Hardware Podcasts

172: Early Concept Design for a New Hardware Invention

Product Startup · 20 Apr 2023 · 27m

What this episode covers

Rob Colgan, a product designer at Mako Design + Invent with nearly 10 years of experience, explains the early concept design process for hardware startups. He details the importance of creating a Product Guidelines Document (PGD) to prioritize core features and avoid feature creep, advocating for a 'skeletal' approach that defines component functionality before aesthetics. Colgan describes transitioning from 2D sketches to 3D CAD and photorealistic rendering to validate ergonomics and user interaction, emphasizing that clean, timeless design reduces manufacturing costs and appeals to the broader market.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Mako Design + Invent, Apple

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