When you have put in the time to create a product idea, it’s vital to have a prototyping method that is efficient as well as professional. Instead of going through the process yourself, there are many companies out there that specialize in product design and prototyping. In many cases this is the best way to go. But what are some expectations for creating your prototype with such a company?

First of all, they need to have experience and many successful projects under their belt. A good prototyping company needs to be professional, affordable, and understand the product development process inside and out. They must have your goals at the forefront of the project and provide a solid proof of concept from the very start. If these basic requirements aren’t met, it’s not worth investing the time, money, and effort.

If you plan on outsourcing your prototype, it’s important that the company you choose to work with has an in-house team of designers that are professionals in the field. This will ensure that turnaround times, deadlines, and specifications are met. No matter how great a company designs a product, it does very little if it takes forever to get to the market!

They should have the appropriate technology to make initial rough outlines to full-scale production quality, “manufacturable” products. This includes foams, 3-D printers, circuit boards, acccess to specific fabrics, molds, and metal in some cases. The ability to gather all the materials and combine them in an effective and timely manner is exactly what you need to quickly turn an idea into a sellable good.

In short, your choice in a product design and prototyping firm comes down to whether or not they can produce within the confines of a budget, communicate effectively with you, and customize your unique project according to your desires. If they can do this, they are more than capable of taking on your project and hitting a home run with it.