Product Design: What’s Behind This Process?

Look around your house or office, everywhere you are there are many types of products, from appliances to office supplies, toys, books, or even clothes! We are all surrounded by everyday items that were fabricated once.

And before they were assembled and produced, someone or, mostly, a team of people thought about that product, designed it, and made it possible. All these steps before the product being properly manufactured are called the creative process.

Within the creative process, product design stands out because it encompasses the main goal: to create a product that is going to be appealing to a specific audience.

No matter what your product is made of, ideally, it must go through different stages before it is manufactured.

Each company, of course, handles things differently. Nevertheless, product design and creative processes can share some points about developing a new item, whether it is a brand new invention or an adaptation of a popular product.

In Martin’s, we’re mainly plastic manufacturers that love to create and innovate for our clients. We’re sharing a little of what we do regarding our creative process. Product design is one of the things that tell us apart from other companies. 

But before we present to you the way we work, let’s just get some things clear about product design. We’re sure you’ll find some interesting information and relevant details about this fascinating process.

If you want to know more about the different ways in which plastic is transformed, this post will be perfect for you: “Manufacturing Processes for Plastics: a Brief Guide Into Transforming These Materials”.

What is product design?

Product design has its origins in industrial design, which is a discipline that takes charge of the planning of products that are going to be used by millions of people. Before the mass-production era of manufacturing, the products were built primarily by hand (1).

Craftsmen and women were then increasingly replaced along with the industrialization of manufacturing, which benefited businesses since now they could mass-produce with a lesser impact on expenses (1).

So, it is logical that with this new way of manufacturing new job opportunities surged and what was then done by a craftsman became specialized and so industrial design was born. And then came product design, which is an outgrowth of the discipline.

Product design describes everything related to imagining, creating, and iterating products that address specific needs or problems within a given market (1). In this process, product designers blend the users’ necessities with business goals to create consistently successful items (2).

So all of this is part of the creative process every manufacturer should follow. It is so important because product success mainly depends on it. Sure, digital marketing will give a boost to sales, but we need first to have a good product to sell.

Industrial product design in Martin’s

In Martin’s, due to our clients and the kind of plastic products we manufacture, we deal most of the time with industrial product design, which is also how it is called the process of designing products according to their mass production. 

We can tell apart product design all alone with, for instance, limited edition products, which may go through a more craft process. These kinds of products don’t need industrial product design since they’re not intended to sell massively.

Industrial product design needs to take into account the functionality and the precise characteristics for the product to be manufactured thousands of times.

The aspects to consider when designing vary depending on what’s being designed. For example, although shoes, cups, and TVs all are part of a house environment, their specifications are very different.

That’s why specialization is necessary, it helps to be more effective. In Martin’s, we work with plastic products, notably in three branches: houseware and drinkware, promotional products, and toys and games. 

Whether you already have a design in mind or you’re just starting to imagine the product you want to sell, in Martin’s, our team of experts will help you along the process. Your satisfaction is our goal and we take our job seriously. 

Each manufacturing sector and each product demands different requirements. 
Click here to find out the specifics of plastic product design.

We’re proud of our work, our staff, and results. Our creative process is one of our most important features, so we would like to share it with you. Find out what’s behind the awesome plastic products we’ve made!

If you’re reading this because you need to have some plastic project done, contact us, in Martin’s we’re excited to design and create new products. If you’re looking for excellence, we’re your best option. 

The creative process in Martin’s

In Martin’s, our creative process is really important. Primarily, we want to achieve a product that is not only functional but appealing to the eye of the target users, and besides, it must be easy to sell.

All these features are related to quality because quality comprehends everything we want in the product. That’s why this is our top priority: it takes functionality, beauty, and resistance to deliver an incredible product.

The creative process is crucial for the impact and success of a product, there is where ideas are developed to get the best result.

During the creative process, ideas arise to imagine and enact the user experience. Good products must resist that user experience and have a life cycle that is seen as lasting, so since the product design, we must think about the people who are going to use the final product.

Our creative process follows the next steps:

1. The brief: after our client has reached us, we meet to discuss their needs. Our sales team, most times together with our creative team, pitches a work plan to the client.

2. Brainstorming: according to our clients’ wants and needs, Martin's creative team shares ideas, sketches some of them, nothing is discarded at this point. Aesthetics and functionality are prioritized, so based on this, some ideas then are dismissed.

3. 3D modeling and rendering: the finalist ideas are modeled with different software to get a realistic view of the product. These renders are then presented and justified to the client. 

Here comes new filtering, by this point the creative team must ensure that the product is viable: the pieces can be manufactured and joined smoothly, it’s functional, and so on.

4. Prototyping: generally, we make our prototypes using 3D printers, we try to make the product as close as it should look in its final version. For instance, we even use the corresponding colors. 

5. Clients’ approval: after we present to our clients the prototypes, usually they will give their approval. Final details are discussed and then we’re ready to fabricate the molds for the product pieces. After the molds are produced, the mass-production is ready to go!

Are you interested in plastic fabrication and the whole process? 
By clicking here, you'll get more info about this.

Product design tools

Of course, product design needs tools, mainly software, to get the job done. Here are some examples of tools that are used along the process (1):

• Wireframing apps.
• Graphic design software: Photoshop and Illustrator are essential tools.
• Prototyping tools.
• CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, such as Rhinoceros or SolidWorks.
• Research and data analytics apps.

In Martin’s, we’re always looking for the most updated options to guarantee our clients’ satisfaction. This includes the best technology and top-notch equipment to develop your project in the best way possible. Reach out and let’s start working together!

Product design with Martin’s

We like to think that working with us is a rewarding experience not only for our clients but for us too, since we learn and we are using all of our capabilities to release a new product to the world. 

But if we want to achieve this, we need more than good intentions and adequate tools and machines. Our creative process would be nothing without our human teams. In Martin’s, we’re proud of having a group of professionals in their diverse areas who are passionate about what they do.

Our workforce is what keeps everything working smoothly in Martin’s, professional and trained people create the most wonderful products for our clients.

Our current creative department is composed of industrial designers (one of them a product designer) and a graphic designer. This team of professionals works together to pitch clear ideas to the clients after they have informed themselves about what the client is looking for.

The synergy inside our creative team makes possible clear communication, an efficient organization, and great results. The abilities and training of each member are important to achieve the different goals within each step of the process. 

One of our main concerns during the creative process is to be sure that the client is getting excellent attention and meeting their expectations. It all comes down to this: without happy customers, Martin’s couldn’t keep working.

Our catalog is one of the best ways to convince you. Have a look at all the diversity of plastic products that we have produced for our clients. Warning! You might get inspired.

Working with the client in Martin’s

Virtually, all of the steps of our creative process are, in a way, supervised by our clients. What we mean is that we don’t move forward unless our customers have already given us a green light. 

Being said, two issues are usually of great importance to the clients. Money and time. It is important to know that depending on the project and the desired product, these two aspects will vary.

If you contact us with the idea you have and the product you want to sell, we’ll offer you an option and the approximate budget for it. But, if you come to us with a fixed budget, we’ll work to adapt the design to the indicated sum. Materials, the number of pieces, the finishing, and the type of product, all will have an impact on the budget.

As for the time, logically the hours invested in a product will be different. A lot of variables are involved: ideally, one or two weeks would be necessary to pitch the sketches and renders to the clients. But, of course, sometimes the client has an additional petition, or sometimes there are more projects we’re working on.

Many clients work with us to develop custom promotional products. You can read our article about them to learn more about strategies and trends for 2021.

The one thing we can assure you is that the communication channels will be open and effective always. You won’t be left in the blank and we won’t jump ahead to the next step without your compliance. 

It is important to let you know that we work with external designs, too. Our creative team will assess whether the design you present to us is doable. They can present some upgrades to the design for bringing it to the next level. 

So, you may be wondering that all of this sounds nice, but why should you choose to work with Martin’s? In other words, what makes Martin’s special that you won’t find with other Mexican plastic manufacturers. 

Well, firstly, our designers. Our creative department is far superior to most of the competition. Other companies will often import the products they offer, but in Martin’s we prefer to give our clients a unique product. That’s why we wanted to share a bit of our expertise.

Secondly, our responsiveness. Our trained staff offers you quicker responses, customized attention, and an adequate solution to your projects. As an all-in-one company, in Martin’s we’re ready to help you during all the process. 

Lastly, we have everything covered. From step zero until the end (distributing your product to your points of sale), you’ll get the required assistance. Our adaptation capacity, to a budget, to a schedule, also tells us apart.

With our 3 plants based in Mexico City, in Martin’s we can help you get the product you’ve been thinking about. You’ll soon find out why many companies, big and small, and brands trust us. Leave us a message and we’ll get in touch soon to begin a new project. If you can think it, we can make it!

REFERENCES:

[1] Product Plan. Product Design. Product Plan, n. d. Accessed 15 Dec 2020.

[2] Interaction Design Foundation. Product Design. Interaction Design Foundation, n.d. Accessed 15 Dec 2020.