Designing Success

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Comment by Dianne Drinkard on May 1, 2013 at 10:33pm

That's me, sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees! I am thinking about asking people in the profession that would be using the item for input as to what they don't like about the current one, then improving on it. I have to be careful, though, in not being guilty of patent infringement. The "brain dump" is an excellent idea, thanks for the suggestions Tim!

Comment by Tim Tindle on May 1, 2013 at 8:56pm

Hi Dianne,

Welcome, So in reading your post it kinda sounds like you are allowing the details of the item to overwhelm the development of it. It is not a easy thing to bring you ideas to life so please don't take me the wrong way. The mindmapping is to help reveal pros and cons of the ideas in words. 

I have found that a large part of developing these ideas occur as you work on various renderings.  As you work through these things don't censor the thoughts you have simply allow a "brain dump" to occur and develop the different ideas. 

Depending on your drawing abilities it may be worth your time to hit one of the local colleges that has a second or third level drawing class and try to hire one of the students to draw out your idea for you. Oh course after having them sign a NDNC agreement. 

this is where a good industrial designer earns their money. A good industrial designer is adept in providing different conceptual models of an item that fits the criteria set forth by you.

hope this helps. if you have more questions please feel free to ask away. :)   

Comment by Dianne Drinkard on April 27, 2013 at 9:47pm

I have some ideas for some inventions of my own, but am having a hard time designing it myself. The first step of any invention would be to do the mind mapping, but after that you must be certain exactly what you want it to be. What purpose would it serve? Make sure it is everything you want it to be before starting the actual drawing. After that I am stuck as well...how to get it on paper?

Comment by Tim Tindle on October 24, 2012 at 1:40pm

Welcome Alan, I hope to have some lively discussions. Feel free to make suggestions.

Comment by Tim Tindle on September 22, 2012 at 10:38am

Hope that helps let me know if I can assist you further.

Comment by Tim Tindle on September 22, 2012 at 10:19am

So next to draw out what your idea can do or why people should pay attention, buy, whatever, I like mindmapping. It is an easy way to get a better grasp of the pros and cons of your idea. So you simply start with a blank sheet of paper put your idea in the center and draw little legs out from you idea and ask questions of your idea ie. what need does it serve?, who is your ideal customer?, why would they buy? etc. Then put the answers ro the questions at the end of the little legs you have just drawn.

Comment by Tim Tindle on September 22, 2012 at 9:38am

So next to draw out what your idea can do or why people should pay attention, buy, whatever I like mindmapping. It is an easy way to get a better grasp of the pros and cons of your idea. So you simply start with a blank sheet of paper put your idea in the center and draw little leg out from you idea and ask question of your idea ie what need does it serve, who is your ideal customer, why would thwy buy etc. Then put the answers ro the questions at the end of the little legs you have just drawn.

Comment by Tim Tindle on September 22, 2012 at 9:08am

Hey Ian, thanks for joining.
Yes there are many way to start the process i would suggest that doing everything on a shoestring is one of the better ways to start until you have some notion that you idea could be profitiable many people think they can not find out what they need to know without spending lots of money. Not true.
So good rule of thumb is anything you are going to disscuss the details of your idea a NDA or non disclose agreement MUST be sign with whomever you are sharing your info with.

Comment by Ian Nelson on September 19, 2012 at 5:29pm

I am interested in finding out how to bring an idea for a product out of my mind and putting it into design format. Can either of you two other members give me any tips. I don't know anything about getting started.