# 194: The Importance of Sketch Design for New Hardware Products

- Show: [Product Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup)
- Published: 2023-09-21
- Length: 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products
- Listen: https://productstartup.com/podcast/194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products/

## Summary

Magnus Sköld, Senior Industrial Designer at MAKO Design + Invent, explains the critical role of sketch design in hardware product development, tracing his career from private jet interiors to working with brands like Dell. He details three primary sketching methods—hand, digital, and CAD—and argues that early, low-fidelity sketching allows for rapid iteration and clear communication with stakeholders, preventing costly errors later in the process. Sköld emphasizes a 'pyramid' approach where broad concepts are narrowed down efficiently, ensuring that the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) aligns with business goals before expensive CAD and prototyping phases begin.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=0) Introduction: Magnus Sköld and MAKO Design + Invent
- [1:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=102) Sköld's Career: From Private Jets to Dell
- [3:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=233) The Function of Sketching: Communication and Crystallization
- [5:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=344) Types of Sketching: Hand, Digital, and CAD
- [8:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=524) The Iterative Feedback Loop with Stakeholders
- [11:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=711) The Pyramid Approach: Broad Ideas to Refined Finish
- [14:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=844) Front-Loading Effort to Save Costs in CAD and Prototyping
- [17:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-09-21-194-the-importance-of-sketch-design-for-new-hardware-products#t=1067) Balancing Design Aesthetics with Business Goals and MVP

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MAKO Design + Invent (company)
- Dell (company)
- iPad (product)
- Adobe Photoshop (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Arne Lang-Ree | Hand Sketching, Defining Requirements, & Design Reviews](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-10-21-arne-lang-ree-hand-sketching-defining-requirements-design-reviews) (Being an Engineer)
- [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)
- [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)
- [IDology #2 - Prototyping in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2022-11-15-idology-2-prototyping-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [#004: Why We Need to Be Tinkering More: Industrial Designer Jorge Paricio - Open-Ended Exploration, Sketching and Ideation, Material Knowledge, Confirmation Bias, and Getting Out To Talk With End Users.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/designing-in-the-wild/2022-01-24-004-why-we-need-to-be-tinkering-more-industrial-designer-jorge-paricio-open-ende) (Designing in the Wild)

## Citing this page

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