Concept Development

Brainstorming is fundamental to each project. As ideas are discussed, our designer will sketch concepts. All ideas are explored before the process of elimination begins. Each time such a sketch for a new product concept is produced, no matter how crude: it challenges the existing status-quo. This is good. Tom Peters once said: "Don't be afraid to fail; reward failure, for it is only from the courageous corporate cultures that real innovation occurs." Many tests must be applied to this germ of an idea before any manufacturer could be expected to commit serious dollars to its production. The first of these tests should be rapid conceptual exploration. Focus on concepts, not form. This exploration can be in the form of sketches, renderings or physical models.
Concept sketches (see the final product)
EXPAND and REFINE THE CONCEPT Take the premise and explore all the end-user and manufacturing ramifications which are possible: Expand the base concept. Seek a wider audience, find where it fits, shoot holes in it, remove components from it until is ceases to exist (add the last one back). Be a devil's advocate.
DISCOVERY/ FEEDBACK: At this point, a variety of simple models may be produced and introduced to a sample audience of potential users as a test of function, form and usability. Observing the interaction of the "users" with these artifacts, much can be learned which can then refine the design process. Control Alt Design integrates focus studies into the design process. > Industrial Design