How Long Does Product Design & Prototyping Take?
The length of time it takes to design and prototype your product depends on many different factors. Every engineering project has its own challenges.
The 3 different stages of the product design – engineering and creating manufacturing files, prototyping, and product testing all contribute to how long it will take your new idea to get ready for manufacturing.
We’ll go through how each stage of product development can affect the complete timeline.
Product Design Development
Projects that require more than one area of expertise will take a lot longer to design. For example, a smart home system will require expertise in structural engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, app development, and mechanical engineering. There are extremely few, if any, companies that can handle all of those requirements. A project like that would have to be passed around multiple engineering companies and would take years to develop.
Something simple like a unique pair of scissors could take as little as a week to get first generation manufacturing drawings made. After the drawings are completed, prototypes should be made to test the product.
Note: just because you have first generation drawings and a prototype, doesn’t mean the development process of the product is finished. Sometimes changes have to be made to the final design after the prototype of the product has been tested. Most small changes can be implemented in a design in a week or two. If there is a large flaw, it could potentially take a much longer to fix, since it may cause larger parts of the product to be redesigned.
Prototyping
The length of time it takes to prototype a product largely depends on its complexity. Something that can be machined or 3D printed can be prototyped in a matter of days or weeks.
A product that has multiple components will take longer, especially if each component has to be custom made and there are no off the shelf substitutes.
The more different engineering requirements your product has, the longer a prototype will take. Many parts can be prototyped using a 3D printer or CNC machining.
Product Testing
One often forgotten yet crucial part of product development is product testing. Many products require a certain certification to be compliant with U.S. regulations. You’ll generally need to send a sample or prototype to a laboratory that is certified with the right agency to test your product. For example, a new air nozzle used in factories and machine shops would have to be tested by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved facility.
Sometimes, several different tests need to be ran on your product. There are a wide variety of stress tests laboratories perform that can range from pressure tests, vibration tests, weather simulations, acid and heat resistance, tests of electrical currents, and more. The range of tests that need to be performed will be determined by the type of product being tested.
The length of time it takes to test a product varies based on how many tests need to be performed and how busy the product testing facility is, but we’ve seen the tests go as quickly as under a week to as long as a month or two.
How Long Does Product Development Take from Start to Finish?
As every project is unique in its own requirements and challenges, the exact time it will take to produce your project can be provided with a quote, but the following is a rough baseline to understand what you can expect:
For a simple product with few components, a rough timeline for engineering can range anywhere from 1-8 weeks for engineering and designing manufacturing files, and then 2 weeks to a month for prototyping. If changes need to be made, then you should expect a week or two for the changes to be implemented and the same amount of time for a first prototype.
For complex projects, the designing can take as much as 6 months to a year. The prototypes can also take a few months due to tooling requirements. If a mold is required for your prototype, those generally require a couple months to be produced.
Intermediately complex projects would fall somewhere in the middle of that timeline.
If you need to send a prototype to a laboratory for testing, you should expect it to take additional time, somewhere around a month.
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FAQs
A simple product with few components can take anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks to develop and design manufacturing files. The prototyping can then take 2 weeks to a month. If changes are required, expect a week or two to implement the changes and the same amount of time for an initial prototype.
Is product design difficult? ›
Product design is an accessible field because it doesn't favor one specific professional or educational background. But that doesn't mean that becoming a product designer is easy. If you want to get into product design, you'll need to be really committed to acquiring the necessary skills and landing your first role.
How long does it take to make a prototype? ›
For prototyping that is done mainly via 3D printing, it might take several hours in a day or sometimes spill over into a few days. But we usually spend between 1 to 2 months to build an invention prototype. And this is the standard for most prototyping done.
How long should an engineering project take? ›
For a simple product with few components, a rough timeline for engineering can range anywhere from 1-8 weeks for engineering and designing manufacturing files, and then 2 weeks to a month for prototyping.
How long is product design A level exam? ›
Qualification. A 2.5 hour exam comprised of short and extended response questions focussed on the use materials and manufacturing within the design process.
How long does design work take? ›
Design projects, whether digital or printed, encompass a variety of types, each requiring different durations. Typically, single digital assets take 1 to 6 days to complete, while print collateral usually takes 5 to 12 days. Web and app design may extend up to 6 weeks.
Is product design a stressful job? ›
The nature of product design often involves tight deadlines and iterative cycles that can be mentally taxing. By maintaining a healthy work-life balance, Product Designers can manage stress more effectively, reducing the risk of burnout and ensuring they remain engaged and productive in their roles.
Is product design a stable career? ›
If you're looking for a varied and meaningful career path that offers competitive pay, high job demand, the opportunity to learn and grow, and the chance to make an impact—then yes, product design is an excellent career.
Can I do product design without a degree? ›
We're going to put the spoiler right out in the front here – no, you don't need a degree to become a Product Designer. But, that's not the whole story. While a formal college education isn't required to enter the field, the skills taught in those degrees are critical.
How long does it take to finish prototype 1? ›
When focusing on the main objectives, Prototype is about 11 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 32 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
"If a picture is worth 1000 words, a prototype is worth 1000 meetings" is a famous saying at IDEO. Meetings are often full of discussions based on opinions and speculations.
How long does it take to create a product line? ›
Mass Production
| Category | Example | Benchmark |
|---|
| Incremental | Extension of an existing product including minor design variation | 3 months |
| Typical | An actual new product, yet in a category where the company already has considerable experience. For example, a new mobile device by an established smartphone company | 6 months |
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If you have an experienced product developer on your founder team, and you have a product of moderate complexity, then you should be able to get your first prototype within about 3 months, and a final works-like-looks-like prototype within about 6-9 months.
Is a project engineer job stressful? ›
Project Engineers often face tight deadlines and high expectations, which can be stressful. Balancing technical challenges with project management demands a robust skill set.
What is the rule of thumb for project management hours? ›
Some companies allocate 10% of hours to project management, while others allocate up to 20%, but 15% is a reasonable rule of thumb. Once we have that basic assumption, you can look at the sizes of projects you need to manage.
How long does the design phase take? ›
While each phase of the process is dependent on the size and scope of each project, typically we see the permitting, drawings, and design phase taking approximately 3-5 months. Once the design is approved and we move into the ordering and construction phase, that can take anywhere from 4-6 months or longer.
How long is a product design degree? ›
10 credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A 3 year degree qualification typically comprises of 360 credits (120 credits per year).
How long does it usually take to design a logo? ›
The time it takes to design a logo can vary depending on factors such as complexity, client feedback, and the designer's experience, but on average, it can take an average of anywhere from 10 to 30 hours of work.
