Competitive edge through product design - Design process leading to successful products

May 11

Our Design Process: Adding Competitive Edge and Maximizing Product Potential

At Ultra, we believe that the role of design process is to add competitive edge and maximise the product’s potential in the marketplace. Through design thinking, we aim to answer these questions:

What is your vision?
Why is having a clear vision important in the design process?
What are the problems and needs that the product is addressing?
Who is the target audience for the product?
Competition - What other options the target user has?
How will the product solve these problems and add value to the user’s life?
How does the product work?
What materials is the product made of?
How is the product manufactured and what is the estimated cost?
What servicing and upgrading options are available?
What is the plan for recycling the product at the end of its lifecycle?

By combining a creative and a systematic approach, we can create products that not only look great but also perform exceptionally well in the marketplace. Design process aims to take the idea from gathering insights to creating a product strategy, generating concepts, and finally designing the product.

1. Insights and vision

The process starts with insights, which are gathered through research and analysis of market trends, customer behavior, and other relevant data. By using these insights to inform the vision for the product, we can ensure that the end result meets the needs of the target market. Our work with Dometic food delivery product is a great example of how insight work can inform the vision for a product and provide true value to the marketplace.

2. Strategy

With a clear vision, a well-defined product strategy is created. This roadmap outlines how the vision will be achieved, including setting specific goals, identifying target markets, and determining what features or benefits the product will offer. Our work with Framery ONE is a great example of how a well-designed product strategy can set new standards and create award-winning products.

3. Concept creation

Concept creation is the next phase of the process, where we generate a range of ideas that align with the vision, strategy, and insights. This is a critical phase that sets the direction for the rest of the product development process, and the quality and creativity of the concepts generated can have a significant impact on the success of the final product. Our work with Polestar Koja is a great example of our stellar concept creation skills, which took earned media campaigns to a whole new level.

4. Design development

In the design development phase, initial concepts are refined into more detailed and comprehensive designs. This involves creating 3D models and virtual models, testing them for functionality, and making any necessary modifications. This phase is crucial in creating a product that will stand the test of time, meet regulations, work well and be pleasing for a long time. It is by a close collaboration between designers, mechanical engineers, and suppliers, that the idea is taken to production. Our work with Skydio 2 Drone and Skydio dock is a great example of how we have applied this approach to create exceptional products that perform exceptionally well in the marketplace.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a creative and systematic approach to product design ensures that the products not only look great but also perform exceptionally well in the marketplace. By following a process that emphasizes insights, vision, strategy, concept creation, and design development, you can gain a competitive edge in your market.