# 172: Early Concept Design for a New Hardware Invention

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-04-20
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=0) Introduction: Rob Colgan and Mako Design + Invent
- [4:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=295) Product Guidelines Document (PGD) and Feature Prioritization
- [10:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=620) Sketching Methods and Skeletal Component Design
- [15:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=920) Collaboration and Ergonomics in Early Design
- [20:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=1232) Transition to 3D CAD and Timeless Aesthetics
- [24:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention#t=1457) Design for Manufacturing and Photorealistic Rendering

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mako Design + Invent (company)
- Apple (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2E37 Defied the odds:  A Physical Product Development Firm That Focuses on Startups & Small Businesses, Mako Design + Invent –Kevin Mako](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-08-23-s2e37-defied-the-odds-a-physical-product-development-firm-that-focuses-on-startu) (Being an Engineer)
- [Ep. 18 - How to Write a PRD (Product Requirement Document)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-04-18-ep-18-how-to-write-a-prd-product-requirement-document) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [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)
- [Hardware Entrepreneurs: 3 Critical Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-06-21-hardware-entrepreneurs-3-critical-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [S5E15.5 PDX: Ian McEachern](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-04-17-s5e15-5-pdx-ian-mceachern) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-04-20-172-early-concept-design-for-a-new-hardware-invention. 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 Product Startup.