# IDology #4 - Tips on outsourcing product development

- Show: [IDology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology)
- Published: 2022-12-14
- Length: 42m
- Episode: 4
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mindsailors/episodes/IDology-4---Tips-on-outsourcing-product-development-e1s74o6

## Summary

Rafał Piłat, co-founder and senior designer at Mindsailors, explains how companies should prepare for outsourcing product development and what to expect from an industrial design studio. He details Mindsailors' six-stage process, emphasizing the need to educate clients on realistic timelines and the importance of clear communication to manage expectations. Piłat argues that hiring a studio over a freelancer provides crucial manufacturing expertise and a broader scope of talent, reducing the risk of unbuildable designs. He also highlights that R&D can sometimes conclude that a project is technically impossible, which is a valid and valuable outcome.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=1) Introduction and Outsourcing Context
- [2:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=128) Managing Client Expectations and Timelines
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=221) The Six-Stage Design Process
- [14:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=868) Why Companies Outsource: Gaps in Internal Teams
- [21:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=1292) Studio vs. Freelancer: Manufacturing Expertise
- [27:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=1676) Handling Unrealistic Concepts and R&D Risks
- [36:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development#t=2165) Preparing for the First Conversation

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mindsailors (company)
- IDology (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How to Outsource Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-12-21-how-to-outsource-product-development) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-11-09-149-how-to-professionally-prototype-your-invention-idea) (Product Startup)
- [179: Maximize the Value of your Design Agency Partner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-06-08-179-maximize-the-value-of-your-design-agency-partner) (Product Startup)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [176 - The Fastest Way to Ruin Drug/Device Development (And How to Avoid It!) with Eric Sugalski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2025-02-19-176-the-fastest-way-to-ruin-drug-device-development-and-how-to-avoid-it-with-eri) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-12-14-idology-4-tips-on-outsourcing-product-development. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to IDology.