What is Physical Product Design? | Transforming Ideas into Products
Amid a generation of digitized worlds and virtual platforms, the significance of physical product design remains immense. A quick trip to the nearest supermarket or hardware store will confirm that physical consumer goods are still an essential part of our everyday lives.
That is what physical product design is all about.
Physical vs. Digital Product Design
So, what is physical product design? In simplest terms, it’s the process of creating tangible products.
Long before we were downloading apps or asking our phones for directions, all products were physical products. These were the products that you could buy from the local trading post or drop on your foot. However, after the digital revolution began a few decades ago, a new wave of designers arrived and started developing software and firmware.
This led to confusion regarding the term product design. Clarification is important as the expertise required of a digital and physical product designer is vastly different. Developing an app uses training largely separate from that of the skills needed to design a camping tent.
This is why the term “physical product design" is used to reference the design of items that can be physically held and interacted with - think of car accessories or cellphone cases.
The Three Design Pillars
At the heart of every physical product lies a blend of functionality and aesthetics. Functionality is how the product works, while aesthetics is how the product looks. Both are important aspects that play crucial roles in each customer’s decision to buy/use a product.
However, overshadowing these two pillars is the ever-present "cloud" of user experience, which influences every design decision (both functional and aesthetic). User experience is all about whether the customer actually likes using the product. This is perhaps the most important pillar because if a product works great and looks beautiful but is frustrating to use, then a customer will attempt to find an alternative.
This interplay between how a product functions, its visual appeal, and the experience it delivers to the user forms the foundation of successful design. A good physical product design will take all three into account.
It is important to note that not all consumer goods are created the same. Functionality, aesthetics, and user experience vary depending on what product is being designed. Some products aim for minimal user engagement, desiring to be inconspicuous yet effective. These products need to do their job and then fade into the background. Think of those unsung heroes in your bathroom. Others, like gaming systems or cars, aim to deliver a memorable experience every time you engage with them.
The Five Design Phases
The journey of product creation isn't as easy as some online depictions might suggest. It’s not a straight road. It’s more like a rollercoaster with its ups, downs, twists, and turns.
Physical product design is a calculated and iterative process with numerous phases. In some cases, it may be critical to turn to industry experts to help consult on different design decisions.
Here at Avail Creative, we break down product development into five separate stages.
Research Phase: While arguably the most critical stage, research is often overlooked by many businesses and entrepreneurs. Don’t get caught up in the excitement of launching a new product before any tangible work begins. Understanding the market, competitors, and potential challenges is paramount to the beginning of product development. Success in this phase will help mitigate risk and save money down the road.
Ideation Phase: This is the stage where ideas flow freely and take shape on paper through sketches and conceptualizations. Don’t be afraid of any ideas here because this phase prioritizes creativity. This is where it is helpful to think outside of the box. If you have a team, it can be beneficial to get together for a brainstorming session. After collecting ideas, you’ll need to narrow it down to the best, most feasible options to explore in the next phase.
Design & Development Phase: Using 3D software, designers transition their concepts into digital models, contemplating functionality and foreseeing potential issues. Ideas are explored from a technical standpoint and the product starts to take shape visually.
Prototyping Phase: A hands-on phase where the design transitions into tangible models. Starting with a basic 'proof of concept', multiple iterative prototypes evolve over time, culminating in a polished, final prototype that mirrors the production-ready version.
Manufacturing Phase: Once the final prototype is perfected, detailed technical spec sheets are created for each component. This meticulous process includes deciding on materials, finishes, textures, and manufacturing methods.
The Expertise Behind Product Design
Finding the right physical product designer is essential to the success of a product. There are different options available to businesses and entrepreneurs.
Freelancers: Companies can hire an individual designer to work on their product. These designers work at an hourly rate and can often be found online. This can be a cost-efficient option, but it comes with some drawbacks. Freelancers are typically limited by resources and their expertise will generally be in as field. Just like any career, no single person is quite as knowledgeable as a team.
Design Studios: We may be a bit biased here, but design studios are a great option for companies looking to launch new products. Design studios usually range from just a handful of experts to an entire team of 15 or more. These studios act as hubs for creativity, engineering, and industry knowledge, with the resources needed to handle the entire product development process from start to finish.
Corporate Design Teams: Most big companies will have design teams that will solely work internally. This is a great, albeit expensive, option as the designers tend to specialize in the company’s products, and iterative cycles can be shortened due to the collaborative environment. A lot of big companies will choose to go this route since they can afford it. However, it is not uncommon for companies with internal teams to work with studios on projects when needed.
Wrapping it Up
In essence, physical product design remains a cornerstone of our modern existence. It's a blend of art, science, and innovation. And for those aspiring to turn their own product ideas into reality, Avail Creative is here to guide and assist you.
Whatever your idea is, remember that behind every product lies a story of creativity, hard work, and passion. Let’s start writing your story today.