- Categories
- Pages
- Subscribe
- Contact
- Search
-
Don't know why, but this image has always cracked me up.
I can’t think of anything more deflating then an engineer or finance person telling me the design, I’ve poured my heart into, is un-manufacturable or too expensive. To get through this roadblock try comparing it to a game like tennis. You come up with a design, and send it over the “net” to be reviewed and evaluated. Your design hasn’t “scored” until the “ball” stays in their court and they agree it’s worthy of production. It’s your responsibility to not make any compromises, and maintain a level of design leadership. When your unrestrained design breaches the “box” of restrictions, you can either stand firm, or look for alternatives that meet the boundaries. If you stand firm, it requires you to resell your theme with added support and reasoning, sometimes focusing on the R.O.I. will help. If you look for alternatives, then it’s important to find those that exceed your previous concept’s level of execution.
Being a production designer is never easy, restrictions often feel like gravity pulling your ideas back down to earth, but some of the most rewarding/enjoyable designs leave us speechless. They are the ones that have some magical ability to defy gravity. I’ve always felt that our lure, as industrial designers, is to find that realistic solution for the company, yet magical-experience for the customer.
Do you find yourself compromising the original design intent often? How do you stay positive, innovative, and motivated while facing certain manufacturing restrictions?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawing cars. I grew up loving to draw, paint, take pictures, take things apart, and put things back together. I suppose, becoming an Industrial Designer was one of the simplest decisions I’ve ever made. Read more...
Hey Rob, good points – when I saw you talk about ROI, that’s what would normally work best, and that’s what’s normally the harderst thing to quantify (or impossible sometimes), and express in a persuasive enough manner. Frustrating, espesially given that most marketing folks live and die by volume numbers, margins, etc, with some of them having basically a robot brain that does not process anything but “exactly what will the ROI be for this product”, and will not move till they go through most thorough testing research results, etc etc.
Hi George,
Exactly, great comment, ROI and design are probably one of the hardest two topics to connect. Plus, how do you determine a jump in sales was due to styling, adding new functions/features, re-engineering, or marketing’s new commercials? I’d like to write a full post on this topic just because it’s so elusive. Would love to here more of your thoughts on the subject.
Hi Rob,
Nice to hear someone make this point. I’m an industrial design student from Belgium and I’ve been confronted with this problem many times.
I had a one-man design-business for almost two years (after I got my bachelors-degree / doing my masters now) and worked for some companies as a graphic/industrial/concept-designer on an independant basis. And I got the impression that most people try to minimise our role in the process : “Designers are only there to make stuff look good …” While we are there – I believe – to incorporate every aspect (economics, ergonomics, styling, technology, marketing, …) of the value chain into a product that’s as good as it can possibly be.
I’ve quit my business half a year ago because it turned out to be quite time-consuming in combination with my studies. In januari I will start working on a thesis on exactly this topic (In general : How can Industrial Design be incorporated better in a business environement where managers and other narrow minded people have the last word) although I haven’t picked the focus point for this research project yet.
I’d love to discuss this topic further because It’s frustrating when you’re thwarted every time you try to make such a “gravity-defying” product to make the world a better place
Let’s see If we can change this …
Thanks for your comment, I’m glad you took interest in it. You have an excellent thesis topic. I’d be very interested in discussing further, and would love to be updated on your thesis… great topic!
Sorry, for the delayed response. I’ve been in the middle of moving and it’s been hard to keep tabs on the site. I’ll do better.