| Producing a finished product from concept to shelf | | | | distributors, focus studies to see how consumers |
| is a long process. At some point the design needs | | | | respond to it, and create brochures so |
| to leave the world of drawing and become a | | | | promotional efforts can start early. |
| three dimensional object. This step should not wait | | | | By including marketing as part of the design |
| until final production. Creating of a prototype, | | | | process from day one, changes can be made |
| either a non-working mockup or a functional test | | | | early in the development of the product. Your |
| object, is a critical part of the design process. | | | | internal testers might like the layout of the |
| Design Evaluation | | | | custom keypads but consumers might decide |
| It is surprising how often a design that looks good | | | | they are too busy or confusing. Distributors and |
| on paper comes off as clumsy when actually | | | | retailers might have input on the size and shape |
| produced. There is something about the way our | | | | of the device based on how it is to be shipped or |
| brains translate two-dimensional images into | | | | displayed at point of sale. Something as seemingly |
| three-dimensional concepts that sometimes | | | | trivial as a clashing choice of colors can be |
| misses the mark. We need to look at the finished | | | | discovered early and corrected before mass |
| object to get a feel for how the consumer will | | | | production. |
| react to it. | | | | Production Tests |
| The prototype allows the team to test how it | | | | Development of the prototype is a window on |
| feels. How neatly does a small device fit in the | | | | how full production will be carried out. |
| user's palm? How easily can a person reach all the | | | | Complications in the manufacturing of custom |
| controls on custom keypads of larger devices? | | | | keypads or other parts might result in simple or |
| Testers may find themselves intuitively wishing | | | | even radical design changes to avoid those |
| the controls were an inch to the left or the | | | | problems in the future. Again, it is better to find |
| buttons were bigger. | | | | these problems in the prototype stage than after |
| A single prototype can be designed with multiple | | | | ordering ten thousand units to be produced. |
| custom keypads so that different button layouts | | | | Even for devices that will see limited distribution, |
| can be tested without needing to alter the overall | | | | the prototyping process is a key element in the |
| design. Testers can decide which keypad is the | | | | overall design. Manufacturing of the prototype can |
| most efficient and aesthetic choice. | | | | reveal more efficient ways to perform the |
| Marketing Demonstrations | | | | production that could save the company money. |
| Even the best design in the world will fail without | | | | Less expensive production can either mean a |
| proper marketing. A prototype allows your | | | | greater profit margin or a price advantage over |
| marketing team to conduct presentations to find | | | | the competition. |