# Top 10 Product Design Mistakes You Must Avoid

- Show: [Predictable Designs Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast)
- Published: 2022-07-05
- Length: 16m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid

## Summary

John Teal, founder of Predictable Designs and former Texas Instruments chip designer, outlines ten critical product design mistakes for electronic hardware startups. He covers technical errors such as incorrect RF impedance matching, insufficient PCB trace width for high currents, and poor switching regulator layout, alongside process failures like neglecting Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and delaying cost estimation. Teal emphasizes the importance of independent design reviews and proper via selection to avoid costly prototype iterations and manufacturing issues.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid#t=0) Introduction and Mistake 1: Design for Manufacturing
- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid#t=35) Mistake 2: Incorrect Wireless Circuit Design
- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid#t=35) Mistake 3: Delaying Manufacturing Cost Estimates
- [0:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid#t=35) Mistake 4: Insufficient High Current PCB Trace Width
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid#t=435) Mistake 5: Skipping Independent Design Reviews

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Texas Instruments (company)
- Predictable Designs (company)
- Hardware Academy (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [IDology #11 - Most common mistakes in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-28-idology-11-most-common-mistakes-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [S2E51 The Hardware Academy | John Teel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-12-03-s2e51-the-hardware-academy-john-teel) (Being an Engineer)
- [Your Mind Is The Tool](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool) (The Amp Hour)
- [PCB Assembly Mistakes Designers Keep Making: PCB West 2026 Preview](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-09-pcb-assembly-mistakes-designers-keep-making-pcb-west-2026-preview) (OnTrack)
- [The Two Person Rule](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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