Tips to Get Started with Your New Product Prototype Development

Year 2014 is in full swing, and we are sure that most of you would have formally or informally made some resolutions on your to-do list of the year. At the end of the day, most business owners would have vowed to get their product idea off the ground. It is quite easy to fantasize about a new product development and see your product decorated on store shelves; however, there are hundreds of backend processes that need to take place first.

Being a California based product manufacturing company, GID would like to take a moment to discuss some of the necessary steps you can take to get your concept out of your head and get a great “Works-Like” new prototype that will propel you on your way to success. A brand new product prototype development is a key part of making your concept a profitable reality. This is the product that you will put forward to your future investors to convince them. Here are some of the key points you should consider when developing a prototype.

1.   Get Started

As a first step, for product prototype development, you will need someone proficient in drafting software, such as CAD and its variations. First of all, generate a digital mock-up of your product that can be viewed on a 3D plane. Check, whether the connections, balance and angles are mathematically sound.

2.   Try to Keep it Simple

When developing a product prototype, remember that the fewer parts it has, the better. For example, if you are manufacturing an electronic prototype, ensure you don’t have too many complicated connections. If you are offering a physical non-tech product, make is artistically pleasing and simple looking.

Follow the thumb-rule – use as few parts as possible to develop the most consistent-looking design. If it is feasible to combine multiple components into one, then just do it. Try to keep your product simple, as it will produce a unique impression.

3.   Transforming the Digital into the Physical

Now, as you have an optimized digital prototype of your concept, move on to the next step and make it real. Following the diagrams you created on your computer, use cardboard, wood or foam to make a non-functional replica of your product. The process of developing a replica can be time-consuming and frustrating, but it is an important step to get the physical feel of your product. Once it is ready, you need to analyze it to find out whether it is the design you were aiming for or not.

4.   Transforming the Physical into the Functional

It’s time to convert your physical into a real product because meeting your potential investors with a piece of foam can be worthless. List down all the components you need. If it is a tech product, then double check its wiring or hire someone skilled in electronics. Visit your local stores, to purchase all the required materials. Fortunately, if you have access to a workbench and proper tools, then you can create a decent working prototype by yourself.

5.   Refine Your Prototype

Don’t worry, if your newly developed product prototype appears like a high school metal shop project. It is your first time; therefore, chances are it won’t look professional at all. However, keep the physical appearance aside for a while and test the functionality, because if it functions well, then you just have to polish the aesthetics. Possibly, you may need to generate numerous prototypes before you finalize one that is more in line, with what you had wished for in the beginning. However, once you do, you have a presentable prototype for your investors and also for the next production phase.

6.   Include Instruction

Once you present your fully functional product prototype to your investors, you will want to add a printed guide on its assembly. Carry two prototypes with you – one assembled and another disassembled, so you can demonstrate the innards of the product. Make your investors conscious about the costs of all the components and your prospective retail price. This will give them a clear idea of all-important profit margin. However, be careful that companies and investors may steal your concept if you give them too many details. To avoid such circumstances, you can draft a non-disclosure agreement by a local lawyer.

Getting started with a new / custom product development is sometimes a frustrating job. You can use these tips to get your concept on the way to market. Sketch your concepts, do some market research, and start developing some prototypes for your product.

We can help, if you need more information on product prototype development or custom product manufacturing. You can see some of our developed products.

For any kind of assistance, call us at 714-323-1052 or fill this form.

The Importance of Product Prototype Development for Your Innovative Idea

Most inventors of a new product are often so enthusiastic about their latest product that they immediately proceed for a quick production and launch. This strategy, however, is not the right strategy, and it will probably end up in a failure.

You might be wondering, what is wrong getting the new product idea into gear straightaway. You have done the market research and have the right data; you know that there is an excellent market for your innovative product; then why shouldn’t you quickly get your new product to the market and start maximizing your profit? Well, there is a simple and logical reason for not doing this. You do not know yet whether your new product actually works or not. You still do not know whether you can mass manufacture that product efficiently and cost-effectively. Besides, despite knowing that there is an excellent market (based on your market research), you still do not know whether your target consumers will accept the new product. Therefore, the best way to know that your product works and will be embraced by the consumers is to create and test a prototype first.

A product prototype development will take your amazing idea to the papers (you can formally call it blueprints) and then turn it into a real-life working model. A prototype is, in fact, a real working version of your well-thought-out product that functions or does everything the way you want it to do.

An eminent product prototype development company will develop a prototype using precise specifications as if the product was in production; however, they will not mass manufacture it yet, but will produce only a single item. One fundamental aspect of a working prototype is that it has to be designed and developed in such a manner that it represents the product, which can be mass produced before the launch, at an economical price.

 It all depends upon the type of new product idea you have in mind. Let us have an overview of each of the product prototype types.

Mechanical Prototype

A mechanical prototype is one, which we can define as physically made from some material and has some mechanics involved. All the materials used for this type of prototype have to be real materials and the mechanics used should be as per the specifications. These materials and mechanics will later become part of the product ready for the mass production. This type of prototype will help refine the product design and mechanics, and at the same time, help judge the performance of the materials you plan to use.

Software Prototype

A software prototype is one, which does not have any physical characteristics, such as online transaction systems or a simple product, like a website. Creating a prototype software normally involves two stages – developing an “alpha” version and a “beta” version. In the alpha version, the development company will gradually develop various software features. Once they develop the necessary features, they will change that alpha version to a beta version. In the beta version, the development company will perform various tests and adjust the software as per the desired results. Beta versions are often distributed to users in order to get some valuable feedback. Based on the feedback, creating an excellent final software product is possible.

Electronics Prototype

Electronics prototype is one, which involves constructing an electrical circuit using a stripboard, breadboard, and various other electrical components. Based on the theoretical design, a prototype development company will build an actual circuit in order to verify whether the circuit can perform the desired functions or not. To a theoretical electronics design, this type of prototype is a physical platform where debugging is possible in order to achieve the desired results.

Product prototype development is essential for three major reasons:

  1. A prototype serves as a basis for the actual product, which you can introduce in the market with maximum confidence and minimum risk. Besides, once you have a working prototype, you will now at least know that it is possible or viable to manufacture the actual product.

  2. A prototype is a real, feasible thing that can easily excite the investors. With a product prototype and the data from your market research, you can create an excellent business plan that will show the potential of your product in the market to the investors.

  3. A prototype is a working model of your idea that you can use as a basis for various marketing tests. With the working model, you will be able to conduct primary marketing research, which will indeed help you hone your approach to the market.

Points to Consider Before Product Prototype Development

 It is an early stage of product development and a prototype of a product is developed to test and trial a new design to encase precision by system analysts and users. As it offers specifications for a real and working system rather than a theoretical one, product prototype development is gaining immense popularity among the product-based companies across the globe.

Prototype Plays a Crucial Role in Product Development

Hundreds and thousands of new products decorate the store shelves every day; but, have you ever thought about how these products saw the daylight from the bare imagination. All of these products have underwent a lengthy evolution process before you rested your eyes on them. A custom product development process includes three major phases; designing phase, prototyping phase and the production phase. All the three phases are equally important; but, let’s focus on product prototyping.
A product prototype is a working model of your ideas, which allows you to test the pros and cons of ideas before it enters the market. Most products-based companies run through numerous prototypes while developing a new product as to get a clear understanding about, how customers will use it, and whether it will stand up to the expectations or not.

In most cases, the process of product prototype development and testing is repeated multiple times until the desired result is obtained. Each time, the product design is improved with stuff added or removed to outline a final and working prototype. The working prototype is the final version and is designed to manufacture the fully functional end product. A working prototype exhibits the final look, functions and feel about the product to be developed.

Points to Consider Before Prototype Development

A fully functional prototype helps engineers to create the final product with specified functions. However, there are some important points to consider before you start prototyping your ideas.

  • What will be your product’s attributes and characteristics?
  • What you want to offer via product that others on the market don’t?
  • What will be your product’s lifespan?
  • What is its purpose?
  • Is there any need of new technology to manufacture the product?
  • Where will it be developed, packaged, promoted and sold?
  • What will be the manufacturing cost, and what will be its price in market?
  • Whether your product is obeying government regulations or not?
  • Is your product safe and eco-friendly?
  • Is it going to face patent infringements, or other possible hang-ups?

Where Can I Go For Product Prototype Development?

As we all know, every product starts with an idea; but, bringing that idea into a fully functional prototype demands time, money, experts and a lot of hard work. Fortunately, there are some resources like GID who has the potential to bring ideas to life. GID is a product development company based in California filled with like-minded professionals who loves to collaborate and transform ideas into reality with rapid prototyping.

GID – Get it Done is a high standard product development firm that specializes in producing prototypes for plastic, production equipment, metal, electronic and many more. For more information, you can contact our professionals at info@gidcompany.com or Visit our website: https://www.gidcompany.com/our-portfolio to view our Product development Portfolio.