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"Luminous Art & Design :: Art & Artists"
Product Design :: Biography and Books"
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Product design is the process of idea generation, concept development, testing and manufacturing or implementing the object or service. Product design is especially important for manufacturers whose products are in a very competitive sales climate.
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Product design is the whole process of idea generation, concept development, testing and manufacturing or implementing the object or service. Product design covers more than industrial design and is an essential part of product development.
Product designers conceptualize and evaluate ideas. The design must meet a broad array of requirements; effective and reliable performance, economically manufacturable, possible to sell with profits, suit the purpose of the consumer, durable, safe, and economical to operate. Esthetics is important in product design, but the designer also has to consider technology and ergonomics. This means that the role of a product designer is very broad and includes the characteristics of the marketing manager, product manager, industrial designer and design engineer.
Marketing factors that influence the design are the functionality and positioning with respect to the main competitors. Technical influences are often limits on investment for new tooling or components needed. The standards, costs and performance of the manufacturer need to be respected. Commercial factors that should be taken into account are related to sales planning and targets. New ideas for products offer advantages for the consumer, but also for the manufacturer. It does not only fulfill a need of the consumer, but will increase market share, improve margins and create new business opportunities for the manufacturer.
Usually, the product designer makes sketches of a new product idea for the client to judge. The initial ideas are worked through in more detail and a concept is developed. Design development is all about intent for eventual production. Every aspect of the product is defined and a finished model is created, so that marketing and engineering managers know what the product is like and can set their targets. The product designer often also carries through the development of design parts, prototyping and production or steer a technical team through the process.
Product design is important for any company that manufactures physical products, especially those whose products are in a very competitive sales climate. A well-designed product can increase market share, obtain wider distribution, improve margins, decrease manufacturing costs, and increase revenue by creating new sales opportunities. The design of the product has a high impact on marketing, development, logistics, distribution, sales, and customer service.
And of course the product itself is the most important personification of the company.
The focus of product design is more and more towards the user. Future product design will have a stronger focus on customization and user-designed products. Some companies give the users the ability to make design decisions for parts of the product. An example is the Puma Mongolian Shoe BBQ. The idea is based on the original Mongolian barbecues where everyone cooks their own meat. Consumers can choose the ‘ingredients’ that will be used to make their own design. Other companies invest more and more in researching the customers needs to try to anticipate the perfect product. A future development in product design will be co-creating. Co-creation is a step further than customizing. Consumers have an active role in the key decisions of the creation of the product and not just select different colors.
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