If you’re a product developer, you might already know how challenging the new product development process can get, especially once you get to the point when you need to build a prototype.
Product prototypes are among the most time-consuming and expensive stages of the product development process. You need to develop a unique and new item, build it from scratch, and check to see if you missed anything so you can change it before it’s too late. However, most of these problems are now eradicated with the help of technology. This article discusses how digital prototyping influences company product development and design.
Table of contents
Digital prototyping defined
Digital prototyping refers to the concept of creating real-world product models. Product models allow product developers to acquire early feedback from potential product users without releasing the product to market. Here, the prototypes are produced digitally with all the necessary transitions and animations that resemble the actual product. This differs from a throwaway or paper prototype, as product details are the main focus of digital prototypes.
During digital prototyping, the product’s functioning model is made before its actual development. It is made possible with the help of different tools for digital prototyping available in the market. Being in a digital format, these digital prototypes allow developers to quickly iterate and make a few adjustments without too much hassle, according to the feedback from the users.
The following primary phases are part of the digital prototyping process:
- Analysis of the problem and exploration of the product and its core idea.
- Brainstorming on the prototype’s development in digital format.
- Development of a real-world model of the prototype that allows testing using a reliable tool.
- Presentation of the prototype model to potential users to obtain valuable insights.
- Adjust the prototype based on the acquired feedback and start the process again.
RELATED: How much does it cost to make a prototype for my new product invention?
Principles of digital prototyping
Aside from helping you create prototypes that are as realistic as possible, digital prototyping has the following broad principles:
Build enough to learn but nothing else beyond that
Digital prototypes are not fully functioning designs. Instead, these digital prototype designs function as a test to answer critical questions regarding your hypothesis. Will people buy your product online? You can’t wait to test and develop your products at this point. Digital product prototype images will help answer the question and show how to fill the orders to ensure that clients won’t be disappointed.
You can discard prototypes
The main point is that digital prototypes are meant to be produced only as part of the product to present the appearance and features of the product and not necessarily the product itself. This is when you will test the idea. It means you’ll be wasting time if you spend more extended hours than necessary on prototype development. Aside from that, working longer on something will only increase your attachment to it. Depending on customer feedback, it’s never recommended to be too attached to a prototype because of the possibility of pivoting 180 degrees.
Anything can be developed into a prototype
There’s often significant time pressure when making digital prototypes. However, you can prototype almost anything under the sun.
RELATED: Elevating your company using CAD product design services during product development
Why is digital prototyping important in product development and design?
Digital prototyping services can help you save money and time and assist with complex conversions to create better products. Developing digital prototypes offers many benefits, and the following are the most important ones:
Accuracy
You can create modern digital prototypes with excellent tolerances that are much tighter than physical prototypes. It lets developers create an accurate model of how the product’s production version might function without the need to go through the trouble of building it.
Visual aid for meticulous feedback
If you’ve ever tried articulating a visual concept, you know how difficult it can be. Sometimes, you may use paper and pen to illustrate your product concept. Digital prototypes work to help create visual representations to allow feedback.
Attainable
There’s a reason why digital prototyping plays a critical role in companies’ product development and design processes. The expertise and software required to work it are tricky, if possible, to implement on a smaller scale. However, this is starting to change gradually with the improved accessibility of digital prototyping technology, even for more minor scales.
Validate business goals
It’s common for businesses not to understand their goals aside from lowering costs and making money. Digital prototyping will force a company to see solutions in full action and consider whether these will solve their concerns.
Better collaboration
In today’s manufacturing industry, an entire product design team typically works together on just one prototype. This is why it’s invaluable to be able to work on similar data at the same time. This luxury is possible with the help of a good package for digital prototyping.
Collaboration is fundamental for the success of any project. When the product development team works with a client, they meet regularly to run through things they’re working on. Introducing digital prototyping at this stage allows clients to work with the team to troubleshoot issues that require their technical expertise and industry knowledge.
Compatibility
Pen and paper prototype designs still come in handy in various respects. However, there’s no way that you can manipulate them. Digital prototypes can be tweaked endlessly, and multiple versions can be kept in storage that can be worked on using different devices.
Efficiency
Since it’s possible to conduct digital prototyping faster, it ensures a more thorough prototyping stage as part of the production process. It results in products superior to those that undergo the creaking cumbersomeness of traditional projects.
Lower budget
The first and most important concern of most product developers and freelance product designers is the cost involved in prototyping. Digital prototyping minimizes the need to build something. As a result, it lowers the materials and labor necessary for the process.
RELATED: Guide to prototyping methods used in product development services for companies and firms
Testing
One of the most critical purposes of digital prototyping is to confirm that the product will work as it is meant to. It also ensures that any initial errors will be addressed before the actual production stage. Since creating digital prototypes is faster, more tests can be conducted before abandoning the production stage.
Large applications may also take several months to reach the point where users can offer feedback. Digital prototyping can cut down this process so that users are given the chance to test the product. Digital prototypes are also faster to build and change and come in handy for validating new ideas for the product developer.
Shared understanding
One of the almost unavoidable concerns during product development is assuming everyone is on the same page regarding the idea. While some may recognize the limitations of concepts and techniques, others may not. Some developers may also misinterpret certain features specific to the industry since they lack information regarding how things work. Digital prototyping allows all parties to reach a shared understanding since the details are fully visualized.
Singular point of reference for developers and designers
Information is acquired from various places, including project managers, client meetings, emails, use stories, and more when a project starts. Consolidating everything into a digital prototype allows developers and designers a source of truth that they can refer to so they can start with product development.
Speed up the development process
Regarding product development, building products will be faster if the details have been hashed out in full and the number of reworks is minimized. Spending time on digital prototyping can help catch some of the issues that may otherwise show up during the actual development, which may result in longer delays to the product’s release.
Time
Digital prototyping also helps shorten the production stage as much as possible. It shortens the product development cycle, allowing better agility for the manufacturer when launching the product in the market.
Confirm user needs
The most severe concern about new products is when they don’t fully cater to the target users’ needs. It often happens when the product developer assumes they have a fantastic idea that people will buy without bothering to check if they will buy it. Digital prototyping offers a rudimentary means for product developers to match with users and confirm if the product will simplify their lives.
Explore challenging concepts
Several concepts are difficult to understand and may be more challenging to design. Since digital prototyping isn’t focused on the details alone, it allows for exploring concerns without being too focused on trivial details.
RELATED: 5 ways how rapid product development & prototyping benefits your company
How Cad Crowd can help
Cad Crowd will help you find skilled digital prototyping professionals for easier product development and design. Our product prototyping experts will provide top-notch services that will help you simplify and streamline your product design and development process. With Cad Crowd, you can bring your new products to life efficiently and effectively and take your product development to the next level. Get a free quote now!
