Especially for Inventors: Product Development and Consulting
We will help you design and refine your product idea — contact us today to request help with your product development.
Our project managers will follow your project from concept to reality, and design it to your specifications in the most timely, cost-effective manner. Drawing on our expertise in the manufacturing industry, we will oversee all aspects of your product’s development, with your confidentiality and best interests always at the forefront.
Example: A Custom Tool Rack
Typical Stages of the Concept 2 Reality Design Process:
The product design process includes a standard series of steps normally followed by designers. Depending on your needs, we will likely work on your idea through the following process:
Pre-production design
Design brief – a statement of the customer’s design goals for product development- Specification – specifying requirements of the design
- Problem solving – conceptualizing and documenting design solutions
- Presentation – presenting design solutions by creating a computerized 3D model
Design during production
- Development – continuation and improvement of a computer designed solution
- Testing – producing a rapid prototype of the design for fit and function
Post-production design feedback for future designs
- Implementation – evaluating the 3d model in a real world situation (Does it work? Is it strong enough to last?)
- Evaluation and conclusion – summary of process and results, including suggestions for future improvements
Redesign
- Any or all stages in the product development process repeated (with corrections made) at any time before, during, or after production
Case Study: A “Destiny Switch” for Dynamic Destinies Inc.
Challenge
Dynamic Destinies Inc. is an organization with over 25 years in the self-help and growth industry. The founder, Peggy McColl, is a New York Times bestselling author. She wanted to develop a completely interactive program based on her bestselling book “Your Destiny Switch“.
The Book explains the scale of human emotions, and demonstrates how emotional states influence people’s lives. A web-based system already existed, for analyzing the complete range of human emotions on an individual basis. This application enabled users of the program to set emotional goals and track their progress through a period of time; however, this implied that the individual’s success would depend on independent perseverance toward their goals. The challenge was to develop an ergonomically pleasing representation of the concepts in the book and the online application, to motivate individuals to stay focused on their goals.
Main Requirements
- Ease-of-use: The device needed to be simple, yet offer a high level of functionality.
- Interactive: It required four slideable switches that could be set in any configuration, to represent complex emotional states, based on a set of four dimmer switches. Each dimmer switch had a drum with twelve selectable emotions. Users were able to set up to four emotions at a time, and mark the current emotional state for each, as determined by the online application.
- Vertical and horizontal use: Had to be used in both a free standing and flat (lap) position.
- Stand-Alone Capabilities: Required a single drawer on the side, to hold up to 20 cue cards, enabling the console to be used as a stand-alone device.
- Ergonomic: Had to look good, as it was a component of the book sale display, and feel good in the hands.
- Durability: Due to the frequent usage expected for the device, the structure had to be strong enough to withstand dropping, and the switches had to be resilient enough to be used daily for several months without wearing.
- Cost-effective: Cost of production was a major issue, due to the large volume of units to be manufactured. The design was optimized to reduce the number of screws and parts requiring manual assembly.
- Multilanguage: Multilingual versions had to be possible without redesigning the moulds. Therefore, all labels were to be easily interchangeable.
Product Development Process
After a series of information rounds with C2R, the process of creating a 3d model started. Based on blue prints and artistic renderings of the product, C2R developed the virtual model, including all its components. C2R suggested some design enhancements based on our experience with product manufacturing. We then refined the device, in order to fulfill all the device requirements.
After testing the virtual model using 3d modeling software, a rapid prototype was created, to test the physical device in terms of weight, size, and functionality. With a prototype built, we worked on resolving final issues, such as assembly and packaging, as well as collecting feedback from beta users. Concept 2 Reality then made a second rapid prototype to include the final design changes. Finally, the production files where sent to the mould manufacturers to begin production.
Result
The prototype has been showcased on numerous TV shows, and orders for the products have been received. It is the first physical device of its kind, and is expected to sell well.
