Research shows that 95% of new products fail when introduced in the market. While many reasons account for these failures, poor product design is among the prominent ones. To increase commercial outcomes, companies and entrepreneurs hire professional product design consultancies.
Unfortunately, choosing the right product design agency can be hard, especially for startups. You want an agency that can convert your idea into a practical, user-friendly, cost-effective, and manufacturable product, which needs a unique set of skills, experience, and commitment.
This article outlines seven tips for selecting the right product design consultancy to increase the chances of product success.
Check Experience
Determine whether the agency has experience in your specific product niche or has handled similar projects in the past. An experienced product design consultancy has the know-how and skills to understand your needs and meet your expectations. They are familiar with the product environment, regulatory requirements, certification procedures, and manufacturing methods to transform an idea into a manufactured product. Here, you can uncover more details about evaluating the experience of product designers, which could be advantageous.
Do Your Research
Nowadays, companies want to do business with trustworthy partners who don’t overpromise and underdeliver. Therefore, before settling for a design agency, research them extensively.
Assessing their online reviews is a good place to start. You can check a consultancy’s reviews on their website and review sites like Google and Yelp. Keep off any consultancies with numerous negative reviews and complaints; probably, they don’t deliver on their promises.
Protect Intellectual Rights
Although most companies file patents before hiring a product design consultancy, they make a costly assumption. They assume that all intellectual rights are inherently theirs. Nonetheless, it is not always the case and a product design consultancy can outsmart them.
Suppose the consultancy alters the product’s aesthetics or functionality, they can claim intellectual rights of the new element. As a result, the design agency is eligible for royalties for all units sold, increasing production costs significantly and discouraging investors.
To avert such a situation, ensure you maintain the intellectual properties of your product. Before signing a contract with the product design consultancy, read through it carefully. Do not sign any contract that affirms the agency has rights to any part of the end product. The contract should clearly state that the idea’s originator maintains the product’s intellectual rights, including any amendments and new elements.
Look for Capability
When choosing a product design consultancy, the million-dollar question should be do they have the capacity and resources to meet your design needs? Start by assessing the agency’s strengths and differentiating factors. What makes the agency stand out in the crowded market and what value do they deliver to clients? The ideal company should have the ability to blend form, function, and aesthetics to create beautiful, practical, and user-friendly products.
You want an agency with a strong internal team with one point of accountability. The multidisciplinary team should comprise designers, engineers, and project managers for optimal project delivery. Also, a good agency should have a local office and prototyping, assembly, and verification resources.
Ascertain the Quality of Labor and Materials
Some product design agencies use low-quality materials and outsourced labor to cut costs. While your idea may be cutting-edge, such an agency may ruin the finished product with poor-quality materials and production hitches. Other issues with outsourcing labor include communication problems due to time zone differences and ethical concerns due to poor working conditions in outsourced countries.
When hiring a product design consultancy, enquire about their labor practices. For example, ask whether the design processes will be done locally or outsourced to third parties. A good way to determine the consultancy’s quality of work is to ask about past work and talk with the lead designer. Also, the agency should have certification and accreditation from relevant bodies.
Check Communication
Most product design projects are not one-off and may take a lengthy time to complete. For example, projects involving complex medical devices may take several years, from creating a product strategy to conducting user research, developing visual designs, certification, and analytics and optimization.
The best product design consultancies keep you updated on your project. Some even provide a contact person to answer any questions and concerns anytime. Also, the company is available on multiple communication channels and amicably communicates changes in timelines, costs, and logistics.
Consider Cost
Although cost should not be the primary determinant when choosing a product design consultancy, it is a vital factor. Consultancies have different pricing structures, so choose one that meets your needs and budget. Some charge a flat fee while others have an hourly rate, both with their merits and demerits. Whichever you opt for, ensure you ask about the rough estimate and projected timeline.
do not settle for the lowest-cost supplier, as it can translate to poor quality services, products, and hidden charges. It is not uncommon for design consultancies to provide a low quotation only to charge extra costs for revisions, 3D renderings, packaging design, and prototyping materials. The best agency should be transparent about all costs to avoid nasty invoice surprises.
Conclusion
Working with a product design consultancy is invaluable and helps to validate product ideas, enhance product user experience, increase customer satisfaction, attain ROI, and boost competitiveness. Use the tips discussed above to choose the best product design agency to accomplish a good product design that fosters commercial success.