PROCESS
Typical workflow as an industrial design individual contributor
1. UNDERSTAND THE CONSUMER
What matters to her? What is her day like? What challenges does she face?
2. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM
Leverage immersion research findings to overlay converging economic, social, political and technological factors and then solve for "x."
3. SET THE GOAL
Write a positioning statement and visualize where you will make an impact.
4. THINK. BE INSPIRED.
Keep your eyes wide open. Read. A lot. Talk to people.
5. BENCHMARK
Really do it. Go through process' that exist and record everything. Look for gaps. Share the experience with your team and encourage them to do the same.
6. SET THE TONE
Design language + visual brand identity. What visual cues will best communicate the usability of this product to the consumer. What do we want this product to say about us?
7. IDEATE
On paper, in 3D sketches, through prototypes. Visualize ideas big and small. Keep sketchbooks everywhere.
8. STEP. STRETCH. LEAP. PIVOT
Chunk concepts and then spread them out to identify where the boundaries lie. Step is close, stretch is further, leap skips the rules and pivot builds on a collaborator's idea.
9. FOCUS ON DETAIL
Collaborate with engineers to start making the idea real.
10. CAPTURE THE HOLISTIC VISION
Storyboard and visualize abstract ideas critical to the product experience.
11. EXPERIMENT + PROTOTYPE
Test fit and comfort. Iterate. Play with proportions and functional user experience.
12. SET DESIGN INTENT
Capture all relevant design details, surfaces and finishes. Supplement with a number of pages outlining the target market, design objective, CMF preference and target dimensions.
13. RELEASE FOR TOOLING
Working side-by-side with engineers. Look for ways to simplify and lean out the design to remove unnecessary cost to focus on quality. Create CMF documents and artwork files.
14. DIAL IN CMF
Every external surface must be refined to reach the highest level of craftsmanship. Color and material is used to skew a product's character.
15. PROTOTYPE EVALUATION
Audit function, tolerances, finish, color matching and then sync with engineers and vendors on how to improve.
16. FOLLOW THROUGH
Design for manufacturing and assembly. Sign off with core team on all final specs. Face challenging situations as a team. Parallel path and be proactive.
17. ALIGN THE CREATIVE MESSAGE
Software, hardware, brand, product. Keep everyone designing forward in parallel. Suggest unique ways to celebrate a products attributes and deliver key messages with product and brand marketing. Be involved and available to outside agencies.
18. RAMP UP
Support supply chain and eCOMM. Advise and troubleshoot on execution.
19. SHIP IT + TELL THE STORY
Continue to support launch with imagery, consulting on packaging, running changes and archiving.
Speaking to the challenges in designing Moto Maker, China launch 01.26.15
20. WORKFLOW AUDIT
When it's time to wrap it up capture what needs a closer look in the next generation.