ID Design Services
Design 1st started in 1996 and offers an integrated team of industrial designers and mechanical engineers that work closely together to provide product design for multinationals and start-up ventures. The senior team has a strong project management background and 25 years working worldwide with creative people, techniques and tools required for successful and innovative new product development. Design 1st provides a wide spectrum of physical design services including:
Concepts
Design 1st’s industrial design and mechanical planning team are experts in developing products that balance the requirements of customer needs, cost of manufacture and manufacturing practicality. We take a close look at competitive and complimentary products to get a strong understanding of how best to differentiate your design. Starting with sketching and hand models we reproduce all of the functions, ergonomics, graphics and visual form requirements for the new design. In the process of form, function and feature determination, intellectual property opportunities may come up which we bring to your attention. We can help with writing patents and Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) applications. When a display based interface is involved we have simulation tools to help you determine display size/layout, keys and controls required for achieving a simple to use product. For complex keys and display interfaces we hire and manage human factors interaction design firms for y0u.
Research
Technically challenging products are our specialty. Finding a workable solution involves investigation and quantifying the unknowns. Research can take on the form of understanding the way a product will be installed and used in a human centered exploration of behavior and preference. Research can also be a material investigation or finding a certain component or manufacturing technique. Product that gets hot and parts that move need analysis and could involve building and testing for example an optical path or determining a suitable liquid density. The first thing we do is determine the risks in a new product design and recommend which experts to engage to help determine solutions for each risk. Working closely with our clients we figure out what needs to be determined before launching head long into the physical design.
Detailed Design and Documentation
Cost effective and engaging solutions are possible with low volume as well as high volume markets. Using state-of-the-art CAD tools (Solidworks and proEngineer), the design team creates and refines the product design in a three dimensional assembly model of the product with all of the physical components captured. The CAD model enables us to share the final product with e-drawings and image photo renderings. We can examine thermal and stress requirements, complete a tolerance analysis, perform a component and assembly fit analysis, and look at design for manufacturing (DFM). The resulting model database also contains all of the design data required for interacting directly with the selected prototype and production manufacturers. Design drawings and preliminary costing of parts and custom tooling complete our product specification to you.
Electronics Design and PCB Layout
Design 1st works closely with your electronics team or a selected contract services hardware development team. Our industry standard design tools allow us to capture designs quickly and provide a seamless interface to the PCB layout group for efficient circuit component layout, thermal checking and board prototyping. For turnkey product design we work closely with your selected electronics design firm and can introduce you to electronics firms large and small to suit your specific need and budget.
Brand and Graphics
A product is often the most visible representation of a company’s image. The shape of a product, the color and finish, the way it feels in the hand, the way it operates all influence a buyers and users experience, attitude and perception. Careful consideration for all of these elements must be thought through during a product development project as product life decisions will be made.
Product Packaging
At the point of purchase a buyer makes many interpretations of a product based on its packaging. The choice to purchase is often through comparison of alternatives around the product during the buying decision. Careful attention to the presentation of the product, related information on the package should be considered during packaging design and development. In many markets, as much time goes into the design of the packaging as the design of the product. Hygene requirements, opening requirements, material selection, regulatory requirements need to be considered by the packaging design team.
Call Us toll free at 1.877.235.1004 and let us introduce you to our extended team identified by role in this table. We will connect you to potential companies and contractors that suit your specific requirements.
