How Does Concept Design Influence The Manufacturing Process?

Most people know that concept design is an integral part of the manufacturing process, but many people don’t understand how important this process is.

Here’s what you need to know about the concept design process and how it can influence and change a final product. Let’s start with the basics first:

What is Concept Design?

Concept design happens after you have an idea for a product or project but before the manufacturing process makes that idea a reality.

This is typically the step when the most changes happen, as drawings and modeling help the designer figure out what is or isn’t possible and how to overcome problems with the original concept.

This is also when you take a rough idea of what you want and start testing it for feasibility, what materials will be needed in the final product, and how to put everything together into a functional and cohesive whole.

Depending on the complexity of the product or project you’re working on, there may be several different concept designs throughout this process, addressing material, function, aesthetics, and user experience issues. In some cases, projects will evolve through the design process; in other cases, several different iterations of a project will be designed separately and then merged to create the whole.

Why Is Concept Design Important?

There are a few reasons that concept design is critical before you move toward manufacturing.

For one thing, having a completed and functional design helps with troubleshooting before you start. A good design minimizes the chance that you will discover a problem with the product on the manufacturing line.

The concept design can also guide project management to help them stay on track and anticipate manufacturing times.

But the most essential part of concept design is that you can really test a product’s idea before sinking time and resources into creating it. A good designer will think about how the product is meant to be used, how to optimize for efficiency and user experience, and how to eliminate unnecessary or cumbersome design elements for better and more streamlined performance.

Generally, concept design also involves looking at competitor products and seeing how the proposed idea holds up against the existing competition. From there, designers can find ways to improve the design to compete better or streamline production to offer a comparable product at a competitive price.

Does Concept Design Really Pay Off?

Yes, though different kinds of concept design may have higher costs associated with them, depending on what level of design work is necessary.

The goal for almost any concept design phase is to increase ROI while minimizing costs without compromising end-product quality.

Getting there requires a well-rounded design, as well as taking manufacturing considerations into account in the design phase. Once those two things have been achieved, you are much more likely to end up with a successful saleable product or project.

There are many reasons to invest in quality concept design, and getting a quality product is only one of them. Saleability, competitiveness, and efficiency are all improved by concept design, and with an efficient design team, costs are also reduced.

If you're looking for high-quality concept design help or are ready for the manufacturing phase, Painted Rhino can help. Contact us to get started on a quote today!