For start-up companies or businesses working to get by on a razor-thin budget in today’s economy, innovation and new products can provide a huge boost, but often carry a degree of risk and cost that can be too much for a company to wager. In the instance of physical goods, this is frequently because of the cost of creating a prototype, be it for the company to analyze physical possibilities, or for pitches to investors. Ideally, prototypes are the first step that helps companies assess practicality and solidify ideas, but depending on the product and its target market, a prototype can be the only shot if it doesn’t come through the way it was planned.
Fortunately, prototyping alternatives exist, particularly in the early stages of product development. For simulating the size of a product, its scale, and market potential, profile cut foam materials are superb prototyping mediums because they can minimize development costs while maximizing potential.
Imagine you’re about to present your first-draft idea to an investor or project supervisor. When all you really need to do is convey an understanding of physical size and complexity and not specific details, using foam materials or foam rubber blocks, carved and cut to size, can be much more affordable than investing in materials that require unnecessary overhead. This is particularly important in early stages of development when a product can be approved in concept, with more details only needed down the road.
Even if your company already specializes in foam manufacturing, foam prototyping can still generate savings by using the right materials. Perhaps you’re considering a new design for an exercise mat or comfort cushion. Instead of investing in the high-end material the product is eventually to be made of, more affordable substitutes can be used to make early mock-ups without wasting more expensive materials since basic idea and design testing is all that’s being focused on. For example, new memory foam products like conceptual pillow shape designs can be created easily from memory foam, but if you’re only seeing how a new shape is received by customers for instance, cheaper foam can be utilized while keeping costs lower. To get even the best ideas off the ground, creativity and planning is required, and using prototyping smartly is one way to get to where you need to go.