During the design process there are often misconceptions that make it difficult to bridge the gap between expectations and feasibility. Prior to prototyping a product, utilizing lean product development in conjunction with the tactics we address in this post can help curtail initial mistakes.
Understanding Your Design Goals
Like many facets of life, balance is essential for success. When designing a product, maintaining balance between aesthetics, efficiency, and cost from the early stages of development can drastically improve chances for success. Just as one would not continue to build a house on a poorly designed foundation, understanding design goals with respect to this notion of balance can ensure that small initial inconsistencies do not evolve exponentially into colossal and expensive debilities within the design.
Understanding Your Consumer
Product development goes beyond simply making a product look pretty. At Spline, this means producing something that is more than what meets the eye, i.e., prioritizing substance and functionality as well as assuring a pretty facade. Consumers like a product that looks great, but they need a product that performs. Understanding consumers and what they want can be as easy as asking them. Using tools such as surveys to uncover consumer pain points with similar existing products can help ensure that your product is the best it can be in the eyes of the consumer.
Understanding Market Trends
Understanding trends means being able to evaluate the experimentation progress by connecting with people on a macro level. Knowing your target audience and what they need from your product will allow you to stay relevant in your marketplace. Trends are an extremely reliable source that will provide early insight into what is correct about your product, and what needs to be changed. By following trends, you will be able to ensure you are ahead of the curve and will stay ahead.
Avoid Reinventing the Wheel
Generally, the simpler something is, the easier it is to use. Overcomplicating a design makes it not only difficult for a prospective buyer to understand and use, but it will cost more to produce. Avoiding overcomplicated solutions will make a more robust and reliable product. It also decreases design time and therefore decreases development costs. Our years of expertise in simplifying complex problems allows our engineering firm to take your idea from concept and transform it into a viable product.