Outdoor Product Experimentation and Testing
Product experimentation is a fundamental part of validating a new product. Testing product performance throughout the development process and prior to launching helps our team avoid backtracking and de-risks quality assurance complications post-launch.
While some brands have full in-house test labs and product testers, many brands and entrepreneurs choose to lean on our product testing services to gather valuable feedback during the development process. Our in-house testing is an integral part of gaining insights and optimizing products.
The best part about partnering with our team to bring your outdoor product to market is that some experimentation is always built-in. Since we’re a team of outdoor enthusiasts, we’re likely users of your product. Get to know our team and take a look at some of our favorite outdoor hobbies. We’re as close as you can get to having your customers design your product.
Product experimentation is a fundamental part of validating a new product. Testing product performance throughout the development process and prior to launching helps our team avoid backtracking and de-risks quality assurance complications post-launch.
While some brands have full in-house test labs and product testers, many brands and entrepreneurs choose to lean on our product testing services to gather valuable feedback during the development process. Our in-house testing is an integral part of gaining insights and optimizing products.
The best part about partnering with our team to bring your outdoor product to market is that some experimentation is always built-in. Since we’re a team of outdoor enthusiasts, we’re likely users of your product. Get to know our team and take a look at some of our favorite outdoor hobbies. We’re as close as you can get to having your customers design your product.
While experimentation is laced throughout our entire process, there are three primary feedback zones:
- Concept Testing
- Ergonomics Testing
- Functional Testing
Concept Testing
Whether done internally with our team or externally with consumers, we always test concepts in 2D before committing to a particular concept direction. This process provides a cost-effective way for multiple design iterations to be created rapidly, enabling designers to explore a wide range of possibilities in a short amount of time.
Early-stage 2D concept images can be shared with stakeholders, team members, or potential users to gather feedback before investing time and resources into more detailed development. Based on feedback, our designers can make quick adjustments and refine concepts early in the process. Choosing a concept direction in 2D lowers the risk of needing to backtrack during development, and allows us to consistently deliver products on time.
Ergonomics Testing
Products that interact with the body demand heavy prototyping and experimentation to get correct. A common saying in our studio is that “it’s easy to lie to yourself in a sketch”, so we like to move into physical 3D forms as early as possible. We often start with rough clay or sculpted foam models for validation of form and volume, then we move into 3D CAD when we’re ready to increase precision. Refining ergonomics as part of CAD development ensures that we can quickly adjust the models as user testing feedback comes in.
Testing and refining 3D CAD models throughout the development process allows the design team to know early on that the end user is going to have a positive experience with the product, driving positive responses and product reviews after launch.
Product Testing Services
While all design engagements contain some amount of testing, we also offer standalone outdoor product experimentation services. Since we’re both users and designers, we have a unique perspective and can articulate design-centered reasons for emotionally driven feedback. Our product testing services include user surveys, product audits, sample reviews, prototype analyses, and user observational assessments.
Functional Testing
New products should never be released to manufacturing without some amount of functional validation. Common ways of testing functionality include 3D printing, finite element analysis (FEA), and full prototype fabrication. Check out our in-house prototyping shop to see some of the ways we make products come alive for functional testing.
Concept Testing
Whether done internally with our team or externally with consumers, we always test concepts in 2D before committing to a particular concept direction. This process provides a cost-effective way for multiple design iterations to be created rapidly, enabling designers to explore a wide range of possibilities in a short amount of time.
Early-stage 2D concept images can be shared with stakeholders, team members, or potential users to gather feedback before investing time and resources into more detailed development. Based on feedback, our designers can make quick adjustments and refine concepts early in the process. Choosing a concept direction in 2D lowers the risk of needing to backtrack during development, and allows us to consistently deliver products on time.
Contact us today to start testing
Find innovative product design experimentation and testing at Trailside Creative. We’re focused on creating premium and functional outdoor products. Contact us today to start testing.
