design tools

There are several tools available to industrial designers. It is the responsibility of the designer to utilize all of them. Some of the most common tools that I use everyday in my designs are detailed below:

production capabilities

A designer must know the materials and manufacturing processes available to them when designing a product. Aluminum forms differently from stainless steel, and a factory might have tooling and capabilities that other factories do not. Designers cannot be independent of the manufacturing process if they expect their designs to be produced.

competitive research

A design must consider other products in the market. This is helps determine customer demand, mandatory features, price point, availability, market share available, and even standard materials.

Sketching

Every designer must utilize the skill of hand sketching for the purpose of rapid ideation. However, the same designer cannot rely too heavily on sketching, because a drawing can deceive a person’s sense of perspective and scale.

3-dimensional computer aided design

While there is no substitute for hand sketching, such a skill must be accompanied by 3D CAD. Software like SolidWorks or Rhinoceros allow a designer to view any angle, explode the views, and accurately determine tolerances and simulate real manufacturing processes.

3D Printing

The development of 3D printing machines has greatly increased the efficiency of my designs. Printing a full scale handle to hold and ask for feedback at a fraction of the time and cost allows our company to confidently move forward with design projects.

testing

Testing products is a necessary step in the design process. No matter how many models support the theory of an idea, only a production-level prototype can prove the full function of a design. It is also at this level that a product can be accurately priced. A designer must know how their designs actually work, and testing is another opportunity to understand function and educate others on the use of the product.