Inventor Resources - March 2008

Article in a sentence: Understanding the customer's needs are key to any product development.

Post and Spin

by Inventors Digest, Inventors Digest Magazine April Issue 2008

If you have a web browser, you can have a prototype - a virtual one, that is. Design My Idea LLC has developed VirtuType, a Web-based computer-aided design (CAD) product. Post a virtual prototype on your web site, and potentioal investors and customers can zoom, spin and virtually try your product - even change its colos. We invited Brian Gates, the company's president and lead designer, to this month's session of TalkBack.

While a picture may be worth a 1,000 words, it would seem having a physical prototype in hand would be even better. What are the advantages of a virtual prototype over the real deal?

A virtual prototype allows an inventor to share unlimited samples of their product across the world instantly for very little investment. Users can examine parts, change accessories and simulate device functions. And you can modify colors or materials and ensure you have the most recent design at your fingertips. This technology delivers instant gratification.

Talk about the suite of services you offer and how you differentiate your operation from the competition.

Design My Idea offers inventors a single solution for designing, developing and marketing their invention. We offer a complete range of design services including industrial design, 3D modeling, packaging, product branding, web development and everything in-between. Our goal is to simplify the design process for inventors while enabling them to achieve superior quality design by bringing all these services into one company. Design My Idea operates on a National level by utilizing the internet to interact with our clients and our company’s success is based solely on the response received by our boss, the inventor.

Talk about how increases in computational power and Internet bandwidth affected your business.

The “new” internet has really enabled us to expand our business into every home. We have worked with stay-at-home parents thousands of miles away and individuals living in remote areas to develop their idea without ever meeting face to face. Inventors are able to instantly review their designs and offer feedback while being able to share their assets with friends and family at a moment’s notice. Just as we have seen the continual increase in online shopping for products, I suspect we will see the same for innovative product development through the web.

How can you reassure inventors and independent product developers that their ideas are safe with you?

Design My Idea treats every idea with the utmost consideration for confidentiality. We accept inventor provided non-disclosure agreements or offer a standard NDA to all potential clients. Submitted concepts are only reviewed by necessary personnel and the information is destroyed or returned should the client pursue another direction for their development. Inventors control user rights to all design materials through a private project portal.

Who are some of your clients and what did you do for them?

Our clients range from first-time inventors to corporations seeking help in various phases of product development. Plane Clean Air came to us two years ago seeking packaging designs and branding for their new product. We developed various styles of packaging, complete product branding, trade-show material and a video for an infomercial. With our help, they have landed their product in hundreds of travel boutiques worldwide and on target.com.

MBL of America, an ultra high-end audio equipment manufacturer, came to us seeking the development of an advertising campaign for their products.

Hexi-Deck was the first-time invention for a newly retired engineer, seeking to develop his new invention as a legacy for his family. We refined his design concept, created 3-D models for marketing purposes and developed the brand around the product. He is currently in talks with a major hardware manufacturer to license this product.

Tell us about your plans for the coming year.

Design My Idea in partnership with Patent Law & Venture Group will be releasing the world’s first and only Intellectual Property marketplace designed to allow Patent, Trademark and Copyright holders to post, bid and sell their IP through the World Wide Web. This unique service will allow for the free posting and searching of IP content while simplifying the negotiation process between IP holders and corporations. Visit www.MyIPdeal.com for more information on how to easily leverage your IP.