When developing a new consumer product or medical device, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. What you need is an industrial product design firm to help bring your vision to life.
When looking for a partner, it’s important to remember that not all medical device design experts are created equal. Some may specialize in certain types of products or technologies, while others may have more experience working with small businesses or startups.
But how do you know if a product design company is the right fit for your project? We’ve laid out nine key questions to ask to help narrow your search.
1. WHAT ARE YOUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE?
Whether you plan to develop a surgical implant device or an elliptical fitness machine, the team you work with should have at least some experience designing and developing products similar to yours. This way, they’ll be much more likely to anticipate potential problems and offer solutions that are tailored to your specific needs.
2. DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY TARGET MARKET AND INDUSTRY?
Your design partner should have a good understanding of your target market and be able to provide insights that will help you better reach your audience. They should also be familiar with any specific regulations and standards that apply to your industry so you don’t run into any avoidable delays.
3. HAVE YOU WORKED WITH A BUSINESS OF MY SIZE?
It’s important to know if the industrial product design firm you’re considering has worked for big BioMed companies in the past or only small tech startups. These two types of businesses, for instance, can have drastically different needs, so it may be best to work with a team that has experience serving a company similar in size to your own.
4. HOW RESPONSIVE AND CUSTOMER FOCUSED ARE YOU?
When you’re working on a tight development timeline, the last thing you want is to be waiting around for days (or even weeks!) for a response to your inquiries. What you need is a design partner that is customer focused, responsive, and poised to act quickly when needed. Of course, they’ll all claim they’re responsive to your face, so be sure to ask for a few quality references to reach out to.
5. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF FDA REGULATIONS?
If you’re planning to sell your device in the United States, it’s important to work with a team that knows how to make the FDA happy. This way, they can ensure your device meets all the requirements—and help you avoid any costly delays. Do you want to sell in EU markets too? Make sure they have significant experience with the European Medicines Agency as well.
6. ARE YOU KEEPING PACE WITH INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS?
The team you ultimately work with should have the necessary expertise to understand and implement your product’s technical specifications. They should also be well-versed in the latest technologies and industry trends—such as connected devices and the world of IoT—so they can help you stay ahead of the curve.
7. DO YOU HAVE A STRONG NETWORK?
In addition to having the technical chops, your design partner should possess a strong network of suppliers, manufacturers, and other industry professionals. This way, they’ll be able to source the best materials and components for your project and get them to you on time—which is especially important now as we navigate a severe electronics shortage.
8. WHAT SECURITY MEASURES DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE?
Whether you have a valuable patent or electronic medical records (EMR), you want to know if the design firm you’re considering has the advanced security in place to keep your sensitive assets protected. This is especially true if you’re working with cloud data collection, so be sure to ask if they have a team of IoT experts that can help you with all your backend technology needs.
9. DO YOU OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES?
In addition to product design and engineering, it’s always good to know upfront if your potential partner offers any other valuable services you may need, such as feasibility modeling or human factors engineering. This way, you don’t need to be the sole mediator between several disjointed teams and can be sure your project is in good hands from start to finish.
ARE YOU READY TO BRING YOUR PRODUCT TO LIFE?
Choosing the right industrial product design firm is critical to your success, so take your time, do your research, and ask these nine questions before making a final decision. If you do that, you’ll be sure to find the right partner for your project.
Whether you’re developing a diagnostic biosensor, a fall protection harness, or anything in between, we’d love to discuss how Kablooe can help make it a reality.
At Kablooe, we have over 30 years of experience designing and developing everything from medical devices to consumer products. We offer our clients a full suite of comprehensive services, including user research, electrical engineering, UX/UI design, and more.
Contact us today to learn more about how to make products people love.