Design is an essential part of developing a new product. To make the design elements successful, designers have to follow the proper steps. Several factors will need to be considered before the design process can begin. These factors include looking at the product’s feasibility, marketability, and ability to compete in the current marketplace. Here are five tips for startups designing a new product.
1. Collect Ideas
To begin the process of creating a new product, you want to get ideas from current customers. You first need to understand the applications your customers are using your product for and identify areas where your customers may use it in the future.
To do this, you may want to employ focus groups or surveys. Look and see if there are similar products on the market. This can give you an idea of what is working, what people are buying, and what they are not buying. The idea is to get an in-depth understanding of what your customers are looking for.
2. Evaluate the Design from Different Standpoints
Now that you have collected ideas, the next step is to start the design process. This is important because the decisions made during the design process can affect how sellable and successful your product will be.
You always want to balance function over feature. An attractively designed product that does not help your customers is not going to sell. The appearance of your product may bring customers to the table initially, but it will not influence them to repurchase your product or recommend it to others. It is nice to add bells and whistles, but too many bells and whistles can feel overwhelming.
The way your product looks will impact your brand and business. You have to be meticulous even when it comes to the most minor details. Make sure that every single component of your project is treated with respect. Partner with a reliable manufacturer that uses high-quality materials such as gasket foam and precision laser cutters to help you create the best product possible.
Simple designs are going to be your friend. Complex designs will discourage customers from using your product. Too many features can frustrate customers. It will cause them to make their purchase from your competition if they offer a simple yet reliable version of your product.
3. Evaluate Features and Benefits
Once the design phase is done, you want to evaluate your product with a critical eye. Ask yourself if your product is giving your customers something that they want or something that they need. Look at all of the features you included and ask yourself if you are providing something that will grab your customer’s attention right off the bat.
Evaluate the overall usability of your product. This information may cause you to tweak your design before moving forward.
4. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise
You can have the most incredible product in the world, but if no one knows that it exists, it is as if it does not. Marketing and advertising are placed towards the end of the design process, but they should be something that you think about during every single stage. You will have to determine if you want to launch a small or large marketing campaign.
Marketing spreads the word about your product. Advertising puts your product in front of a large audience, allowing them to become familiar with your product and see firsthand how your product can positively impact their life.
5. Know When to Let Go
Not every product you design is going to be a home run. There are times when a person can be highly passionate about what they are designing, but it just does not work. You may feel strongly about an idea and may have a good reason to do so, but it is good to carefully consider which projects are worth fighting for and which ones are worth letting go of when the design is not doing what you want to do.
Conclusion
The design process can be gratifying. It is a process, and especially for startups that have limited resources, it is a process that must be tackled purposefully. However, if designers can do this, the results can be beneficial in the long run.
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