149: How to Professionally Prototype your Invention Idea

With Mike Morton, Industrial Design Leader

Hosted by Kevin Mako of MAKO Design + Invent

Mike Morton, a seasoned industrial designer with extensive experience at Dell, HP, Sunbeam, and various startups and inventors, will share his expertise on the significance and proper use of prototypes in product development and manufacturing. He will discuss the various types of prototypes and best practices for using them to ensure a product’s success in the market. Mike has also mentored at Capital Factory and Techstars, and worked with Mako Design.

Today you will hear us talk about:

• The significance of creating physical prototypes for an invention idea to progress to production.
• The early stages of creating a product prototype, often rough and basic in nature.
• A prototype that includes mechanical components and functionality.
• A prototype that is refined and closer to the final product design.
• A prototype that is intended for pre-production or serves as a production sample.
• The importance of starting the prototyping process early and continuing to iterate throughout the development process.
• The value of testing prototypes for both potential issues and opportunities for improvement.
• The potential for innovative design and engineering solutions to arise during the prototyping stages.
• The importance of not skipping prototyping steps, but instead adjusting them or creating additional prototypes to meet the specific needs of the product.
• The benefits of involving manufacturing experts during the later stages of prototyping, particularly when approaching pre-production or refined prototypes.
• The importance of manufacturers in the success of a product, and the mutual benefits of a successful product launch.

EPISODE LINKS

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-morton-design/
• Past Episode: https://www.makodesign.com/podcast/064-preparing-and-executing-your-products-first-production-run/

The Product Startup Podcast Links:

• Website: https://www.ProductStartup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProductStartup/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ProductStartup/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ProductStartup/
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductStartup/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ProductStartup/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProductStartup
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent

Mako Design Links:

• Website: https://www.makodesign.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MakoInvent/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MakoDesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakoInvent/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MakoInvent/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakoInvent/

Kevin Mako Links:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Entrepreneurs/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KevMako/
• Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Mako
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevMakoPage/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevMako/

Thanks for tuning in! See you next time.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!