Great product design is something that every inventor needs if they want to get their idea to the prototype stage, then on to mass production and eventually onto store shelves. A product design services company can be your best friend, but there are lots of different ones out there, and how can you be sure that you’re using the right one?
It’s helpful to look at online reviews and speak to some of their references, previous clients with whom they’ve had successful working relationships in the past. You can also ask these questions, though, which will help you determine if a candidate is going to be right for your needs.
Have You Had Prior Experience Designing Products Like Ours?
Some product design companies have only dealt with specific industries in the past, like toys and games, automotive supplies, industrial manufacturing, etc. If you have a company that only provides services in some areas, then it’s probably going to make sense to look at someone else if it’s clear that what you need is far outside their range of prior experience.
Can You Do End-to-End Product Development?
If you’re not familiar with this term, end-to-end product development refers to a company’s ability to successfully guide you through each of the steps from a product’s inception to the final version sitting on a store shelf. Brainstorming, testing, prototyping, market research, etc. are all going to be involved in such an undertaking.
It might be that as the person who conceived of the product, you have been able to get it to a particular stage, but no further. If that’s the case, then a product design company can step in and help at whatever part of the journey you find yourself. If you have an idea, but you need help with every step necessary to make that vision a reality, then you need a company that provides end-to-end development services.
Are You Up to Date with the Latest Industry Trends?
Just as in every industry, product design is always evolving. No aspect of it is ever static, so your product design company should be able to tell you about what they’re doing to stay abreast of the latest advancements.
That could mean sending some of their employees to conferences or seminars, having ongoing staff training sessions when new concepts or techniques come to light, or something else. If you get a blank stare when you ask this question, it could mean that this company is not as up-to-date in best industry practices as you might like.
There are many different product design services that you might require, and the best company for you is the one that can handle all of them easily in-house. If you get a company that starts talking about farming out some of their work, then you’re going to want to use someone else. A full-service agency should have no problems handling every aspect of the creative process, and they also should have no trouble breaking down for you in layman’s terms every service that they have to offer.