¿Not sure how to differentiate between
industrial design and product design? This is a completely normal and common question, which is why today’s post is dedicated to explaining the
differences between these terms so you’ll never confuse industrial design with product design again. We are leaders in 3D render design, and that’s why, from
Behind Pictures, it’s time to answer the eternal question: which is which?
What is product design?
Every product you can think of always starts from an idea aimed at
solving a market need. And it is precisely this
idea that gives rise to product design. Therefore,
product design is the act of bringing an idea to life, with the goal of addressing a specific need of people. During product design, all the
features the product must have to fulfill its purpose will be defined; and later, it will be verified whether this idea has significant economic potential.
What is industrial design?
On the other hand,
industrial design goes a step further than the previous concept. Industrial design has a clear purpose:
to find new ideas that can offer consumers practical and efficient solutions to any of their needs. Industrial design
includes the stages of idea conceptualization from product design, although it mainly focuses on those that have industrial qualities; that is, those that can be
mass-produced.
Differences between industrial design and product design
You’ve probably noticed already:
industrial design encompasses product design itself. An
industrial designer has the skills and knowledge to design virtually any type of object. And
within industrial design there are various areas of specialization, one of which is
product design.
Industrial design process
As we mentioned earlier,
industrial design is guided by market needs, so it is always necessary to stay alert to detect new opportunities. Once a need is identified, a process begins composed of several stages aimed at
testing a given product to verify whether it is an idea that can
fulfill a common and widespread need. Below, we detail the
process a product goes through within industrial design for eventual placement in a specific market sector.
Having an idea
The idea is the indispensable key in industrial design, selected based on a series of needs that can be addressed through a specific object. In this first stage, a
plan for that idea is developed. This involves defining and creating a roadmap so the design team can carry out the task of creating a new product. It’s necessary to outline market trends, the product’s vision and essence within them, materials, budget, functionality, delivery times…
Evaluating the product
Following the premise of product design, the next phase in industrial design is
evaluating the feasibility of the idea to meet the needs imposed by the consumer. Here, a
full valuation of the product is carried out, as well as an analysis of its viability within the market sector in which it will compete. Therefore, every detail of the idea must be analyzed to
see if this project will actually work.
Preliminary designs
Once the product evaluation stage is completed, the next step in industrial design is
visualizing the details surrounding the idea. Concepts are first sketched on paper, along with the estimated costs required for manufacturing, distribution, marketing, etc. This provides a
global idea of everything involved in producing this product.
Prototype
Next, different prototypes are prepared, reflecting various aspects of the main idea to achieve the best result. In industrial design, this is mainly done to identify the benefits the product will offer, its possible applications, and
how it can satisfy the intended audience. The most important thing at this point is
ensuring a good user experience.
Testing phase
At this stage,
industrial design has reached an advanced phase, where the probability of errors must be significantly minimized. During the testing phase, the prototype’s conditions are checked, and it undergoes various tests to
evaluate quality,
functionality, and whether it meets the objectives
for which it was designed.
Mass production
Once the industrial design process is complete, preparations are made to
launch the product to the market. The parties owning the main idea will begin
mass production of the product and ensure it reaches the stores that bring it closer to final consumers.
Behind Pictures, your 3D render studio in Barcelona for industrial design
Now that you clearly understand the
difference between industrial design and product design, it’s time to put your project into practice, and we are here to help you.
Contact us and share your idea; we will take care of
designing a 3D model so you’re one step closer to your goals.
We are your 3D render studio in Barcelona!
