The known paths and beyond.

The design profession is diverse, and even when we look specifically at product design, it's still a multifaceted and extremely complex process. When I talk to people who don't have much experience with product development and design, I always compare it to mountain climbing. In this article, I'd like to explain the design process using the metaphor of climbing a mountain.

Niels Schouten 30 June 2022

As an industrial product designer, you’re constantly challenged to design something new that’s distinctive and offers added value compared to everything else. These are products with a function and a certain appeal for a potential buyer or user. Every project therefore demands a new and unique result. How do you start? How do you plan? And what does a design process actually cost? What route must be taken to achieve the result our client envisions? The path to the top is different every time, and through discussions with the client, a clear picture must first be created to determine the route to the right goal.

The conversation with the client is the preparation for the journey. During this conversation, we try to get a general idea of what the summit will look like and where it is located. Are there similar products already available, or is this a completely new idea? At Fabrique Invent, we use the initial conversation to create a roadmap with various phases, a plan for reaching the summit efficiently and step-by-step. We also try to create a vision ourselves and translate that into visuals. Does our vision of the summit match the client’s?

Once we’ve agreed on the route and its duration (estimated price and duration), we pack our bags and begin our hike. With the summit in sight, we take our first steps, walking steadily upward until we see a junction. Left or right? Where do the trails lead, and how long is each route? Will going left lead us to the summit, or will we end up somewhere we don’t want to end up? Research, communication, and experience often ensure the right route is chosen. It’s also possible that both routes reach the summit. One might be safer, the other shorter, but with the risk of encountering more obstacles.

It’s important to involve the client at key decision points. We often ensure we’ve already explored both options to some extent, providing more insight into the future. With the client’s industry knowledge and our expertise in product development, the right choice can almost always be made. Problems are meant to be solved, but sometimes, along the way, an obstacle is encountered that makes continuing on pointless. Requirements change due to new insights, or too much compensation is needed. In that case, it’s sometimes necessary to backtrack a few turns and plan an entirely new route.

As the crow flies, the distance can always be estimated fairly accurately, although it remains difficult to determine a timeframe when the exact route and obstacles along the way are unknown. This often makes it difficult to put a fixed price on a large design project. Ultimately, the goal is to reach the summit, and we’re happy to do so. For us, reaching the summit means that the product is ready for serial production and that it meets the customer’s requirements. In most cases, it also needs to be tested and validated. For us, the summit is a celebration to which we like to raise a glass. In some cases, the journey takes several years, during which intensive work has been done on extremely complex issues and problems. Nothing beats enjoying the view at the end.

This article was written by Niels Schouten. Niels is a motion technologist, industrial designer, and director at Fabrique Invent.

Fabrique Invent & Boal Extrusion

What do you get when you combine technical precision, sustainable ambition, and creative innovation? A collaboration that has endured effortlessly for over 30 years and continues to surprise today.