Design Driven Development℠
The D3 Process℠. Why not get product development right the first time? One of the most frustrating things about developing a new product is discovering that it is very difficult to manufacture, it doesn’t work right, or it doesn’t hit the intended mark. Why does this happen, and why is it so common?
Stanford University conducted a study to determine the most standard or common development process among medical device manufacturers in the US. Upon review of the processes and tasks identified, there included very few design procedures. Our analysis identified that many companies are not using Design as the coherent, cross disciplinary force that leads and drives projects through the development process.
In many cases, companies were using Design in a more ‘strike force’ like fashion that leads to Design becoming an afterthought in the project, rather than the driving force. We found that certain types of research and ideation are completely missing from the process, yet prototypes still appear and are evaluated. Secondary design steps were often missing or hidden within engineering, which makes them occur too late in the process.
Analysis was expanded by studying other processes including the research work by Phil Corse, professor at the Kellogg School of management and Walter Herbst of HLB Design. The solution? Develop products differently! That is why we developed the D3 (Design Driven Development℠) process.
The D3 Process℠ comprehensively describes all of the steps necessary by all of the required functional groups to successfully complete the product development process. Areas pertaining to Kablooe Design’s expertise are highlighted in green and are the areas directly related to the product design process that Kablooe is typically directly involved with. The D3 Process℠ becomes the ‘checklist for success’ for the entire project.
