The 1990s marked the beginning and rise of product design, also called industrial design. With the increased production of new inventions such as household appliances and cars, companies realized how vital new product design is and its connection to customer loyalty.
Industrial design services have existed for over 30 years, and it is easy to forget that the practice is still evolving. Companies can choose different options if they need help from product design experts, and working with freelance new product design services is the best way to build new products that customers will love.
Should your company work with a product design agency in the first place? How do you choose the right team for your needs? Keep on reading to make the best decision for your company.
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What is a product designer?
Product design is developing new products that a business can sell to its customers. It is about identifying the customer’s pain points and working out the best ways to address them.
A new product designer looks for opportunities to develop products that fill the gap other products cannot. After the product designer has targeted the specific pain points that will be addressed by their design, they will figure out how to develop the best product for that purpose. They then create the product, test it, and polish it until it is ready to launch.
A product designer is in charge of more than the appearance and packaging alone; they also spearhead the innovation process from beginning to end. The best product designers focus on the end user, not only the product itself. Designing a great-sounding product that doesn’t sell at all is easy. However, developing a specific product with a particular audience is much more helpful to ensure it serves an authentic need.
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Should you hire an in-house product design team or outsource?
Even if you are already a reputed company that plans to tap into new markets or a novice entrepreneur with a great product idea, you can’t wait to bring it to market. One of the most critical questions you need to answer is whether to outsource to a third-party product design team or hire an internal one.
Launching a product is challenging; from deciding on the budget to bring the product to market, you also need to consider the experience of the people in charge of the design.
Here are some benefits of outsourcing product designs:
1. Product design teams bring expertise and experience
Looking for software, hardware, and freelance mechanical engineering services may seem simple. However, hiring individuals for mass production who can develop the prototype and consider the complexity and cost of the project is challenging. One of the main reasons why many hardware products and startups fail is that they need proper planning and a sufficient budget, and outsourcing to a product design team can become a worthwhile investment.
Many third-party companies provide an ideation package with a project designer road map, product specification document (PSD), and market requirement document (MRD). The package checks the project and its technological feasibility.
Aside from a road map, it can also come with a budget that outlines the possible expenses incurred throughout the project duration that new startup teams often forget or take for granted. However, whether you work with a third-party design team or build your in-house team, you can expect to spend several thousand to complete proper planning. It is an investment that defines the failure or success of your project.
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2. Product design teams are cost-effective
Creating a product development team, hiring a project manager, evaluating the market, coordinating the manufacturing, and developing and learning the necessary skills for bringing the product to market are some obstacles to deciding whether you should build an in-house product design team. Among the main barriers to having a cost-effective product design team is the process of recruitment and training essential skills once you have brought the new team together.
How can product design companies design new products more cost-effectively? For one, third-party companies already have dedicated teams that have learned and developed skills after working on other similar projects. These firms also take individuals with various talents and backgrounds, including industrial designers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, supply chain experts, and regulatory and quality control personnel.
Since different backgrounds are necessary, forming a full-time team with the right expertise is complex, and the product design stage may only last several months, so it wouldn’t make sense to hire a full-time team. However, getting the dedication and commitment required for hiring contractors might take a lot of work. Due to these reasons, consider a freelance product design team or new product design expert if they suit your new product design needs.
3. Product design teams have developed processes
Chaos is the best word to describe the scenario when companies dive into product design and development. Putting out the fire may be necessary, and the product launch may be delayed. The best firefighter is a properly developed and tested process. Freelance new product design services teams have long years of experience testing and working with operations to ensure that everything will be noticed and quality will be integrated into the general design.
How to choose a product design team
The best product design teams use design thinking, which means their initial focus is the end user. Good designers combine people’s needs and innovation to develop products that users cannot live without.
Hire a creative product design team that thinks outside the box and ensures creativity, business know-how, and an understanding of what makes your businesses successful. Great product designers also take advantage of the power and potential of modern technology. Although the best solution isn’t always the “techiest,” product designers should be familiar with cutting-edge technology in the industry and how to put it to work.
RELATED: The Product Development Process Explained in 3 Stages
How do product design teams work?
What happens in the day in the life of a product designer? It may vary depending on the specific stage of their design process. Below are the different phases in the product design process:
1. Research
Research is the first step in the product design phase when your product design team will understand your product’s potential users. They will also research competitors to check what their products lack. A good design team understands the audience to help them develop a better design. It is the most prolonged phase since it is also the most critical.
2. Target
During the research stage, the agency determines the targeted pain points or specific problems that the audience experiences. For example, a common pain point among consumers was the need for more time for grocery shopping, and several companies addressed this pain point by introducing grocery delivery services. Before proceeding with the design, the design team must be able to specify the specific customer challenges the product will address.
3. Design
The design stage is a single step in a product design job. After identifying the pain points, it is time to design a product to resolve them. It is a creative process, and different agencies or people may use various methods at this point. The best product design and development experts typically brainstorm, wireframe, and sketch at this stage to visualize the product and its new end-to-end experience.
4. Prototype
After the product design team has landed on the new product direction, they can build a prototype. A prototype can be a simple sketch illustrating the feature of the product or something tangible, like a clickable prototype that allows user interaction. Prototype design engineering services are essential as they make it possible to get real users’ feedback before the final product is built.
5. Test
It is time to test the prototype with users who match the product’s target audience. During these tests, the design team will learn if the product has flaws or needs improvement. It is also the time to gain actionable insights regarding the product from a few user interviews.
6. Refinement
Refinement of the product addresses the problems that the testing revealed. It may be a few tweaks or a more extensive redesign.
7. Launch and Analysis
New product launch to the market aims to be bug-free and efficient. Following the launch, the new product design services team will proceed to analysis mode. Once the public gets their hands on the product, the team will evaluate its success.
For instance, when developing a new consumer product design, the consumer product design team will determine what went wrong if it didn’t meet the user’s needs. However, if the finished product succeeds, the agency will use the data to develop a better design iteration for next time.
RELATED: How Product Design Companies Help Entrepreneurs Succeed with New Inventions
How Cad Crowd can help
We recognize the complexities of product development and offer various services to support your process. Our skilled freelance new product designers and engineers excel in 3D modeling, prototyping, engineering analysis, and design for manufacturing services (DFM).
Post your project on our platform, receive competitive bids, and find the perfect match to meet your requirements. We ensure professional and efficient collaboration with secure payments and project management tools.
Contact us today to elevate your product development and request a free quote.
