The toy industry is worth billions of dollars with new products being developed from individuals to large companies. However, before launching a toy into the market, numerous steps are involved to turn a conceptual idea into a physical product. One of the most important is the prototyping step, which is the first time you realize your idea in physical space. It will give you insights on how it looks and works, but sometimes more importantly it shows you what doesn’t work. Doing this prototyping process quickly will give you benefits to ensure your product is what the consumer wants and needs out of a toy. Getting this feedback early with each iteration is critical to ensure it succeeds in the market.
Rapid Prototyping of Toys
Rapid prototyping is simply creating your physical product to obtain information in a quick manor. This information can range depending on the complexity, but generally you can obtain if your idea can be created in physical space, if people like it, if moving parts work, and if it provides the entertainment you envisioned.
For toys, it is crucial to get it in the hands of the audience (adults, teenagers, or kids) that will be buying it to get feedback on what they like and don’t like to ensure they will buy the final product. The process of prototyping and learning is repeated numerous times at a rapid pace when new information is learned. You’ll go through design iterations, product pivots, and even possibly complete re-designs. Obtaining quick and clear information on the product and how the initial market views it is crucial to the product’s success. Using a scaled model and different materials for these initial prototypes isn’t crucial to obtaining the most important information needed at the beginning phase.
Information Learned from Toy Prototypes
All information, good or bad, obtained from prototyping is valuable to move the product design forward. It gives you an actual object to physically hold, touch, move, and even play with to get a more in-depth understanding of your product. Your first prototype is often a very rewarding experience, as you get to finally see your conceptual idea as a real product. A few reasons why rapid prototyping is crucial to your product’s success are:
- You can spot flaws and potential problems you couldn’t see on paper or in a digital format.
- This allows you to quickly make design changes to fix in your next prototype.
- Makes it easier to attract potential investors.
- Being able to show a functional, presentation, or even home-made prototype gives your investors something to more easily wrap their head around and support you.
- Allows you to put a product in the hands of your audience.
- They can provide feedback you may not have thought about, as they will be the ones purchasing your product.
- Creates a dialogue with potential customers.
- Enables you to move quicker from idea to the market.
- Allows you to either blitz the market or get some cash in your pockets quicker.
- Brings superior quality to end product
- The information obtained from the prototypes allows you to make a better well rounded product that was created with feedback from actual users.
Moving to the prototyping phase early is very advantageous due to the amount of information you can obtain, so don’t delay this process for initial design perfection. The prototype does not need to be 100% functional, but will be a proof-of-concept and made well enough to accurately relay the product’s purpose. The goal is to move through the process quickly, making knowledgeable iterations to keep obtaining information to better the product.
Toy Prototyping Importance Example: Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube didn’t come to fruition overnight. The inventor, Rubik Erno, made numerous prototypes before the final version that we see today was created. He initially started on a 2×2 design, that was similar to the design of Larry Nichols, who had a patent on it. However, Rubik had a greater idea and wanted to create an object that had independently movable components, but was still held together like a structure. Very hard to realize or sketch this concept, so multiple prototypes were made to get to the final design we see today.
The prototype process is shown in Figures 1-2 below. Who knows what would’ve happened if Rubik didn’t prototype quick and then obtain his patent. Would Larry Nichols have joined suit on the 3x3x3 or would Frank Fox design a cube instead of a sphere? Either way, the quick learning on functionality and creating a unique, challenging puzzle for Rubik’s audience led it to be one of the most successful toys created.
Figure 1: Rubik’s 2×2 and 3x3x3 prototypes with a wooden core. Source: www.ruwix.com
Figure 2: Rubik’s final design with removable plastic pieces. Source: www.ruwix.com
Tips Before Rapid Prototyping Your Toy Design
Like any product, it starts with an idea. To accurately relay your idea, or invention, to designers, manufacturers, and the market you need to clarify it. This usually includes the following:
- What is the product’s purpose?
- What does it do?
- What are the main features?
- Who is your target market?
- Why will your product succeed?
- How will it be put together?
- What type of materials will it be made out of?
Next, sketch out your idea on paper at multiple different angles and from a component standpoint. You can then use these sketches and drawings to create a 3D model, which Cad Crowd can help with if needed. The process of creating your 3D model is informative and rewarding, as you can see your idea rendered in virtual 3D space. Once you are satisfied with the initial design, you should get it prototyped as soon as possible to ensure it can be manufactured. You can design the greatest product in the world, but if it can’t be physically made it is pointless.
Note: Often times small businesses or individuals are worried about protecting their intellectual property (IP). In this case, the IP is your idea on how the toy looks and functions. If you are using Cad Crowd, all of our designers have already signed a Confidential NDA to keep your product idea safe. Before the prototype phase, you may also want to file a provisional patent. This will cover you during the prototype and iteration phase, but after the final product is designed a utility patent should be pursued.
Toy Prototyping Methods
The initial rapid prototypes should be made with the most readily available material. This can be as simple as wood, cardboard, paper, or even Legos. The purpose is to get a general idea of what you are working with and turn your conceptual idea into physical space. As your start more iterations, the material selection may come into play. You can then transition from your readily available materials into an actual manufacturing method for a similar material needed for your product, but ensure it can be created quick and cheap (as numerous ones will be needed). The most common method will be 3D design & 3D printing. You don’t need to use the final material, but having an idea on the final material will give you a better idea on the material to prototype with.
Next Steps after Prototyping
The next steps are really dependent on your product, finances, and business plan:
- Attract Investors
- A final prototype can be used for a functional or presentational prototype to attract initial or additional investors to move the business further.
- Utility Patent
- This will protect your design.
- Test the market
- You can continue making small batches to prove out the market before diving into higher quantity production.
- Manufacture
- Now that you finalized your design, you can contact manufacturers for your material and process to get it made.
- You can also explore the option of manufacturing yourself if you have the capabilities.
Cad Crowd Services for New Toy Design & Concept Prototypes
We have experience, a selection of design professionals, and manufacturing contacts to help you go from an idea to a prototype. After completing the “Before Rapid Prototyping your Toy” section, send in your project description for a free quote to start your process of turning a conceptual idea to a real life toy for many to enjoy.
