Did you know 92% of companies believe they’d benefit from exploring more design options in the early concept stage? Makes sense really. The more designs options that you can investigate, the more confident you can be that you are offering the right design solution.
Yet, tight deadlines and pressure to get a product to market means that time is squeezed at every stage of the development process. While this may seem to save time and, therefore, money, it can be a false economy. Mistakes made during concept development are much less pricey than errors downstream. If the wrong idea gets developed, it takes longer to correct.
How do concept designs first begin?
Different users start their concept design developments from different points. Many designers still use engineering notebooks to record their first design thoughts. They allow total freedom and mean first thoughts can be quickly recorded down on paper. But, the disadvantage of using engineering notebooks is that the designs cannot be easily transferred to a digital environment and collaboration is not as easy. Others prefer to start work using a 2D sketching tool, as this makes it easier to develop designs further. Additionally, many concept designs actually leverage existing work, developing existing ideas that were sidelined for other projects. These can then be taken a turned into new product ideas.
What type of tools do you need for concept design work?
The design tools used during the concept stages are not necessarily the same as those used at later stages in the design process. For example, while 3D CAD tools have certainly revolutionised product development, they are not necessarily the best option for exploring initial ideas, when design flexibility is so important.
Concept design work needs tools which are very flexible. They should allow users to investigate all the possible options, to see what works and can be developed further, as well as what is best left at the concept stage.
Designers need to be able to make some mistakes at this stage, so they know what will work when they develop the ideas further. 3D CAD tools can make users commit to ideas too early, without exploring them fully. This is why many users prefer to use 2D CAD design tools for early concept development.
How can new technology advance the concept design process?
While there is currently a wide range of different tools that can be used for concept design, a new alternative is emerging. The direct modeling approach increases the ability to leverage existing designs when making new concepts. It allows designers to start with a a 2D model and then use this as the base for a 3D design model. It also makes it easier to access existing data, including drawings, sketeches and even complete assemblies, without any interoperability problems.
By simply manipulating 3D geometry, designers can modify and ammend designs. Plus, with direct modelling, users are free to make any edits, without having to worry about how other parts of the model will be affected.
One of the key advantages of direct modelling is that it is easier to use than parametric-based tools, so even non-CAD specialists can help with the concept design process. But, probably the greatest advantage of using a direct modelling tool is the interoperability with parametric modellers. This means there is no need for model recreation, meaning designers have more time to investigate differnt concept design options.
Find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of 2D and 3D tools by downloading our free presentation
