Research is the backbone of any good design project. FORM + FUNCTION performs research in the form of Design Research. We discover patterns that uncover business opportunities, people’s (latent) needs and possibilities with new and/or existing technologies. We focus on the big picture but also zoom in on details. Findings from Research are used as input for Concept Development and are built upon throughout the design process.

Possible deliverables:

• Research report
• Poster
• Video
• Microwebsite

True out of the box thinking is what we do during Concept Development. As many ideas as possible are created. The top ideas get developed into concepts. Concepts are tested for viability through lo-fi prototyping (a low cost and fast way to test viability). Thecycle of idea generation + testing is repeated as often is needed until enough concepts arise that have the potential to become real products, they are detailed in the Design phase.

Possible deliverables:

• 1 to 5 concepts explained in words + sketches

The detailing of a concept is what design basically is. In this phase shape, dimensions, user interface, materials and manufacturing methods are molded together into a design, as much as possible along the lines of the original concept. Which in its turn is used a input for Engineering and/or Prototyping and/or Visualization (depending on the state of the design within the product development process.

Possible deliverables:

• 3D geometry (Solidworks, Step, IGES, STL)

There are many different uses for Visualization. During design: To see what a design will look like. To test different materials and color configurations. To see a design next to existing products (which are also modeled in 3D). Test shelf impact of a product next to it’s competitor’s in store. After design: High quality still images can be used for marketing purposes (packaging, commercials, website, etc.). Product animations can be made for training and marketing purposes. Key-advantage of using visualizations is that they can be made while a product still is in manufacturing and no (final) product is available. Marketing material can be made without a product present thus time to market can be reduced, while interest can already be generated in months/days/weeks before a product launch through leaking of product images, teasers on a website, etc..

Possible deliverables:

• Images
• Animations

Lo-fi prototyping: tinkering concepts at high speed and low cost. to learn about dimensions, shape, usage, interaction, materials. With lo-fi protoypting often partial elements of a concept are tested as this is easier to do. Often the goal is to quickly a part of the concept, if it works it can be worked on further if it doesn’t than it didn’t cost a lot of time and money to find out. The earlier on a concept fails the better. Further in the process testing and finding out an idea doesn’t work can be very costly.

Hi-fi prototyping: real looking, real working prototypes, as if they were the real thing. To use as test case before investing in production. To use for marketing purposes; show at trade shows, photoshoots, etc..

Possible deliverables:

• Visual prototypes
• Technical prototypes
• Working prototypes

Once a final design exists and is deemed good enough to go in production it needs to be fully detailed and specified in order to get made. Whether it’s a local company or a company in the Far East, a TPD (Technical Project Document) is necessary for a manufacturer to be able to start making a product at the desired quality. During engineering parts FORM + FUNCTION makes sure parts and assemblies are durable, safe and comply with the necessary local and world wide regulations.

Possible deliverables:

• 3D geometry (Solidworks, Step, IGES, STL)
• Technical drawings
• Assembly instructions