Designing the right things (+ PRIZE!)

So, you read the last post about tips for using Design to deliver value and growth to your business. I hear you say, “Easier said than done! It’s so difficult to know where to start…”

Efficiency vs Effectiveness

The old adage of “Efficiency is doing things right; Effectiveness is doing the right things” is particularly relevant here. My “design” version is:

“Designing the right things is more important than Designing things right… To be effective and successful in product development, you have to design the right things”

As product developers, we need to continually ask ourselves if we are designing the right things. Do we know what our customers really need? Are we sure that this concept or idea has the legs to make it in the market?

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Enough with the GFC already…

Despite the emerging optimism and need to carry on “business as usual”, the global economic crisis has put some serious pressure on product development programs globally.

Whilst we may be through the worst of the downturn, the business and economic communities are treading carefully and avoiding making any substantial claims of economic recovery. Budgets are being carefully guarded, and money spent cautiously. Projects that may have been a “sure thing” in terms of budget and strategic approvals may now be “discretionary” or just simply put on the back-burner altogether.

This is a good thing. It is fundamentally sound business practice to carefully evaluate and prioritise your product development projects, and only pursue those which add value, growth and sustainability to your business, society and the environment.

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From design to manufacture: 6 tips

When preparing your design and finalizing it for manufacture, you will need to compile a range of information and documents that will enable your manufacturing partner to understand and execute your design into production.

In order to confidently and comprehensively issue your product information to your suppliers, the design itself needs to be optimised and rationalised according to your design intentions and requirements, as well as your production partners capabilities, processes and resources.

To allow your suppliers to prepare a thorough and realistic quotation for the set up and manufacture of your product, try to provide them with the following information:

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