Hiring a design firm is an exciting time, especially when bringing a product to market. For some companies this process can feel unfamiliar at first. What exactly will the firm do? What will they be responsible for? How do you know you’re getting real progress? Understanding what to expect can save time and lead to a better end result. Tri-Star Design guides you through the process of development and what to expect what working with us as a design firm.

Before beginning any project, the Tri-Star Design team lays out a structured development process. This clear phase-based approach allows our clients to understand where the project stands and what decisions are being made at each step.

A good design firm doesn’t jump straight into CAD or concepts, the first step is always discovery. During the discovery phase our team works to understand our clients’ goals, constraints, users and technical requirements. User intent, competitor products/marketing positioning, key performance requirements and risk/design challenges are discussions always discussed during the beginning of development. Before the project continues any further engineers are able to uncover problems early, before they become expensive later on in the design. Product design is never linear, that’s why early prototyping allows our team to reveal what works and what doesn’t work. Design iteration is not a sign of failure; it is a part of the design process. Utilizing proper planning in testing, iterations are controlled and documented throughout the project.

Product designs are built on clarity, meaning clients should expect a lot of questions. Our engineers challenge assumptions and ask detailed questions through the entire development process. The Tri-Star team regularly has design reviews, providing consistent updates throughout the entirety of the project. These reviews involve sketches and concept visuals, CAD models and mechanical layouts, prototypes, risk analysis and design documentation and much more. We are transparent with our clients, making sure they are always aware of every step we take. Working as one team, we conduct weekly check-ins, requirements reviews, prototype feedback and approvals for key milestones. While we guide our clients throughout the process, their input is essential to get to the end result.

What else can you expect when partnering with Tri-Star? Documentation. When developing a product, documentation matters as much as the design itself. Design inputs and outputs, risk management files, traceability support, verification and validation planning, design history file contributions are all important factors in documentation. This step is crucial in design and development, always being a part of the project, never an afterthought.

Hiring a design firm should feel like gaining an extension of your internal team. Here at Tri-Star we bring structure, expertise, and momentum to your product development, from concept to production. Whether it’s in a hospital room, on the floor of a warehouse, or sitting on the shelf at a store, our expertise in electronic, mechanical, and software design helps clients get their product up and running.

Have a project you need help with? Contact us today.