What is Industrial Design?

This is a question we always get! What is industrial design and what exactly do we do? So to answer all your doubts this blog had to get re-posted!! Check out the main steps and processes to designing a new product or idea and bringing it to life:

Industrial Design

Industrial design is the use of both applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, design, ergonomics, functionality, and usability of a product. Industrial design enhances the product’s marketability and prepares it for production. The role of an industrial designer—like the experts at Spark Innovations in Toronto, Canada—is to create and execute design solutions for problems of form, usability, physical ergonomics, marketing, and brand development.

So what exactly does an industrial designer do?

We’ll provide a simple step-by-step overview of how we help inventors with their new ideas.
Let’s say you have a great idea or an invention you would like to bring to the market. It can be anything!
When you visit us at Spark Innovations the first thing we will discuss is your concept. Our industrial designers will build upon your idea and evolve it into a viable product that will provide solutions and meet the needs of the end user.

Industrial Design Sketches

After this we begin the ideation process. Ideation—the formation of a concept—is a very important step in the industrial design world. Rough sketches are created quickly to express and develop your idea. The industrial designers at Spark Innovations will provide a few concepts as either sketches or preliminary CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) illustrations.

Industrial Design Rendering

 

Once you approve a specific concept, our industrial designers will refine a more formal drawing to convey your idea. This usually takes place on a 3D CAD program such as Solid Works or Catia.

Industrial Design CAD Drawing

When you are satisfied with the 3D CAD Drawing we may recommend sending the file to our Objet30 3D Printer to print a model. This is one of the most exciting moments of the industrial design (ID) development process; it is when you actually feel your idea and see it come to life! Here the ID team evaluates the ergonomics of the product and makes tweaks if necessary.

Industrial Design Prototypes

The next step is the creation of a production intent design that is manufacturable. Industrial designers and mechanical engineers now look into the details of each part of your design like wall thickness, drafts, steel safe conditions, tolerances, and material selection. This level of detail will be reflected in the molds that will generate each of the plastic parts of your design.

We will also work with you to explore and recommend ways to protect your intellectual property. Typically we suggest ways to patent your idea before manufacturing. Our industrial designers will generate the patent drawing for the patent lawyers.

Industrial Design Packaging

 

With a plan in place to protect your intellectual property, the industrial designers will work with our engineering team to prepare and send the CAD files and drawings to manufacturers for production quotes to build your product.
When your project is ready to start production, the industrial designer will communicate with the selected manufacturer to fine tune the parts to suit the nuances of the factory’s capabilities. Your idea is now ready to be brought to market!

If you have an idea and need help from an expert team of industrial designers contact us today for a free consultation!