Design & engineering 设计

What happens at this stage

You turn an idea into a design that can actually be built: how it looks (industrial design), how the parts fit and move (mechanical engineering), and how the electronics work (electrical engineering). The output is a set of 3D CAD files, circuit designs and a first BOM (bill of materials: the list of every part in your product).

Why it matters

Almost every later cost comes from decisions made here. A design that ignores how things are manufactured can need expensive changes later, or a second set of molds.

What it costs and how long

Freelance or studio design work ranges widely, from a few thousand dollars for a simple product to much more for complex electronics. Plan on 2–8 weeks for a first complete design, plus rounds of changes after prototypes.

Common mistakes

• Designing for looks only, then finding the product can't be molded or assembled cheaply
• Choosing unusual components that are hard to buy in volume
• Skipping a DFM review (design for manufacturing: checking the design is easy to make) before tooling

Who helps

Design and engineering firms in Shenzhen can do all three disciplines under one roof, and many work in English. NPI partners (companies that guide first-time teams from prototype to production) often include design too.