Methodology

Design methodology

Design is a methodology mainly "creative" or can be broken down into individual analytical basic processes that lead to the development and completion of the project: A) Research of the product user:

It examines and focuses on understanding the behavior of the motivation and its needs, through interviews, surveys and evaluations to understand the interaction of the user with the product.

The design solution is thus evaluated on whether it meets the needs of the user or not. This process aims at improving his experience, and through observation to guide the design, development and improvement of a product. It is a process that can be repeated several times (as long as the product is developed), and is a key data tool that often leads to the identification of problems or failures to which new solutions are proposed.

This process is repeated many times after the product is produced where the user's interaction with the produced product provides additional useful information to understand the impact of the product on the general public. This also leads to identifying any omissions or incorrect tactics in the user experience and greatly improves the dynamics of the existing design pattern.
B) Outline:

It aims to analyze the behavior based on demographic and psychographic profiles in relation to the product. Emphasizing on different behaviors depending on the value the user attaches to the product (real or perceived), the price of the product, the time available for its use and how its experience is affected in relation to the environment. What are the needs and motivations to better understand the analysis of these characteristics.

C)Market research:

The effort to collect information regarding the market-target-audience you are addressing to. It determines business strategy and is an important factor in shaping competitiveness. It also helps in identifying and analyzing the needs and size of the market, the trends prevailing each time period, the needs of the distribution as well as the disposition of the product in the target market and the knowledge of the competition. Market research is a way to collect information about the needs of the consumer and also study him.

D) Product research (existing or new):

It is about identifying the product we want to design by gathering key information such as history, origin, target market, trends, function, ergonomics, use and identity. All these will give us the possibility to give a personality to the product or to tell its story. At the same time, we will be able to understand its functionality and define its initial requirements and specifications.

Determining use/desire/need in relation to the consumer (eg how he uses an object) is also another direction that leads us to some of its characteristics and helps us define an initial design interpretation.

E) Product specification - Final estimates:

Design It is about defining the work of all the divisions and requirements of a product, about what it does or does not do or what it has or does not have in order to meet the needs of the market, business or organization.

Along with the initial estimates and the above information we can proceed with its design, its morphological entity in relation to its now defined function. Ergonomics together with functionality can lead us to determine an alternative design as long as this is permissible based on the prescribed basic parameters initially requested.

G) Evaluation and Checking:

Having all the design proposals in order, we evaluate and check them for the following:

- If it covers the initial need to identify the product in the surrounding market it belongs to.

- If its operation exists or if there are problems during its use and how these can be re-evaluated.

- If it can evolve more in terms of design and where it can lead.

- We examine the possibility of whether each design proposal, when developed into a product, can work in the identified market and how it can affect the consumer (positively or negatively).

- If its form follows a design pattern or trend or it deviates from the initial directions that have been set (based on the project's requirements). - If each proposal is feasible for production (if it can be manufactured and in what way) what problems exist and how they can be solved.

- Which prevails more than the other, analyzing the certain parameters of determining usability, operation, sustainable solution and acceptance without deviating from the original concepts and directions.
H) Cost estimation


It is the project cost management process that includes:

- Cost estimate.
- Checking.
- Prediction.
- Investment estimate (for existing product).
- Risk analysis.

And in particular:

- Raw material analysis and assessment
- Estimation of raw material life time and upgrade procedures.
- Cost analysis and performance selection of production process method (e.g. mold, casting, metal mold, CNC, etc.).
- Cost of choosing a finish or performance of a selected surface, technique, special paints, electrostatic paints, metallic paints, etc.