In hindsight, it would be an understatement to say 2020 was a year of change. Societally, professionally, and personally, humans all over the world faced many uncomfortable changes that demanded we adapt quickly to what many have referred to as our “new normal.”...
Are you a small business, startup, or inventor and you have an idea, but aren't sure if (or how) to proceed? If so, it’s good to make an honest assessment now, before making costly investments or taking other unnecessary risks to get your idea off the ground. We see...
If you wanted to embark on a new business venture but knew it had only a five percent chance of success, would you proceed? Many would say no. And yet, thousands of companies begin the arduous process of launching new products each year, despite the bleak future of...
“Leave the world in better conditions in which you found it.” — Baden Powell At SGW, we reflect frequently on our mission to “Improve Human Existence.” It’s a lofty ambition, to be sure. But because we strongly believe our partnerships — and the products we...
"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."—Bill Gates At SGW Designworks, our leadership team is continually looking for opportunities to empower our clients, individuals within our company, and the business community at large....
A few months ago, several members of the SGW Designworks leadership team convened for a roundtable discussion that served as both a retrospective and a projection of where we see our company going in the months and years to come. We talked about SGW’s humble...
We’ve been talking a lot lately about our mission here at SGW Designworks to “improve human existence” — and, in the age of COVID-19, the importance of this mission cannot be overstated as we look at the challenges ahead for both our nation and the world at large. ...
During my college years, a family friend asked what I was studying. They were quite surprised when I told them mechanical engineering — because they responded with, “But you are so good with people!” I was proud of my math and science abilities and had to...
In 2019, we saw a lot happen from a product standpoint, from groundbreaking developments to unfortunate and sometimes tragic mishaps — everything from the launch of Tesla’s new Cybertruck and its broken glass snafu to the two deadly Boeing 737 MAX passenger airline...
Recently, several from SGW’s leadership team convened to discuss the state of product development in 2020 — specifically, trends and technological advancements that are shaping our industry. To spark this discussion, we reflected on a Forbes article from last year...
In recent years, virtual reality has all but revolutionized the world of product design (at least for the companies that embrace this technology). In 2018, we discussed some of these advancements with GoEngineer and how the capabilities of VR have drastically reduced...
“A noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates innovation and encourages perseverance.”— Gary Hamel, Management Consultant This year marked the 14th annual Idaho Innovation Awards program, organized by Stoel Rives LLP, Trailhead, and the Idaho Technology Council...
In recent months, you may recall reading about our new manufacturing management service offering, or seeing press coverage of our MOU signing with Taiwan-based manufacturer Megaforce. Developing this manufacturing partnership has required much work behind the scenes...
If the terms “feature creep,” “waterfall,” and “agile methodology” are a regular part of your vernacular, it’s safe to assume your career entails lean hardware development. Just as the terminology specific to hardware* engineering may be complex and nuanced, so too...
“Empathy is one of our greatest tools of business that is most underused.”—Daniel Lubetzky, CEO, Kind When people hear the word “empathy,” many think of how it affects our interpersonal relationships, specifically how we relate to and connect with other humans. But...
Hi, I’m Kenzie Roan — Boise born and raised, a Product Design student at Stanford University, and SGW Designworks’ summer “Intern Product Designer.” Coming into my summer internship at SGW I was excited to dig in and apply the principles I learned in school to real...
Like most product designers and developers, we thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment. (We are problem solvers, after all.) As such, we enjoy being presented with challenges — which is a good thing, because no two projects are the same. This means each day is...
Eureka! It only took two weeks and we finally had it. We had started with a blank canvas and we now had a concept idea worthy of our client’s approval. Did we really say “Eureka”? Not really, but maybe we should have. It was more like, “Yep, there it is. Let’s...
In our over ten years working with companies to accelerate their product development projects, we have learned a lot about what works — and what doesn’t. And because we pride ourselves in a solution-based, client-first approach, identifying and addressing a client’s...
When you hear of the Wisconsin town of Oshkosh, one might think of overalls and industry. After all, the area was once known as “Sawdust City” due to the number of lumber mills in the vicinity. But this special place in America’s heartland is known for more than...
When AERO Specialties first reached out to us in 2013, we were eager to work with them. The company, which consists of self-admitted “aviation pros,” has a track record in the GSE market that speaks for itself. At that time, AERO Specialties had nearly thirty years of...
If you’ve been acquainted with SGW Designworks for a while, you know we are vocal champions of our clients’ success. In our company’s history, we’ve worked with industry leaders in agriculture equipment, consumer, industrial, and IoT markets to develop a host of...
In recent years, SGW has established relationships with companies whose products and equipment must hold up to incredibly harsh conditions in an industrial setting. Frequently, we are tasked with developing service equipment such as GSE (ground service equipment) for...
“Manufacturing is more than just putting parts together. It’s coming up with ideas, testing principles, and perfecting the engineering, as well as final assembly.”James Dyson During the product development process, design iterations allow us to work out the kinks in a...
Mature businesses are keenly aware of the resources and investment required when commercializing an idea. However, startups and emerging businesses may not be as familiar with the process. In our years helping businesses both large and small to develop meaningful new...
Well-designed products make me happy. The feeling of holding a product and immediately understanding what it is and how I can use it is satisfying. Even more satisfying: having played a part in the process of designing something well and understanding the amount...
“Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.”Brian Reed Whether we’re working on an industrial design project, firmware development, or PCBA design and layout, early-stage product development sets a precedent for eventual project outcomes. From the...
So you have an idea. Maybe you know you’re going to need to show more than just an idea to potential investors, but you’re not entirely sure what prototype development entails. If this describes you, you’re not alone — prototyping questions are among the most common...
We’ll be the first to tell you: there is a lot to be learned in the world of product design and development. From understanding and applying lean principles to grasping the specific uses of certain types of tools and equipment, we are presented with challenges and...
As time goes on, more products are designed with integrated electronics to provide specific functionality or connectivity. Businesses that have dominated their market space are feeling pressure from competitors who are adding technology to products that were...
As a product development company, we focus on applying lean principles and working with insight. This requires prioritizing frequent and focused prototyping throughout a project’s lifecycle. And it means we as designers and developers must have an in-depth...
“You do not need to be Alan Greenspan to understand that the more things a machine can do, the bigger the market.”Fred Hapgood, Discover Magazine, June 2008 As we develop product prototypes in today’s modern world, it is crucial that we understand our capabilities —...
At SGW Designworks, we take great pride in our ability to work with clients of all types. In fact, the most successful product design companies are able to convey complicated concepts while truly understanding their client’s needs — then communicating accordingly....
“When designing a part for a plastic injection mold, you should be able to put your pen down on a piece of paper, and draw the entire parting line of the mold without picking up your pen.” For engineers who have been around since pre-CAD days, the directive above...
Any good product development engineer knows that, in addition to repetition and practice, they must think critically about how the process of their work relates to the selection of materials, the design of parts, and fabrication. This type of critical thinking and...
Many companies tend to think that the leanest way of operating is to focus on product design internally. This approach has its benefits — but often leads to inefficiencies, loss of business, and burnout among employees. While it may seem like a waste of money to pay...
What comes to mind when you think of applications for virtual reality? Gaming? Military? Education? What about prototyping? Believe it or not, VR is incredibly well-suited to enterprise applications, particularly within the design and engineering sector — as it...
You have an idea for a new product. Great. Now what? You should build a prototype, right? Find angel investors? Apply for a patent? Not necessarily. Developing a product is hard and often fails because: Problems are not defined clearly.Projects...
It’s no secret that it’s difficult — if not impossible — to make money on an idea if it doesn’t exist as a tangible product. However, the leap from concept to production is a big one. And this is necessary if you hope to hold your product in your hands, get it in...
My path towards a career in mechanical engineering began at home as a kid, in a family where I am the youngest of five. Five children tend to cause lots of problems that can be fixed — from hand-me-down bicycles to packing the car for a road trip — so I had numerous...
For many organizations, the decision to research product prototyping companies can feel like a leap forward in the production process. However, hiring such an external resource is often necessary — due to limited time, expertise, and potential budgetary constraints....
Product Development - it's sexy, it's cool, everybody wants to be involved with it. It is where new ideas are tested, new revenue streams are defined, and business turn around. But as an r&d manager of NPD director, what does it really take to build a world-class...
Over the past several months, I've been fascinated by the incredible feats of engineering that were accomplished during the space race. Engineers of all trades worked tirelessly together to design, prototype, test, re-prototype, and ultimately create vehicles capable...
Industrial Design Company In the world of product design and engineering, the term "Industrial Design" is used many different ways, meaning different things to different businesses. Some people use the term referring specifically to the design efforts focused on...
Should you Hire a Product Design Company? Many of the smaller businesses we work with understand that in order to get their product from the concept stage to production, they will need to hire an outside product development company or product design firm. The larger...
When you hear Virtual Reality Prototyping, do you think gaming somewhat instantly? if you do, you are not alone. But the reality of VR is that there are many other applications for this technology in many industries, not just gaming. From shopping to marketing,...
We are frequently asked if we work with startup companies. The answer is a qualified 'Yes': While most of our business is with established businesses, we do work with startups, when they have realistic expectations about their business and about development. When we...
The success or failure of a product development effort depends on many things. The development work itself will focus on testing and validating features, functions, and designs in order to maximize the likelihood of a successful product. But the structure of the...
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