Method for product development and industrial design
At ABID I work as an industrial designer on product development and product design for brands and companies that want to develop a new product or improve an existing one. This page shows the process step by step: from analysis and sketching (Design), through CAD & 3D engineering and prototyping (Create), to visuals, animation and presentations that tell the story of your product (Inspire).
ABID is an industrial design studio that thinks along throughout the entire product development process: from first idea and business case to testable prototype and convincing product presentation. Each phase has its own role, but always with the same goal: a manufacturable product design that makes sense for the user, the technology and the brand.
Want to see which services fit your current phase?
On the services page you will find all options for product development and product design at a glance.
Design – the start of product development and product design
From good idea to clear direction
Many projects start with an intuitive feeling: “we have a good idea.” In this first Design phase, we make that idea clear. We look at your market, users and the context in which the product has to work. Through design thinking, light analysis and visual thinking, we translate the question into clear starting points for product development and product design.
We define requirements, wishes and constraints:
- what should the product be able to do?
- who are we designing it for?
- what visual language fits the brand?
- which production techniques make sense?
This phase forms the foundation of the entire product development process. Without a clear framework, the rest of the process becomes unnecessarily expensive, slow and risky.
Which services fit this phase?
- Intake – first conversation to test and sharpen your idea.
- Design support card – short recurring sessions or small steps forward.
- Kickstart – a compact sprint from idea to first direction.
Design – from sketch to industrial product design
Once the direction is clear, the real design work begins. In this phase, industrial product design literally takes shape. I use sketching as a communication tool: from rough idea sketches to refined views with color, light and material feel in Painter. This can be done with markers and pastel on paper, or digitally on a Wacom display — depending on what the project needs.
We explore multiple directions and compare variants. This creates a conversation:
- what feels logical?
- what fits the brand?
- what is technically feasible?
Eventually, one or several concepts remain that you can genuinely say “yes” or “no” to. This is where industrial product design starts to take real form and lays the foundation for the next Create phase.
Which services fit this phase?
- Kickstart – compact sprint from idea to first concepts.
- Bronze package – design phase with a clear scope.
- Silver and Gold – more variants, depth and refinement.
Create – CAD & 3D engineering and manufacturable product design
From concept to CAD and production-ready data
In the Create phase, we translate a chosen design into something that can actually be built. The concept is refined into dimensions, wall thicknesses, connections and material behavior. We choose production techniques that fit the expected volume and budget: injection molding, rotational molding, 3D printing, CNC milling or a smart combination.
I work with tools such as Rhinoceros, Fusion 360, Grasshopper and KeyShot. With these I build clean 3D models and variants, and where needed technical references for engineers or suppliers. The result is a manufacturable product design that connects smoothly to the next steps in product development: testing, prototyping and eventually production.
This is the core of CAD & 3D engineering: a digital foundation that is correct, so production and assembly do not create surprises later.
Which services fit this phase?
- CAD & 3D engineering – manufacturable 3D models and production-ready data.
- Silver and Gold – when engineering is part of a complete development process.
Create – prototyping and digital fabrication
Between screen and reality there is always a crucial step: the physical model. With prototyping and digital fabrication, we test whether a design does in reality what it promises on screen. Sometimes this means a simple scale model, sometimes a detailed 1:1 prototype that already feels close to the final product.
I use FDM, SLS and SLA printing, laser cutting and multi-axis milling. I am also developing my own 5-axis 3D printer for extremely lightweight, form-following wearables. Where possible, I recycle print waste in-house, so we can work as circularly as possible within your product development process.
This is where prototyping and digital fabrication meet CAD & 3D engineering. It allows us to test functionality, ergonomics, fit and user experience at an early stage.
Which services fit this phase?
- CAD & 3D engineering as the foundation for strong prototypes.
- A dedicated prototyping or fabrication service for models, tests and validation.
- Gold if you want a continuous process from concept to prototype.
Inspire – visuals, animation and storytelling around your product
Experience, branding and communication through visuals
The Inspire phase focuses on how a product is experienced. A strong design deserves visuals and stories that clearly show what it adds — to users, to a brand or to a market. Through sketches, renders, animations and short films, I make your product understandable and emotionally engaging.
Depending on the project, the focus may be on:
- clarity – for example in medical or technical applications;
- experience – how does it feel in use?;
- brand storytelling – how does it fit within a larger product portfolio?
Where relevant, I work with KeyShot and AI tools to quickly explore different visual directions. This ensures that the presentation of your product connects naturally to the earlier stages of product development and industrial design.
Which services fit this phase?
- Visuals & animation – imagery for presentations, pitches or marketing.
- Bronze, Silver and Gold – when storytelling and visuals are part of a complete design process.
Inspire – education, guest lecturing and sharing knowledge
For me, design is not only about products, but also about people. That is why I have been involved for years in projects where sharing knowledge is central: from Tata Steel’s Techno Challenge to 3D printing and automotive design projects at universities and academies.
As a guest lecturer, I have given presentations and workshops on creativity, the design process, 3D printing and automotive design at institutions including The Hague University of Applied Sciences (IPO), Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design and the university in Heerlen. This exchange between education and practice continuously strengthens my work — and vice versa.
Products developed together with clients have also inspired juries and curators worldwide, including a Best of the Best Red Dot Award and exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and the Cube Design Museum. This too is part of industrial product design that reaches beyond only the technical side of product development.
Which services fit this phase?
- Guest lectures & workshops – custom sessions, inspiration talks and workshops for teams, schools and universities.
Why choose ABID for your product development process?
How does a product design process at ABID work?
A project at ABID usually starts with an intake session in which we clarify the idea, context and goals.
This is followed by a Design phase with analysis, sketching and concept creation. In the Create phase, the selected design
is developed into CAD and — where needed — prototypes. Finally, visuals, animation and presentations (Inspire)
help communicate the product internally or externally. This creates a clear and visually supported process for
product development and industrial design.
Can you also help with only CAD engineering or prototyping?
Yes. You do not always need a full development process. Many clients hire ABID for a specific step,
such as 3D CAD modeling, manufacturability checks or prototype development.
The services page includes dedicated packages for CAD & 3D engineering and digital fabrication.
Do you also work with startups and small production series?
Yes. ABID works for both established companies and startups or scale-ups. Especially with smaller production volumes,
it is important to make smart decisions regarding design, materials and manufacturing methods. The process is adapted
to your budget, expected production size and growth ambitions.
How involved am I during the design process?
You are closely involved throughout the process. Every phase includes clear decision moments: from sharpening
the design question and selecting concepts to reviewing CAD models and visuals. Sketches, renders and
prototypes are intentionally used as communication tools so that decisions become visually clear and well supported.
Do you also provide workshops or guest lectures about design and 3D printing?
Yes. Besides studio work, ABID provides guest lectures and workshops about creativity, the design process,
automotive design and 3D printing at universities, colleges and companies. The services page contains more information
about guest lecturing and inspirational sessions.
Can you also support innovation subsidies and development programs?
Yes. Many projects are connected to innovation subsidy programs, such as WBSO, MIT and other schemes.
I am not a subsidy consultant, but I can help define the innovation story itself: what makes the product innovative,
how it fits into a roadmap and which development steps are logical within a product development process.
For formal subsidy advice and applications, I collaborate with specialized partners.
A good starting point for information about innovation funding is the
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
For practical support and subsidy applications I work together with
KC Group, a specialized innovation and funding consultancy.