01 July 2019

A guide to product design terminology

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During the product design development process there are many acronyms and technical key-words that may be used. At Bang Creations we strive to communicate with clients clearly and concisely without using technical jargon, whilst maintaining a high level of technical detail. However, if you want to learn more about terminology often used by consultancies in the product design process, then this page will outline them for you:

Alpha prototype

This is a prototype stage used commonly within the product design industry. It refers to a prototype which is made using manufacture methods which are as representative as possible to the final product, although will often avoid the use of tooling. It will look, feel, and behave very similarly to the final product.

Anthropometrics

This is data used in ergonomic design. Such as measurements of the human body.

Beta prototype

This prototype follows on from the Alpha prototype. After change and improvements have been made following the Alpha prototype stage, the Beta prototype will represent what is expected of the final product. It will use full production tooling to produce the components, and will in theory require minimal design tweaks. It will be hand-assembled at low volume, and can be used to test the assembly procedure.

Bill of Materials (BoM)

A BoM is a document (often taking the form of an excel spreadsheet), which lists out every component of a product, with it's associated 3D-CAD file, finishes, manufacturing processes, and more. Early on in the product development process, they are often fairly simple used for internal reference and parts tracking in ordering. By the end of development they can be very complex, listing out every detail of every component in an assembly including their cost. They can be handed over to manufacturers later in development so that the manufacturer can reference all the components they need to make and assemble.

CAD

Computer Aided Design is the use of computer software to accelerate the design process. At Bang Creations we use SolidWorks, which s a very powerful 3D CAD package, allowing us to rapidly communicate designs to manufacturers or clients. From these 3D models we can validate the physical properties with engineering simulation, rapid prototyping, as well as creating photo-realistic visual renders.

CNC

Computer numeric controlled. This term is used for describing machines which can create parts without the interaction due to them being programmed numerically. Commonly the term is used to refer to turning or milling machines which are computer controlled rather than manually operated. Technically even a 3D printer is a CNC machine as it's numerically controlled by a computer.

CMF

Colour, material, and finish. This term dictates the surface aesthetics that can be applied to a physical form. For example, whether to choose between a shiny blue plastic or a matte black one. Or perhaps, whether to use a Cherry wood, or satin finish aluminium. 

Design thinking

Tim Brown of IDEO is accredited with coining the phrase ‘design thinking’. It’s now used widely to describe the creative process used in product design but is also applicable to other industries such as business or marketing. Specifically, design thinking involves creating ideas ‘divergently’ (i.e. any idea is on the table), then ‘converging’ the thinking, eliminating and developing the most suitable ideas utilising critical analysis. This described process is usually repeated until the idea is refined into it’s final form.

DFA

Design For Assembly, this means designing a product for easy assembly on the production line. This can be by using fewer parts, making components easier to join together, or using larger fixings. This reduces the manufacturing assembly time, reducing the cost of your product.

DFM

Design For Manufacture. This is the designing of components so that they can be effectively manufactured, for an efficient cost. This is particularly relevant to plastic injection moulded components, to design them in such a way so that the strength and surface finish is optimal. We often consider DFM most heavily in the detail and engineering design stages.

EMC Test

Electro-Magnetic Compatibility testing is used to verify that electronic products can function properly in an electromagnetic environment without introducing excessive electromagnetic fields into it's immediate environment.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the science concerned with the understanding of the limitations of human performance both physically and cognitively. This is then applied to the design of products and systems to fit the people that use them.

FEA

This is a computational engineering technique. Standing for Finite Element Analysis it allows us to virtually test the physical and thermal properties of components without having to prototype them.

FMEA

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, this is a systematic process of analysing the way each component could fail (break), and the effects of the failure. From this we can optimise the longevity of the product.

FOB

Standing for Freight On Board. This is a cost that you will often get back from a manufacturer. It is the cost per unit for a full container of products, on a ship, ready to be transported.

Form

The physical shape an object or product occupies, which doesn't include small details, colours and finishes.

Ideation

This is the initial process of creating ideas and concepts. We often use techniques such as brain storming, sketching, and prototyping. This is where we start bringing innovative elements to a product.

IP

Standing for Intellectual Property, this covers the protection of your product with patents, registered designs, and trademarks.

MOQ

Used by manufacturers, standing for Minimum Order Quantity. This is the minimum quantity of units they are willing to accept an order for. Often in the 1000's for plastic-based consumer products.

PCB

PCB stands for printed circuit board. This component (often green) acts as a raft to support and join electronic components together. They can vary in complexity significantly, involving multiple layers, complex trace routing, and assembly features.

PCBA

A PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) is a PCB with all the electronics assembled onto it via soldering.

PDR

A Product Development Report accompanies a PPR in a manufacturing handover package. It details how the product works, it's features, and any important considerations that are needed when manufacturing and assembling the product.

PPR

A PPR is a Product Profile Report. It is a technical document we include in a manufacturing handover package which describes the technical details of the product and components. It also includes basic manufacturing information.

Proof of concept

A proof of concept usually takes the form of a rough prototype rig. This prototype demonstrates the viability of the design quickly, and presents it's immediate challenges. The proof of concept prototype can also take the form of a computational simulation or math-work, although this is less common.

Rapid prototyping

Often used exclusively for 3D printing, it is the prototyping process of using 3D CAD to quickly create components from 3D printing to validate components without having to commit to expensive factory tooling.

Rendering

Creating a render, or rendering, is the process of creating a realistic or semi-realistic representation of a product. It will often be done computationally with software such as Luxion Keyshot, allowing for multiple quick realistic renders of a 3D model of a product with different colours and finishes. Earlier on in the development we will often use digital sketch rendering rather than software rendering to produce a semi-realistic render of a product. This is done because producing realistic 3D-CAD is time-consuming and costly, so may not be the best value for quickly realising a product concept.

Tooling

This refers to the creation of 'tools' or moulds to create production components. Examples might be a mould to create a plastic component, or a die to create an extrusion profile. It can sometimes also include programming machines to carry out a manufacturing sequence, such as a CNC milling machine.

VR

VR stands for Virtual Reality. It is the concept of creating a new environment and sensory experience for the user where anything is possible. Currently this is achieved using a headset which covers the eyes and or ears. However, some companies have also made 'haptic' clothing which allows you to also feel your virtual environment.

WLLL

Works Like Looks Like prototype. As the name implies, it is a prototype that looks and functions like the final manufactured product. However it will probably not be made in production materials.

Link arrow

Back

01 July 2019

A guide to product design terminology

Link arrow

Back

News image

During the product design development process there are many acronyms and technical key-words that may be used. At Bang Creations we strive to communicate with clients clearly and concisely without using technical jargon, whilst maintaining a high level of technical detail. However, if you want to learn more about terminology often used by consultancies in the product design process, then this page will outline them for you:

Alpha prototype

This is a prototype stage used commonly within the product design industry. It refers to a prototype which is made using manufacture methods which are as representative as possible to the final product, although will often avoid the use of tooling. It will look, feel, and behave very similarly to the final product.

Anthropometrics

This is data used in ergonomic design. Such as measurements of the human body.

Beta prototype

This prototype follows on from the Alpha prototype. After change and improvements have been made following the Alpha prototype stage, the Beta prototype will represent what is expected of the final product. It will use full production tooling to produce the components, and will in theory require minimal design tweaks. It will be hand-assembled at low volume, and can be used to test the assembly procedure.

Bill of Materials (BoM)

A BoM is a document (often taking the form of an excel spreadsheet), which lists out every component of a product, with it's associated 3D-CAD file, finishes, manufacturing processes, and more. Early on in the product development process, they are often fairly simple used for internal reference and parts tracking in ordering. By the end of development they can be very complex, listing out every detail of every component in an assembly including their cost. They can be handed over to manufacturers later in development so that the manufacturer can reference all the components they need to make and assemble.

CAD

Computer Aided Design is the use of computer software to accelerate the design process. At Bang Creations we use SolidWorks, which s a very powerful 3D CAD package, allowing us to rapidly communicate designs to manufacturers or clients. From these 3D models we can validate the physical properties with engineering simulation, rapid prototyping, as well as creating photo-realistic visual renders.

CNC

Computer numeric controlled. This term is used for describing machines which can create parts without the interaction due to them being programmed numerically. Commonly the term is used to refer to turning or milling machines which are computer controlled rather than manually operated. Technically even a 3D printer is a CNC machine as it's numerically controlled by a computer.

CMF

Colour, material, and finish. This term dictates the surface aesthetics that can be applied to a physical form. For example, whether to choose between a shiny blue plastic or a matte black one. Or perhaps, whether to use a Cherry wood, or satin finish aluminium. 

Design thinking

Tim Brown of IDEO is accredited with coining the phrase ‘design thinking’. It’s now used widely to describe the creative process used in product design but is also applicable to other industries such as business or marketing. Specifically, design thinking involves creating ideas ‘divergently’ (i.e. any idea is on the table), then ‘converging’ the thinking, eliminating and developing the most suitable ideas utilising critical analysis. This described process is usually repeated until the idea is refined into it’s final form.

DFA

Design For Assembly, this means designing a product for easy assembly on the production line. This can be by using fewer parts, making components easier to join together, or using larger fixings. This reduces the manufacturing assembly time, reducing the cost of your product.

DFM

Design For Manufacture. This is the designing of components so that they can be effectively manufactured, for an efficient cost. This is particularly relevant to plastic injection moulded components, to design them in such a way so that the strength and surface finish is optimal. We often consider DFM most heavily in the detail and engineering design stages.

EMC Test

Electro-Magnetic Compatibility testing is used to verify that electronic products can function properly in an electromagnetic environment without introducing excessive electromagnetic fields into it's immediate environment.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the science concerned with the understanding of the limitations of human performance both physically and cognitively. This is then applied to the design of products and systems to fit the people that use them.

FEA

This is a computational engineering technique. Standing for Finite Element Analysis it allows us to virtually test the physical and thermal properties of components without having to prototype them.

FMEA

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, this is a systematic process of analysing the way each component could fail (break), and the effects of the failure. From this we can optimise the longevity of the product.

FOB

Standing for Freight On Board. This is a cost that you will often get back from a manufacturer. It is the cost per unit for a full container of products, on a ship, ready to be transported.

Form

The physical shape an object or product occupies, which doesn't include small details, colours and finishes.

Ideation

This is the initial process of creating ideas and concepts. We often use techniques such as brain storming, sketching, and prototyping. This is where we start bringing innovative elements to a product.

IP

Standing for Intellectual Property, this covers the protection of your product with patents, registered designs, and trademarks.

MOQ

Used by manufacturers, standing for Minimum Order Quantity. This is the minimum quantity of units they are willing to accept an order for. Often in the 1000's for plastic-based consumer products.

PCB

PCB stands for printed circuit board. This component (often green) acts as a raft to support and join electronic components together. They can vary in complexity significantly, involving multiple layers, complex trace routing, and assembly features.

PCBA

A PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) is a PCB with all the electronics assembled onto it via soldering.

PDR

A Product Development Report accompanies a PPR in a manufacturing handover package. It details how the product works, it's features, and any important considerations that are needed when manufacturing and assembling the product.

PPR

A PPR is a Product Profile Report. It is a technical document we include in a manufacturing handover package which describes the technical details of the product and components. It also includes basic manufacturing information.

Proof of concept

A proof of concept usually takes the form of a rough prototype rig. This prototype demonstrates the viability of the design quickly, and presents it's immediate challenges. The proof of concept prototype can also take the form of a computational simulation or math-work, although this is less common.

Rapid prototyping

Often used exclusively for 3D printing, it is the prototyping process of using 3D CAD to quickly create components from 3D printing to validate components without having to commit to expensive factory tooling.

Rendering

Creating a render, or rendering, is the process of creating a realistic or semi-realistic representation of a product. It will often be done computationally with software such as Luxion Keyshot, allowing for multiple quick realistic renders of a 3D model of a product with different colours and finishes. Earlier on in the development we will often use digital sketch rendering rather than software rendering to produce a semi-realistic render of a product. This is done because producing realistic 3D-CAD is time-consuming and costly, so may not be the best value for quickly realising a product concept.

Tooling

This refers to the creation of 'tools' or moulds to create production components. Examples might be a mould to create a plastic component, or a die to create an extrusion profile. It can sometimes also include programming machines to carry out a manufacturing sequence, such as a CNC milling machine.

VR

VR stands for Virtual Reality. It is the concept of creating a new environment and sensory experience for the user where anything is possible. Currently this is achieved using a headset which covers the eyes and or ears. However, some companies have also made 'haptic' clothing which allows you to also feel your virtual environment.

WLLL

Works Like Looks Like prototype. As the name implies, it is a prototype that looks and functions like the final manufactured product. However it will probably not be made in production materials.

01 July 2019

A guide to product design terminology

Link arrow

Back

News image

During the product design development process there are many acronyms and technical key-words that may be used. At Bang Creations we strive to communicate with clients clearly and concisely without using technical jargon, whilst maintaining a high level of technical detail. However, if you want to learn more about terminology often used by consultancies in the product design process, then this page will outline them for you:

Alpha prototype

This is a prototype stage used commonly within the product design industry. It refers to a prototype which is made using manufacture methods which are as representative as possible to the final product, although will often avoid the use of tooling. It will look, feel, and behave very similarly to the final product.

Anthropometrics

This is data used in ergonomic design. Such as measurements of the human body.

Beta prototype

This prototype follows on from the Alpha prototype. After change and improvements have been made following the Alpha prototype stage, the Beta prototype will represent what is expected of the final product. It will use full production tooling to produce the components, and will in theory require minimal design tweaks. It will be hand-assembled at low volume, and can be used to test the assembly procedure.

Bill of Materials (BoM)

A BoM is a document (often taking the form of an excel spreadsheet), which lists out every component of a product, with it's associated 3D-CAD file, finishes, manufacturing processes, and more. Early on in the product development process, they are often fairly simple used for internal reference and parts tracking in ordering. By the end of development they can be very complex, listing out every detail of every component in an assembly including their cost. They can be handed over to manufacturers later in development so that the manufacturer can reference all the components they need to make and assemble.

CAD

Computer Aided Design is the use of computer software to accelerate the design process. At Bang Creations we use SolidWorks, which s a very powerful 3D CAD package, allowing us to rapidly communicate designs to manufacturers or clients. From these 3D models we can validate the physical properties with engineering simulation, rapid prototyping, as well as creating photo-realistic visual renders.

CNC

Computer numeric controlled. This term is used for describing machines which can create parts without the interaction due to them being programmed numerically. Commonly the term is used to refer to turning or milling machines which are computer controlled rather than manually operated. Technically even a 3D printer is a CNC machine as it's numerically controlled by a computer.

CMF

Colour, material, and finish. This term dictates the surface aesthetics that can be applied to a physical form. For example, whether to choose between a shiny blue plastic or a matte black one. Or perhaps, whether to use a Cherry wood, or satin finish aluminium. 

Design thinking

Tim Brown of IDEO is accredited with coining the phrase ‘design thinking’. It’s now used widely to describe the creative process used in product design but is also applicable to other industries such as business or marketing. Specifically, design thinking involves creating ideas ‘divergently’ (i.e. any idea is on the table), then ‘converging’ the thinking, eliminating and developing the most suitable ideas utilising critical analysis. This described process is usually repeated until the idea is refined into it’s final form.

DFA

Design For Assembly, this means designing a product for easy assembly on the production line. This can be by using fewer parts, making components easier to join together, or using larger fixings. This reduces the manufacturing assembly time, reducing the cost of your product.

DFM

Design For Manufacture. This is the designing of components so that they can be effectively manufactured, for an efficient cost. This is particularly relevant to plastic injection moulded components, to design them in such a way so that the strength and surface finish is optimal. We often consider DFM most heavily in the detail and engineering design stages.

EMC Test

Electro-Magnetic Compatibility testing is used to verify that electronic products can function properly in an electromagnetic environment without introducing excessive electromagnetic fields into it's immediate environment.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics, also known as human factors, is the science concerned with the understanding of the limitations of human performance both physically and cognitively. This is then applied to the design of products and systems to fit the people that use them.

FEA

This is a computational engineering technique. Standing for Finite Element Analysis it allows us to virtually test the physical and thermal properties of components without having to prototype them.

FMEA

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, this is a systematic process of analysing the way each component could fail (break), and the effects of the failure. From this we can optimise the longevity of the product.

FOB

Standing for Freight On Board. This is a cost that you will often get back from a manufacturer. It is the cost per unit for a full container of products, on a ship, ready to be transported.

Form

The physical shape an object or product occupies, which doesn't include small details, colours and finishes.

Ideation

This is the initial process of creating ideas and concepts. We often use techniques such as brain storming, sketching, and prototyping. This is where we start bringing innovative elements to a product.

IP

Standing for Intellectual Property, this covers the protection of your product with patents, registered designs, and trademarks.

MOQ

Used by manufacturers, standing for Minimum Order Quantity. This is the minimum quantity of units they are willing to accept an order for. Often in the 1000's for plastic-based consumer products.

PCB

PCB stands for printed circuit board. This component (often green) acts as a raft to support and join electronic components together. They can vary in complexity significantly, involving multiple layers, complex trace routing, and assembly features.

PCBA

A PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) is a PCB with all the electronics assembled onto it via soldering.

PDR

A Product Development Report accompanies a PPR in a manufacturing handover package. It details how the product works, it's features, and any important considerations that are needed when manufacturing and assembling the product.

PPR

A PPR is a Product Profile Report. It is a technical document we include in a manufacturing handover package which describes the technical details of the product and components. It also includes basic manufacturing information.

Proof of concept

A proof of concept usually takes the form of a rough prototype rig. This prototype demonstrates the viability of the design quickly, and presents it's immediate challenges. The proof of concept prototype can also take the form of a computational simulation or math-work, although this is less common.

Rapid prototyping

Often used exclusively for 3D printing, it is the prototyping process of using 3D CAD to quickly create components from 3D printing to validate components without having to commit to expensive factory tooling.

Rendering

Creating a render, or rendering, is the process of creating a realistic or semi-realistic representation of a product. It will often be done computationally with software such as Luxion Keyshot, allowing for multiple quick realistic renders of a 3D model of a product with different colours and finishes. Earlier on in the development we will often use digital sketch rendering rather than software rendering to produce a semi-realistic render of a product. This is done because producing realistic 3D-CAD is time-consuming and costly, so may not be the best value for quickly realising a product concept.

Tooling

This refers to the creation of 'tools' or moulds to create production components. Examples might be a mould to create a plastic component, or a die to create an extrusion profile. It can sometimes also include programming machines to carry out a manufacturing sequence, such as a CNC milling machine.

VR

VR stands for Virtual Reality. It is the concept of creating a new environment and sensory experience for the user where anything is possible. Currently this is achieved using a headset which covers the eyes and or ears. However, some companies have also made 'haptic' clothing which allows you to also feel your virtual environment.

WLLL

Works Like Looks Like prototype. As the name implies, it is a prototype that looks and functions like the final manufactured product. However it will probably not be made in production materials.