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The Product Design Cycle
You’ve come up with a concept for a new product or invention! You're excited, full of energy and ambition. This idea could change your life by providing you with financial independence and the freedom to work and play on your schedule. It may provide an additional line of income that can free you from monthly financial worries and give you a sense of pride and accomplishment to see your idea become a valuable product.
Now, what do you do and where do you start? The following page can be used as a general road map to drive your invention towards becoming a profitable product. Some ideas may not be patentable; simpler ideas may not need all of the design cycles listed here; more complicated products may need additional steps.
Please look over this Product Design Cycle and the rest of this website. And please don't hesitate to call or email us if you want to discuss you're idea and the pathway to a successful product design.
Idea - Ok, let's get moving on this while the iron is still hot.
Begin by recording your idea in as much detail as needed along with the date. Define what your product does, how it solves a problem, or how it is an improvement over current designs or methods. Make sketches of what you think it will look like and how it will be used.
Research your idea thoroughly. Use the internet, reference books, product magazines, industry directories, etc. to find any products already in use that are in any way similar or used for the same purpose. In your research, use as many different descriptive words and phrases to describe what your product is, what it does, and how it’s used. Research any products that fall into the same or similar category.
If you’re convinced your idea has promise, you can continue on in the product design cycle. If you think your product is original and may be worth protecting with a patent, the next step is to consult with a patent attorney and have a professional patent search completed. After the patent search is finished, your patent attorney will give you their opinion as to whether your product is patentable.
If your product is likely patentable, you may apply for a provisional patent. This will establish your date of invention and get on record at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) what your invention is and how it is used. The provisional patent may be just a page or two description of your product and some sketches to help clarify your writing. A provisional patent is usually pretty inexpensive and protects your idea for one year after filing, after which the information becomes public knowledge. There is a lot of information at www.uspto.gov.
Proof of Concept Design – It’s time for an Alpha prototype. Is your product feasible; can it function?
The initial prototype is usually used simply to prove that the new product can work as conceptualized. Depending on the complexity of the product, the Alpha prototype can be as simple as a cardboard cutout, a putty sculpture, or a wood mockup. A more complex product may require 3D CAD models and machined metal parts or rapid prototype plastic parts.
The Alpha prototype does not necessarily need to look nice or feel comfortable. It is only used to convince yourself and others that the product can be made to work, serves a useful purpose and is worth pursuing.
Functional Prototype Design – Beta prototype, a complete design that involves most of the product’s requirements.
The Beta prototype usually will need to be designed in 3D CAD software. A solid model of the product is designed with the software and includes all details of the product and is a real 3D representation of what you expect the final product to be.
At this point in the design cycle, all aspects of the product must be considered as the design progresses. Here is a fairly complete list of what needs to be considered during this design phase:
- Fit and Function – simply, parts are design to fit into an assembly and function together as required.
- Aesthetics and Ergonomics – the look, feel, and comfort of the product.
- Material Selection – choosing materials for each individual part that is best suited for its function.
- Method of Part Production – designing each part for the best method of production with respect to its shape and material.
- Part Production Costs – consider part material, shape, production quantities and method of production for the most cost effective manufacturing.
- Assembly Costs – design to minimize time and materials needed to assembly the manufactured parts into the final product.
- Product Life – consider the total time, number of uses and abuse the product will encounter during the expect life cycle of the product.
The Beta prototype will hopefully be a very close representation of how the final product will look and function. This working prototype can be used for demonstration purposes as well as marketing, sales and fund raising. It should also be used for testing purposes regarding quality, life cycle, safety, etc.
Patent – at this point it may make sense to file for your full Utility Patent or Design Patent. This can be done earlier in the process or later, depending on your patent attorney’s advice. See Inventors Tips.
Business Development – it may also be time to begin setting up your business, writing a business plan, marketing your company, and raising the funds you will need to sell and produce your product.
Pre-Production Design – a Pre-production version of your product is designed to give final validation before going into production.
A Pre-production design is expected to be a complete and final version of the product. It includes changes, updates and improvements that were discovered during the Beta prototype testing. The Pre-production design should be used to verify the assembly, quality and durability of the product. If this design is successful, it is time to move into production!
Production/Manufacturing – finally your product is ready to mass produce and begin producing profits! |
