Process

The measure of any process is its ability to increase the probability of success. So over the last twenty-plus years, we have refined ours to do just that.

It starts before you even walk through our door. We don’t have a technology to promote, a product line to update or inventory to control. Our job is to understand and then become advocates for your customers. So we’re constantly observing not only user behavior, but also business, cultural and technological trends across all kinds of markets.

Contextual Discovery
In order to identify opportunities your competitors haven’t even thought about, you need real insight into consumers’ unmet needs. You have to see and understand their hidden work-arounds and pent-up wants that, when properly addressed, will lead to that “A-ha!” moment. So naturally, our first priority is to expose those opportunities. We start by observing people in their everyday lives. Then we overlay detailed market and technology analysis. That way, we can create solutions to meet your market’s needs before they’re obvious to everyone including your competitors.

Solution Prototyping
Real breakthroughs rarely show up as a single gadget, piece of software or service. Instead, they come in the form of “systemic solutions” made up of combinations of products, services, content, etc. The best ones are intuitive for the user and create value at many levels. That’s why it’s important not only to see things from the user’s point of view but also to prototype, test, refine, and design WITH your consumers. That’s why we prototype our hypotheses before we even sketch the first product idea.

In fact, prototyping is critical to our entire process. Whether it’s a business model, a form, or a product, we do it at each step along the way. It’s just part of our culture.

Concept Development
Solution prototyping creates a framework in which to develop specific concepts that expand your vision of “what could be.” Next, our creative team of designers, researchers and engineers work with you to generate compelling concepts that will inspire your target users, distributors and other stakeholders.

Of course, stretching your perception of what’s possible can be scary. It may require looking at things differently. It might mean adding capabilities, or partnering, or moving in a completely new direction. But then, if it were easy, your competitors would already have done it.

Design and Engineering
A great idea is a good start. Add great design and you just might end up with an icon. You know, the kind of product customers recognize from across the room - or around the world. But even the most beautiful product is worthless if it never makes it to market. That’s why our passion and our Heuristic Culture are so valuable.

Our designers and engineers work together to balance great design with functionality, manufacturability and cost. Our clients tell us the interaction is truly something to see. After years of refining this, we’re convinced it’s the best way to preserve the integrity of the idea and to create products that connect with your consumers.

Build and Launch
It’s all in the details. This is especially true when you’re trying to turn your vision into reality from eight thousand miles away. Whether you need to manufacture in China or sell into North America (or sell into Asia, for that matter), there’s no substitute for having local connections with more than twenty years’ worth of experience. We work with top manufacturers, tooling vendors, and distribution channels through our offices in Asia and the US. In other words, when it comes to bringing your products to market successfully, we truly speak the language.