1 - Is there a difference between Product Design and Industrial Design?

These terms have been appropriated in alternative ways based on media usage and perception. Industrial Design fits into the early part of product design process with focus on concepts, ergonomics, human factors and form. Product Design is the generic term for the integrated set of skills applied to designing for production. This includes areas not typically within the Industrial Designers purview such as detail engineering and stress analysis.

2 - Is an Industrial Designer an Inventor?

Maybe, but not always. Ideas are the forte of industrial design, however it takes many specialists, funds and dedicated testing to make an idea work. Combustion engines are an invention, yet packaging of these engines into vehicles for human use is the result of Industrial Design.

3 - How do I hire design?

Ask for details and case studies of those items that are of interest to your business. Experience is what will achieve targets with less chance of delay. While renderings always look pretty, only a strong design team and open interaction between client and design group will be able to take an idea to its logical conclusion. If your field or idea is new, it may happen that it may not exist in any portfolio. In such cases it is best to look for experience in case studies which closely match your endeavor in size or system. For example railway interiors have similar challenges and complexity to bus interiors.  

4 - Is their a logic to design charges?

As design is a function of value addition of a product, the fees often work as an extrapolation of improved marketability of the product after it is designed. Relatively small projects or predictable work may be broken down into expected work-days with approximate 'Per-day fee' charged as lumpsums, while the possibility of royalty or profit sharing may also be entertained where the client may not have the liquidity to cover total fees expected as often happens with start-up entreprenuers. Whichever mode of engagement is chosen, all fees may be spread into stage payments starting with an advance.

5 - What kind of involvement does Mozaic have when designing products?

There are three options of involvement a) Consultant, ending with the handover of 3D CAD models, schematic drawings and sometimes part prototypes b) Partial Turnkey, where the client handles prototyping however Mozaic retains a presence in case of urgent changes required right up till the first batch rolls off the production line c) Turnkey, where Mozaic takes up design to delivery.

PROTOTYPES AND MOCK-UPS

6 - What is a 'Prototype'?

A prototype is a skill intensive first proof of concept in the design process, where issues like size aesthetics, detailing and manufacturability are verified. These may be any scale, 'part' or 'full', and are intrinsic to the design process. Any number of prototypes may be made to reach a conclusion.

7 - Are prototype costs an indicator of my final piece cost?

No. A rapid prototype of a simple nozzle for a spray may cost Rs. 8000/- whereas the actual production piece may be Rs. 25/-. Mass production of the item will always be cheaper.

8 - Are prototype costs part of the design fees?

An unknown factor at the start of the project, these costs can be ascertained only after locking on a concept. This is a separate expense most of the time.

CONCEPTS, 3D MODELING AND DRAWINGS

9 - How many concepts are generated in the design process?

Concepts are formed from complex thought processes where ideas are matched roughly to notions of the market acceptability, manufacturability and materials available. In general, the simpler the product the more number of concepts possible. An average of three to six concepts is usually enough to provide choice and get a good starting point.

10 - What is detailing?

Great user experience is good detailing - the smoothness of a pen. Great engineering is good detailing - the snaps and fits that make a product sturdy. Simplicity of parts and manufacturability is good detailing - items designed to reduce inventory. Detailing is the process of looking at the concept through each lens and tweaking the product just enough to meet the requirements without changing the intended design aesthetic.