Your project may involve developing something as straightforward as a pen, or as complex as a telecommunications mainframe switch. You’ve contacted us because you recognize we are good at working the details and creating a great human-centered design that will give your product the best shot in the marketplace. To help us understand, you set out your objectives as thoroughly as you can. We agree to confidentiality, and prepare a proposal with goals, time commitments, and cost. We reach agreement, and begin our exciting project.

We begin to work with you by sharing as much marketing and engineering information as we can. Expectations for end users, mechanical and electrical requirements, performance parameters, manufacturing strategies, cost targets, and more. With your help we absorb, synthesize, and feed back in the form of solution ideas. With your input, these will be refined and synthesized to a small set of design proposals for detailed evaluation. Ultimately one or two will be chosen for development in Stage 2.

Having settled on a clear concept direction, the design features of your product are worked out in detail. Consideration of human factors, OEM component integration, appearance, serviceability, production methods, assembly and disassembly, and cost estimates all culminate in a physical design definition with a strong balance of functionality, manufacturability, and style. We can begin to say “Here is our vision for your product.” This vision is presented in physical mockups, preliminary 3D CAD files, and photo-realistic images.

This stage is dedicated to creating a complete physical definition of all parts of the product. A large part of our effort is committed here, drawing on our team’s skill and experience with integrating functional and visual design. SolidWorks solid modeling CAD is our main tool for this work, leading to highly reliable design data to be shared with your engineering and manufacturing resources. We are very comfortable with distance - our portfolio has examples of development teamwork encompassing Europe, North America, and the Far East.

Your design is proven out in physical form along along with OEM components and custom electronics that together complete the product. Working prototypes will be prepared and evaluated for fit, function, appropriate DFM and DFA qualification. Prototype parts could, for example, be fabricated, machined, stereolithography, or urethane cast in silicone rubber moulds. Refinements from this exercise are incorporated in final file revisions. The end of Stage 4 and start of production transition is signaled by delivery of validated Rev.1 manufacturing documentation including final CAD, materials specs, finishes, and graphics applications art.

The ultimate test of your design is its successful transition from prototype to manufactured product. Adherence to performance, quality, cost, and reliability objectives requires close hands-on management. Gibson Product Design is a key point-of-contact in this process, directly working with North American and Offshore contract manufacturers to fulfill these requirements. Clients rely on us to provide the visual and physical reference materials and documentation that transcend language - assuring accurate interpretation of design intent.