Product design is a multi-faceted process that blends creativity and practicality to bring innovative solutions to the market. It's a journey that begins with the identification of a problem and culminates in the creation of a design that endures. Spanner’s approach to Industrial Design is built around objectives and not a prescriptive path. This allows Spanner’s team to choose the right tools and practices for the objective of your product.
1. Problem Identification - What are we solving and why?
Every great product design journey begins with a problem that needs a solution. It's essential to clearly define the problem and understand why it needs solving, setting the foundation for the entire design process leading to the best solution. It could be a consumer need, a technological gap, or an opportunity to enhance an existing product.
2. Brand - What are your customers’ gut feelings about your products or company?
Your brand represents the personality and reputation of your company or products. It's essential to understand what your customers feel and think about your brand and how that fits into your market. Their perceptions, values, and emotions associated with your products or company play a crucial role in shaping the design direction.
3. User Experience - Who is your customer, and what is their experience?
Designing for the end user is paramount. Knowing your target audience, their needs, preferences, and pain points is essential. The user experience (UX) is about ensuring that the product meets the expectations and desires of the customers, ultimately creating a simple and seamless interaction for the customer. In the end, if the UX is great, it ultimately will not be noticed by the user.
4. Design Language - What does your product visually communicate?
Design language encompasses the visual and stylistic elements that define the product's aesthetic and functional identity. It includes the choice of colors, shapes, materials, textures, and overall design principles that speak to the target user. The design language should align with the brand and fit into the market.
5. Form Factor - What form does your product take?
The form factor is the physical shape and size of your product. It should not only be visually appealing but also practical and ergonomic. The form factor can significantly impact the user's experience and the product's functionality and cost.
6. Prototyping - What works best?
Prototyping is the phase where ideas come to life in physical form. Creating prototypes helps to test and refine the design, ensuring that it functions as intended and addresses the identified problem. Rapid prototyping and iterative testing are key to the design process.
7. Concept Exploration - What could your product look like?
Concept exploration is a creative phase where various design ideas are explored and designers brainstorm and sketch different concepts to find the best approach. This phase allows for innovation and out-of-the-box thinking while merging the form factor and design language.
8. Concept Refinement - What would your customers want your product to look like?
Once potential design concepts are generated, it's crucial to refine them with user feedback in mind. What would resonate with your target audience? User preferences and expectations along with design keywords play a significant role in shaping the final design.
9. CAD Surfacing - How do we skin your product?
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) surfacing involves creating 3D digital models of the product. This step adds depth and detail to the form of the design, allowing for a more accurate representation. CAD surfacing is essential for manufacturing and further refinement.
10. Renders - What would your product realistically look like?
Renders are high-quality visualizations of the CAD models. They provide a photo-realistic view of what the product will look like once manufactured. Renders help in early exploration, marketing, pitching ideas to stakeholders, and gaining a clear understanding of the final design.
11. Design Intent - Who ensures the design stays true to the end?
An enduring design is one that stays true to its intent throughout the development process. Spanner ensures that the design principles are maintained during the production and post-launch phases. This includes quality control, design updates, and user feedback integration.
The journey from problem identification to enduring design is a dynamic process that demands a deep understanding of user needs, a creative approach, and a commitment to excellence. It's about bringing innovation to life and ensuring that the design continues to meet user expectations once it's in the hands of the customers. By addressing each step in this journey thoughtfully, a product design can truly stand the test of time and make a lasting impact.
David Bogdal is Director of ID & UX at Spanner.
He enjoys the challenge of working on a wide range of client products which all require multi-faceted approaches. Outside of work, David's into movies, house projects, and family time.