Idea Reality - Product Design

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and Director of Lightseal Ltd. The company develops innovative products to help people achieve a restful night sleep.

For what projects/services did your company hire Idea Reality - Product Design?

I needed a design company to help me bring a single idea for a consumer product to market. I needed help with every single step involved, from concept design to CAD and route to market.

What were your goals for this project?

My goal was to have a finalised prototype which was ready for manufacture at mass scale within 12 months of beginning my journey with Idea-Reality.

How did you select Idea Reality - Product Design?

Idea-Reality was recommended to me by an individual who I connected with on social media. He had used Idea-Reality for his own product design venture, and made the introduction to James Lamb the very same day.

Describe the project in detail.

Once I had discussed my expectations and ambitions with Idea-Reality's team, we started a concept design phase which involved several different potential solutions to the problem we we're trying to solve, and based loosely around my home-made prototype.

After this we agreed on the most suitable design and Idea-reality (IR) began to develop a prototype using 3D printing. After many alterations and a series of fine tuning, we had a prototype design which was ready to be taken to an injection moulding manufacturer for mass production.

What was the team composition?

From the outset, I was assigned a project manager, Sharon, who was instrumental in communicating any queries or concerns I had about the project to the rest of the IR team. This made the whole process much more streamlined and efficient, and Sharon always responded to my (many) emails the same day.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I have now managed to secure a licensing deal with a UK based company who specialise in bringing innovative products to market. We are on course to launch a crowdfunding campaign in May 21, following successful manufacturing moulds being made in China.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager Sharon kept me constantly up to date with any developments, and organised fortnightly Zoom calls to check in with the rest of the design team and update me with their progress. I felt confident in emailing the team with any thoughts about the design itself.

The way that IR structured the payments for service was also a huge reason why I went with them. Everything was very transparent, with a clear, separate invoice given at every stage, rather than a big upfront bill to pay at the start.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The whole IR team were very patient with me. Having no previous design knowledge, they explained everything so that by the end I knew the process inside out, and was even confident enough to make design suggestions myself.

They are a small, friendly team, and you certainly get the personal touch when working with them, and certainly do not feel like just another customer.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As my product was always going to be launched on a crowdfunding platform, there was a natural point in the project where I had to find another company to help me with specifics such as a marketing video, advertisement and more specialist crowdfunding expertise.

We had an amazing, innovative and clever design for a product, and all of that was down to IR.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of TEVOLT. We design and manufacture mobile chargers.

What challenge were you trying to address with Idea Reality - Product Design?

When we first started out we had an idea for the product, but we needed support designing and producing it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Idea Reality - Product Design has worked through several stages of development with us. 

First, we discussed the idea for the portable charger with their team, which they then took to their designers. We selected one out of about five concepts the team had come up with and then began working on more detailed development.

Once we were happy with what the developers had produced, we moved on to the electronic stage, which we outsourced. 

The next phase was prototyping, and Idea Reality - Product Design was able to 3D print the product along with the electronic aspect. We worked together to fine-tune all the details, and now we’re moving onto the manufacturing portion of the project.

What is the team composition? 

Our main points of contact have been James (Founder & Design Director, Idea Reality - Product Design) and Teddy (Product Designer, Idea Reality - Product Design).

We’ve also been in touch with Sharon (Sales and Client Manager, Idea Reality - Product Design) for the financial aspect of our engagement.

How did you come to work with Idea Reality - Product Design?

We contacted a few companies in several different countries and received quotes from some of them. However, the clarity of Idea Reality - Product Design’s pricing and timeline helped us decide they were the best fit for our project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $9,000-$10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first started working with Idea Reality - Product Design in January 2019, and the engagement is ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We haven’t gone into production yet, so we can only speak to our experience working with Idea Reality - Product Design, which has been very positive thus far. 

Their team of engineers has been able to bring a lot of innovation to the project, and have come up with ideas for the product we wouldn't have considered on our own.

If it weren’t for Idea Reality - Product Design’s collaboration, our product wouldn’t be what it is today. 

How did Idea Reality - Product Design perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management has been really smooth. 

During each stage, we email back and forth between our two teams, then usually have a phone call when they come to the end of the particular project they’re working on to discuss updates or issues.

Idea Reality - Product Design also has an open-door policy, making us feel welcome to visit their office whenever we need. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Idea Reality - Product Design approaches the product as if it were their own, and are able to make suggestions and give feedback that contributes to the overall success of the product. We really appreciate that level of collaboration from the team rather than just following instructions.

Also, the team has a really high level of professionalism, and they’re exceptionally clear on timelines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open to recommendations from Idea Reality - Product Design. If we had been close-minded in this project, they wouldn’t have been able to enhance our product the way they have.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a cat lifestyle products company. We design, manufacture, and sell products such as climbing frames. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Idea Reality - Product Design?

We wanted support in designing innovative products that were high-quality and affordable.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came to Idea Reality - Product Design with some outlines of the products we wanted to develop. They collaborated with us to design those products within our parameters. These parameters included finding optimal materials while keeping production cost down and engineering the climbing devices so that they could be safely wall mounted in the home. 

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is James (Founder, Idea Reality - Product Design). We also worked with numerous other people, including Idea Reality’s full-time staff and their engineering interns. 

How did you come to work with Idea Reality - Product Design?

I found them through a basic internet search. I wanted a small team so that I knew my project would be a priority to them. Additionally, James and many of his interns went to the same university as me so I felt an affinity for the team. Upon meeting James in person, I found he was very personable and knowledgeable. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $25,000-$30,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in the spring of 2017. Our engagement with them is ongoing.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The best testimony we have for our business is the feedback we receive from our customers. Our reviews on Facebook and Google are very positive, with the vast majority of them being five-stars. 

How did Idea Reality Product Design perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through a variety of channels, mostly through telephone conversations or email interactions. Periodically, we have in-person meetings to review designs or prototypes so we have the opportunity to look at the physical products. 

I’m an engineer by trade, but James and his team are skilled at explaining the technical aspects of a project in layperson’s terms to the rest of my team. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of the most impressive things about Idea Reality is that they stand by their word. They always deliver on time and within the budget they stipulated. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes, I wish that they could bring a little more original ideas and innovation to the products they design. Typically, they just stick to replicating the ideas we give them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s important to be transparent with them. You’ll benefit from having good communication channels and remain open.