Standard Process For Bespoke Product Development
1. Generating Your Invention Idea
Working with you to establish your project’s brief, target user, Unique Selling Points and main features, setting up the foundation for a successful product development journey. Our design workshops are a great tool if you wish to work directly with our design team on this.
2. Concept Product Design
Creating different concepts that deliver your brief in unique ways, in order to efficiently and practically explore fundamental elements such as functionality, style and the logistics of manufacturing. This typically involves 2 – 3 concept product designs, maximising innovation before developing the chosen concept further.
3. Concept Development
Preparing your invention idea for prototype production; focusing all concept development efforts on the engineering of the product by creating 3D CAD models of all required parts, whilst ensuring any essential components are specified and sourced.
4. Initial Prototype Construction
Taking the established concept and building a physical prototype with the aim of testing the design; identifying areas of improvement and further development, often using 3D printing or other production and fabrication processes depending on the materials used.
5. Further Development and Prototyping
The CAD design is amended with any changes identified during the assembly and prototype testing process. Once complete, these updates may lead to the need for new parts or rebuilding the original prototype. It’s typical for several prototypes to be built in order to refine and perfect an invention design before progressing to manufacture.
6. Design for Manufacture
Making any necessary adjustments to the proven product design, and compiling manufacturing specifications, 3D CAD files, engineering drawings and Bill of Materials. All of the documents a factory will need to quote and produce your product.
7. Manufacturing Support
Supporting you to find, select, and communicate with manufacturers and factories to ensure the manufacturing process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Obtaining production costs, supporting, and advising you at every stage of manufacture to help guarantee the first batch comes off of the production line as you envisaged.
Electronic Product Development Process
1. Research
Looking at existing products and technologies, to outline components and main features required in the electronics design. Working with you to establish your project’s brief, target user, Unique Selling Points, setting up the foundation for a successful product development journey. Our design workshops are a great tool if you wish to work directly with our design team on this.
2. Concept Product Design
Creating different concepts that deliver your brief in unique ways, in order to efficiently and practically explore fundamental elements such as functionality, style and the logistics of manufacturing. This typically involves 2 – 3 concept product designs, maximising innovation before developing the chosen concept further.
3. Concept Development & Electronic Spec
Preparing your invention idea for prototype production; focusing all concept development efforts on the engineering of the product by creating 3D CAD models of all required parts, whilst ensuring any essential components are specified.
Compiling and Electronic Specification document that specifies the project’s requirements, ahead of discussions with our partner hardware and firmware partners.
4. Electronic Hardware Design & Build
The Electronics Specification document is shared with our electronics engineering partners, for the construction of the initial, functional electronic prototype. This might initially be comprised of off-the-shelf parts and compute modules to validate the system before entering more complex bespoke PCB production.
5. Initial Prototype Construction
Taking the established concept and tested electronic assembly and building a physical prototype with the aim of testing the design; identifying areas of improvement and further development, often using 3D printing or other production and fabrication processes depending on the materials used.
6. Further Development and Prototyping
The CAD design is amended with any changes identified during the assembly and prototype testing process. The electronics hardware and software are refined. Once complete, these updates may lead to the need for new parts or rebuilding the original prototype. It’s typical for several prototypes to be built in order to refine and perfect an invention design before progressing to manufacture.
7. Design for Manufacture
Making any necessary adjustments to the proven product design, and compiling manufacturing specifications, 3D CAD files, engineering drawings and Bill of Materials. All of the documents a factory will need to quote and produce your product.
8. Manufacturing Support
Supporting you to find, select, and communicate with manufacturers and factories to ensure the manufacturing process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Obtaining production costs, supporting, and advising you at every stage of manufacture to help guarantee the first batch comes off of the production line as you envisaged.
Fast Track Sourcing – using existing products or parts
1. Design Specification
By producing a document covering each aspect of your intended product we can collate all the necessary information required to communicate effectively with our partners in stage 2. If you have provided us with this detail we can skip this stage.
2. Sourcing & Project Research
We will reach out to our network of suppliers and sourcing agents to try and identify existing products/components that can be bought in and modified/used for integration into your new design.
3. Design Development
Continue with Typical Product Process for any remaining custom parts needed or for bringing sourced items together in a bespoke casing for example.
Your product design partners
As well as our in-house team of experienced product designers, Idea Reality has extensive workshop facilities at our premises, plus access to a network of specialist suppliers and prototype manufacturers; providing you with the knowledge, experience, and manufacturing contacts you need to make your invention idea a reality and bring it successfully to market.
Our experienced Hampshire-based product design team are here to guide, advise and support you from the initial concept design through to prototype and manufacture drawings.
Along with understanding the process and time implications you will also want an idea of costs. As the design has not yet been fully conceived it is impossible to quote exact costs but estimates can be given based on the type of product, size and complexity.
