product ideation<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> allows product designers to work from a blank slate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Design thinking doesn&#8217;t go in a straight line. Figuring out who needs a product, and why people need it can be a complicated process. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s a necessary process, though, to develop a unique product with value and utility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Value_of_Product_Ideation\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Value of Product Ideation\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1512\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1512\" style=\"width: 990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/new-data-services-bbXaYbKWnjw-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"whiteboard with ideas\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1512\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">H\/T New Data Services<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Product ideation<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> allows industrial design teams to work without assumptions. Assumptions, here, are the enemy of insights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the product ideation process, there are\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.interaction-design.org\/literature\/article\/what-is-ideation-and-how-to-prepare-for-ideation-sessions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">no bad ideas and no stupid questions<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The goal is to brainstorm many ideas over quality ideas \u2014the more insights on the table for your design team to consider during\u00a0<\/span>product ideation<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the better. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, whiteboarding is a best practice. One person is assigned to write down every idea team members come up with for a product, no matter how apparently silly or impractical. Dissecting ideas and asking tough questions is the next step.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tapping into your team members&#8217; knowledge is a great way to think differently about a product and its utility. After all, no one <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">knows everything about every product. They have to ask &#8220;stupid&#8221; questions to uncover insights that could lead the design team down an unanticipated path. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After the\u00a0<\/span>design thinking process<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> is complete &#8211; with product ideation being the focus &#8211; designers have a ton of ideas from which to work. There&#8217;s still a long haul ahead, however.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Prototype development is the next step.<\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8212;-<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Takeaway:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The goal of product ideation is to brainstorm as many ideas as possible. It doesn&#8217;t matter if these product ideas are &#8220;quality&#8221; ideas. The more ideas generated in this process, the easier the next steps become.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;-<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prototype_Development\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prototype Development\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A prototype is an initial sample or product model used to test a concept or process. Evaluation of the sample is the culmination of the design process preceding it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The sample is rough. It may not have clean edges, exact dimensions, an ideal weight, or match the color palette intended for the product when it goes to market. Regardless, for product designers, it&#8217;s vital to have a prototype to evaluate. Designers know a prototype is meant to be torn down and rebuilt, and won&#8217;t be perfect. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">They expect the initial prototype to &#8220;fail.&#8221; At a minimum, it should be functional, relatively precise, and simple enough to iterate so a second version will mirror the final product more closely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Different categories of prototypes exist, and the product&#8217;s intended use aligns with these categories.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prototyping_Categories\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Prototyping Categories\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/simplicable.com\/new\/evolutionary-prototype-vs-throwaway-prototype\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">two primary types of prototypes<\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Throwaway prototypes, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Evolutionary prototypes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Throwaway prototypes are what you might imagine. They are prototypes intended for single-use and a one-time evaluation. Throwaway prototypes are typical in industries where product designers operate on lean budgets or need to protect costs throughout the design process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These prototypes are also occasionally used earlier in the product design process. Easy to toss back-of-napkin sketches are an example. While these prototypes are disposable, they allow for a faster prototyping process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You&#8217;ve probably heard the term &#8220;minimally viable product&#8221; before. Well, throwaway products are an MVP.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Evolutionary prototypes are built to be altered and updated. These prototypes are more visually appealing and can be the center of presentations to stakeholders, including investors or a board of directors. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As designers receive input from these stakeholders and implement changes, these prototypes evolve toward a more likely final product version.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now we&#8217;ve covered how the product design process unfurls from start to finish let&#8217;s take a look at how we approach it for our clients at Gembah.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Gembah_Product_Design_Process\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Gembah Product Design Process<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Phase_1_Establish_the_Product_Design_Vision_and_Goals\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Phase 1: Establish the Product Design Vision and Goals<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At the outset of establishing a product vision and the goals for the project, a Gembah client typically has a good idea of the product they want to create. Usually, this doesn&#8217;t include a detailed specification list of the exact features and functions they want.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Thus, the first step in any product design project is to establish a vision and goals for the project. The deliverable for this phase is a detailed product design problem statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A Gembah Senior Product Designer &#8211; working with the client and supported by a client account manager &#8211; creates this statement. It kicks off with a survey and interview with the client. Conducting this interview helps clarify how and why the client&#8217;s end-user will use the product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The client also answers a series of questions that help our designer and account manager to document desired product use and function.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gembah_Design_Problem_Statement_Elements\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Gembah Design Problem Statement Elements<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A typical product design problem statement answers the following questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is the concept?<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8211; What are the overarching idea and product concepts?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Who?<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> &#8211; Who is the target end-user?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What?<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> &#8211; What is the problem the user is trying to address and what are their main &#8220;pain points&#8221;?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Where?<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> &#8211; Where does the problem appear?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Why?<\/strong> &#8211; Why is it essential for the user to solve this problem differently?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A sample design problem statement can look something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Concept:\u00a0<\/strong>The purpose of this project is to develop a laptop that takes up less space.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Who:\u00a0<\/strong>People who work on the go need to conserve space in their bags as they move around the city.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What:<\/strong> Although laptops can be light and thin, they still are too wide to fit in many bags.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Where:\u00a0<\/strong>This makes it difficult for programmers, writers, and creatives to work in tight spaces.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Why:\u00a0<\/strong>These people would like something that&#8217;s foldable to take up less space in their bags, and also for ease of use anywhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>OR<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Concept: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of this project is to design a better wine opener that is portable and easy to use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Who: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women sometimes struggle to open a nice bottle of wine.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>What: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current wine openers are either bulky and impractical to bring with you. They&#8217;re hard to use, require strength, and can be painful for your hands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Where: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These challenges can make it difficult to open a wine bottle at a picnic, BBQ, or another outdoor event.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Why: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women should not have to ask men to help open a wine bottle or ruin a picnic because nobody can open the wine they brought.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With the product vision and design problem statement complete, it&#8217;s time to get creative and generate multiple product concepts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This process is the core of the Product Concept Definition phase.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Phase_2_Product_Concept_Refinement\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Phase 2: Product Concept Refinement<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The purpose of Phase 2 is to translate the product design problem statement into multiple product concepts. Based on the complexity of the design, Gembah assigns the perfect team of experts for that product type. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This team will have significant experience designing products in the product category. For simple designs, it may be an individual. An electrical engineer will work on the product if it contains electronics, and, similarly, a <a href=\"\/services\/product-engineering-services\/mechanical\/\">mechanical engineer<\/a> will work on a product if it has mechanical elements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Gembah&#8217;s extensive network of product designers is a great resource. It allows us to find an expert whose category experience aligns with the product type we&#8217;re working on for our customers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This refinement phase also includes researching material and finish options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A typical project includes a presentation of three to five concepts by our design team. Our client reviews these concepts and provides comments and feedback. To complete the phase, our team addresses feedback and provides a product concept with a full 2D rendering.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Phase_3_Product_3D_Modeling\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Phase 3: Product 3D Modeling<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once the client has selected a specific product concept design, it&#8217;s time to translate it from 2D rendering &#8211; which is essentially a product drawing &#8211; into a manufacturable 3D design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you were to bring the 2D rendering to a factory and ask them to make the product, they would not know where to start. And, even if they were willing to try, they would not know how you expect the product to work, or what materials to use. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This phase is about developing detailed specifications that turn an idea into a 3D model, that eventually becomes a real product. A complete 3D model ensures the product looks right and works according to our client&#8217;s specifications. It&#8217;s the primary deliverable for this phase.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Another important deliverable in this phase is working files with fully-manipulated master sketches. The engineering team uses these in the next stage to finalize the design for manufacturing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Product_3D_Modeling_Steps\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product 3D Modeling Steps<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The steps included in the product 3D modeling stage include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3D computer-aided design (CAD) work<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3D renderings<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Depending on the complexity of product design, the steps are often iterative. The typical product goes through a few iterations to reach the final 3D product design. This phase can take anywhere from a few days and a single iteration for a simple product to several weeks and multiple iterations for a more complex product.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Phase_4_Product_Engineering_and_Manufacturing_Specification\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Phase 4: Product Engineering and Manufacturing Specification<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once the team has finalized the 3D design and specified all functions and features, it&#8217;s time to translate that 3D design into a manufacturing specification. Factories use this spec to quote product costs accurately and produce it in large quantities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The primary goal of this phase is to engage engineering teams to finalized the detailed specification that defines:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Exact dimensions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Performance requirements, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Assembly instructions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This phase&#8217;s deliverables are the <a href=\"\/blog\/cad-product-design\/\">technical CAD spec<\/a> and a bill of materials (BOM). The BOM identifies the materials used and the process for making each product sub-component.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The product design process concludes once we have the BOM in hand, and we&#8217;re ready to move on to factory sourcing and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/why-smart-companies-outsource-product-manufacturing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-wpil=\"url\">product manufacturing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Product design is a complicated process that can be full of pitfalls, but with a strong understanding of the steps involved, it&#8217;s not as intimidating as it seems on the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/contact\/\" data-wpil=\"url\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1514 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/BlogCTA1_1200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Think of the last time you used a product that took your breath away. What was unique about product design? How did it make you feel? What about the aesthetics that caught your attention? Did the color pop? Was it a unique shape you couldn&#8217;t have imagined, but made sense? Or, was using it easy &#8230; <a title=\"The Ultimate Guide to Product Design\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/gembah.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-product-design\/\" aria-label=\"More on The Ultimate Guide to Product Design\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":7220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"topics":[14],"class_list":["post-8930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","topics-product-design"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.1 (Yoast SEO v23.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Ultimate Guide to Product Design<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The product design process can seem intimidating and complicated on the surface. 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