PROTOTYPING AGENCY
OUR PROTOTYPING AGENCY USES INDUSTRIAL PROTOTYPING TO TEST YOUR PRODUCT AGAINST ITS REAL CONSTRAINTS, VALIDATE ITS COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS AND SECURE THE LAUNCH OF THE PRE-SERIES.
Tamim DaoudiIndustrial designer · Strasbourg
WHY IS PRODUCT PROTOTYPING ESSENTIAL BEFORE INDUSTRIALISATION?
Prototyping means testing your project in its environment to see how it behaves when faced with constraints. By definition, a prototype reveals what needs to be improved, until a satisfactory solution is reached.
Industrial prototyping comes into play at every key stage of a product’s development. In particular, it allows you to:
- assess the product’s volume, overall dimensions and aesthetics before committing significant resources;
- check ergonomics and use through trials with end users;
- fine-tune the internal architecture and observe how the mechanical and electronic components behave;
- prepare for validation against the standards your product must meet;
- validate the final version of the product before launching a pre-series.
Each prototype removes part of the uncertainty. It is an approach that secures your project: corrections are made on the prototype, long before the production tooling is manufactured.
WHAT TYPES OF PROTOTYPE DOES AN INDUSTRIAL PROTOTYPING AGENCY PRODUCE?
THE APPEARANCE PROTOTYPE: A PRODUCT MODEL MADE AT THE STUDIO
The first step in your project, the appearance prototype is made within the design office to give physical form to the product’s volume and aesthetics, using lightweight techniques and materials. This aesthetic model allows you to assess the overall dimensions and design of your project at low cost, both visually and in the hand.
These models are made directly by our studio, in lightweight materials and by 3D printing. During a design study, we can make one for each creative direction so that the proposals can be compared at their actual size.
THE FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE: VALIDATING THE INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE
As its name suggests, the functional prototype focuses on your project’s functions. The aim is to set up the internal architecture and validate it through user trials in real conditions.
Whether it contains mechanical or electronic elements, or both, this type of prototype makes it possible to observe how the components behave during trials and to make the necessary changes, until the prototype meets the requirements of the specifications. Depending on the complexity of the project, this loop may be repeated several times.
Thanks to our network of mechatronics partners, we combine their skills with our design expertise to arrive at a final prototype that brings together functionality and appearance.
INDUSTRIAL PROTOTYPE EXAMPLES: BELUGA AND EPI-01, IN STEREOLITHOGRAPHY
Beluga is a fixed and mobile pollution sensor, designed to produce a representative map of pollution in Strasbourg for urban planners, architects and property developers. Its prototype, made by stereolithography, embodies a design that is both ergonomic and aerodynamic, softening the aggressive image associated with pollution. A smaller version is planned for fitting to bicycles. See the Beluga project
EPI-01 is a portable analyser developed for Epitopos. Using LIBS technology (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy), this genuine mobile laboratory analyses the chemical and physical properties of a material, to identify pigments in the heritage field or detect mineral veins in situ. Its prototype was made by stereolithography, in painted PA-12. As a first concept, it paves the way for a future, more compact range of industrialised products. See the EPI-01 project
HOW DOES OUR PROTOTYPING AGENCY WORK?
- Scoping: based on your specifications, we define what each prototype needs to validate: appearance, use, operation or compliance with standards.
- Appearance models: the studio makes models of the design directions in lightweight materials and by 3D printing, so that they can be compared in volume and in the hand.
- Functional prototype: the chosen direction is developed with our mechatronics partners, who integrate the internal architecture and components.
- Trials and user tests: the prototype is tested in real conditions, then the design is adjusted with the engineering team as many times as necessary.
- Final prototype: compliant with the specifications, it opens the way to the pre-series and then series production.
Our Models offer, which complements the design study with appearance models for each direction, is priced at €5,000 excl. VAT. Functional prototypes are quoted according to the complexity of your product.
WHY CHOOSE THE TAMIM DAOUDI STUDIO AS YOUR INDUSTRIAL PROTOTYPING AGENCY?
Because over more than 15 years of practice, the studio has built up a qualified, proven network of engineering and mechatronics design offices, manufacturers and prototype makers. We are used to bringing engineering into the support we provide to our clients, and we believe the success of your project depends on combining complementary skills that can talk to each other.
In practical terms, you benefit from:
- appearance models made directly at the studio, so you can decide quickly and at low cost;
- functional prototypes developed with our mechatronics partners;
- a designer who safeguards your design choices at every iteration, through to the pre-series;
- experience with technical products: connected devices, medical devices, industrial equipment;
- an award-winning industrial designer (Red Dot Design Award, Janus awards for Industry and Health).
Once the final prototype has been validated, we continue with you through to series production with our industrialisation support .
Where does Tamim Daoudi offer industrial prototyping?
Based in Strasbourg, the studio is not tied to one region: Tamim Daoudi works with companies all over France on their industrial prototyping projects. He comes to your premises for the key stages (scoping workshops, design reviews, user testing, follow-up at the manufacturer’s) and runs the rest of the project remotely, just as responsively.
He works throughout France, including in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lille, Rennes, Reims, Toulon, Saint-Étienne, Le Havre, Grenoble, Dijon, Angers, Nîmes, Clermont-Ferrand, Aix-en-Provence, Brest, Tours, Amiens, Limoges, Metz, Besançon, Perpignan, Orléans, Rouen, Mulhouse, Caen and Nancy.
Wherever you are, a first video call is enough to scope your needs.
Contact meFrequently asked questions: prototyping agency
What is industrial prototyping?
Industrial prototyping means producing one or more representative models of a product before series production. Depending on the objective, the prototype validates appearance and volumes, ergonomics, how the components work or compliance with standards. Each iteration reveals what needs to be improved, until a satisfactory solution is reached that can open the way to the pre-series.
What is the difference between an appearance prototype and a functional prototype?
The appearance prototype, or aesthetic model, reproduces the product’s volume, overall dimensions and design using lightweight materials and 3D printing: it allows decisions to be made at low cost. The functional prototype incorporates the internal architecture, whether mechanical or electronic, so that it can be tested by users in real conditions. The two complement each other within the same project.
What materials and processes do you use for your prototypes?
Appearance models are made at the studio in lightweight, flexible materials and by 3D printing. For more advanced prototypes, stereolithography gives a finish close to the final product: this was the case for the Beluga sensor and the EPI-01 analyser, made in painted PA-12. Functional prototypes are developed with our partners, depending on the components and the planned trials.
How much does an industrial prototype cost?
Our Models offer, which complements a design study with appearance models for each creative direction, is priced at €5,000 excl. VAT. The cost of a functional prototype depends on its complexity, its components and the number of iterations: it is quoted on request. Details of our packages are available on the Offers page.
How many prototypes are needed before series production?
There is no fixed rule. Appearance models first make it possible to choose a design direction, then one or more functional prototypes validate the internal architecture and use. Each loop of tests and corrections is repeated according to the complexity of the project, until the final prototype meets the specifications and opens the way to the pre-series.
Why prototype before industrialising a product?
Because a defect corrected on a prototype costs far less than a defect discovered in production. Prototyping makes it possible to check ergonomics with users, the behaviour of the components, the standards the product must meet and its manufacturability. It is an approach that secures your project before committing to tooling and the pre-series.
Which prototyping company should you choose to make a prototype?
It all depends on the objective. A prototype maker or 3D printing service mainly produces parts from your files. A prototyping agency backed by an industrial design studio steps in earlier: it defines what the prototype needs to validate, makes the appearance models, coordinates the mechatronics partners and safeguards the design through to the pre-series.
Do you work with design offices and prototype makers?
Yes. The studio relies on a network of engineering and mechatronics design offices, including Scalea Innovation in Lyon, as well as manufacturers and prototype makers. For a functional prototype, we combine their skills with our design expertise to produce a prototype that brings together functionality and appearance. We can also work with your own design office.
