All great products were once great ideas, and if you have the idea but aren’t sure how to transform an idea into a real product, I can help. One of my specialties is helping companies design new products as well as the packaging that goes along with it. This can be a complicated adventure, but the process flows more smoothly if you keep the following tips in mind along the way.
1. Know Your Audience
While some products appeal to a wide range of consumers, most products appeal to a more specific group. For instance, you might be designing an athletic shoe targeted mainly at young men, from about age 15 to 25. Perhaps you wish to create an upscale vodka aimed at young professionals or maybe a helpful product geared toward families with young children.
Understanding the audience can help you create a product that truly speaks to the consumer’s needs and desires. Do a bit of market research to determine the values that are important to your specific audience, and keep those in mind as we go through the product design process.
2. Study The Competition
Studying your competitor’s products is essential and ensures that your product design can compete in the marketplace. Take notes about what your competitors are doing well and areas where they fall short. Look for ways to improve upon their strengths and identify how your product can be a better option for consumers. During our initial meeting, you will be sharing plenty of information about your product, but be sure also to provide me with information about your competitors and your target audience.
3. Think About Your Mission
Obviously, making a profit is important, but as a company or a business owner, you have values and goals beyond the money. Perhaps you are committed to using organic materials or ingredients, or perhaps you are committed to helping a special cause. These days, consumers also are attracted to companies with a strong corporate social responsibility plan. If a portion of your profits is dedicated to helping a specific group or groups, we can address that during the design process. While the quality of your product is what draws consumers back to your product time and time again, many people will try a product initially because you are a socially responsible company.
4. Think About Function, Form & Quality
While an eye-catching, memorable design attracts attention, product design should not just be about aesthetics. Your product serves a purpose, and the design should reflect that. Too often, companies focus more on creating a clever design than they do on creating a functional, useful and well-made product. Top-notch product design should be able to accomplish these goals. Together, we can create a product that appeals to consumer while at the same time providing them with a useful, high quality product.
5. Don’t Forget About Packaging Design
For some products, such a clothing design or shoe design or perhaps a product that needs little packaging, this might not be a huge concern. However, if your product will be placed in a box or bottle or another type of container, packaging design should be a huge consideration, and I can help with this process, as well. When it comes to packaging design, the same ideas apply as do with product design. You need to study your audience and competitors and provide consumers with a pleasing package design that attracts attention while providing them with helpful information about your product.
If you need product design services, give me a call or send an email today. I have extensive experience with product design and development as well as packaging design, and would love to talk about your unique product.