Industrial Design: From Idea to Market

Posted on Nov 19, 2024 in Economy

No time to plan and develop a product design? Follow these steps:

  • Idea Generation and Selection: Brainstorming, critical thinking, and research are key. Consider new technologies and consumer needs.
  • Planning, Construction, and Redesign: Define characteristics, materials, and manufacturing procedures. Use CAD and create mockups and prototypes.
  • Testing and Distribution: Ensure functionality and make necessary changes.
  • Marketing: Promote the product to consumers.

Technical Industrial Design

A precise and detailed idea transforming an industrial reality, divided into:

  • Memory
  • Plans
  • Technical Conditions
  • Budget

Generate and Select Ideas

Sources of inspiration include:

  • Imitation
  • New technologies
  • Brainstorming (ideas are heard without criticism)
  • Critical thinking (ideas are evaluated and critiqued)

Research

Aimed at finding new products and understanding consumer needs. Techniques include:

  • Trial and Error: Identifying a problem and suggesting solutions.
  • Scientific Method: Problem definition, information gathering, hypothesis testing, recording results, and drawing conclusions.

Design

Defines characteristics, materials, and manufacturing procedures. Uses graphical representation, drafts, sketches, and CAD.

Mockup and Prototypes

Mockups are objects to visualize the product. Prototypes have the same dimensions and functionality as the final product.

Technology Life Cycle

  • Emerging Technology: High risk, high potential.
  • Key Technology: Accepted by the market, competitive.
  • Foundational Technology: Industry standard.
  • Auxiliary Technology: Deprecated, used as complementary.

Companies must know and research emerging technologies, control key technologies, and leave basic technologies.

Methods Office

  1. List steps required to produce each part.
  2. Create a flow diagram of the fabrication and assembly process.
  3. Make each piece from a sheet following the outlined operations.
  4. Provide instruction sheets for each shift.
  5. Use control sheets to oversee operations and separate employees in control.

Computer-Assisted Processes

  • CAE: Computer-Aided Engineering
  • CAM: Computer-Aided Manufacturing
  • CAPP: Computer-Aided Process Planning
  • CNC: Computer Numerical Control
  • CIM: Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Supply of Materials

Just-In-Time (JIT) saves money on storage but can lead to shortages.

Standardization

Products must meet technical conditions. Standards define dimensions, materials, and uniform parts.

  • International Standard Organization (ISO)
  • European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
  • Spanish Agency for Standardization (AENOR)

Certification

Confirms a product meets specific standards.

Distribution Channels

  • Wholesale: Buys from manufacturers and sells to retailers.
  • Retail: Sells directly to consumers.

Distribution cycles can be long, average, or short.

Branding and Advertising

A brand distinguishes a product. Advertising communicates to the public, aiming to inform and position the brand.

Promotion

Techniques to increase sales volume temporarily.

Demand and Offer

Demand is the quantity consumers want to buy. Offer is the amount producers are willing to provide.