The goal of the very first stage of a project is to establish a brief. Usually our clients come to us with a rough list of functionalities and mechanical demands we can build a final brief and specification on. 

The brief at the end of predesign phase contains information such as: 

• product description and use case scenarios, 
• customer and end-user profiles, 
• existing mechanical/ or electronic documentation, 
• unit cost, 
• production scale and preferred production technology, 
• preferred manufacturer (if applicable),
• project time frame, 
• reference design and description of the competition. 
• requested special qualities such as waterproofness grade, medical device class, future skin or food contact etc (if applicable). 

Sometimes when ideas need more exploration we advise and conduct engineering workshops. We offer our clients the possibility of all-day workshops intending to expand the knowledge of the design process, with additional consulting in the field of analysis of available technological solutions. If core functionalities or user's group of a future product remains unclear we can asset by organizing creative workshops. That creative workshop aim to generate ideas regarding new functionalities, target groups and use-case scenarios

Task at this stage can be: 

Defining Functionality
Establishing the required functions of the product.

Defining Technical and Economical Requirements
Collecting information about unit cost, production scale and preferred production technology,

Determining Project Advancement
Assessing the current stage of project development.

Defining Desired Aesthetics
Setting the aesthetic goals for the product with a use of mood board creation and benchmark research.

Defining the Project's Spirit
Answering the questions if the project should be conservative or bold, futuristic or vintage-inspired, friendly or luxurious etc.

Collecting Materials from the Client
Gathering references, CAD files, etc., from the client.

Establishing Communication Methods and Collaboration Rules
Defining how communication will be conducted between the design team and the Client 

Understanding Client Needs
Design team ensures a thorough understanding of the client's needs, making sure that all possible measures have been taken on our side to achieve this.

Optional: Proof of Concept and Feasibility Study
In cases of brand new technological solutions, some extra steps are required in order to successfully launch a useful product to the market. For example a Proof of Concept (PoC) is used to demonstrate the feasibility of a design idea or concept, ensuring that it can be translated into a functional product. The PoC helps in validating core assumptions and addressing potential challenges before significant resources are invested in full-scale development. Building and testing PoC can be an initial step of a design process happening even before the final version of the brief for designers is written.

Optional: Extensive Research Services
Extensive research can also become a vital tool for conducting a feasibility study at the early stages of the industrial design process. It involves gathering and analyzing a wide range of information to evaluate whether a proposed design idea is viable and worth pursuing. This research helps to identify potential challenges, validate assumptions, and ensure that the design aligns with market needs and technological capabilities.
Another version of this service can be patent landscape analysis or market trend research.  

If you’re interested in this subject consider watching an episode of our podcast about Tips on outsourcing R&D and product design work.
Tips on outsourcing R&D and product design work - IDology #7 - Industrial Design Podcast