What we’ve learned from 30 years and 130+ years of combined experience in product development
Over the years, we’ve helped dozens of companies recover from costly missteps. And we’ve noticed a few common themes. These are the product development beliefs and mistakes that tend to trip people up early in the process. We're sharing them with you now to save you time, money, and headaches down the line.
Mistake 1: Designing for flash instead of fit
We’ve heard innumerable versions of, “I need my product to look like [the iPhone, the Nest, a Lamborghini…]”
Reality: Beautiful design isn’t universal. It’s contextual.
Sure, a sleek product turns heads. But is that really what your customers want? There’s a market for Lamborghinis, but there’s a much bigger one for Hondas. Great design starts with understanding your users and the market they live in. At SPARK, we build from that foundation to help you create something beautiful and strategic.
What to do instead:
Start by deeply understanding your users and what they value. Then let those insights guide your design decisions. Great products are rooted in user needs, not design trends.
Mistake 2: Leaving manufacturing as an afterthought
Many people believe that if they just get the design most of the way there, the manufacturer can figure out the rest.
Many people believe that if they just get the design most of the way there, the manufacturer can figure out the rest.
Reality: “Throw it over the fence” doesn’t work.
We’ve seen too many products fall apart at the handoff. If you don’t think through manufacturing early, you risk a product that looks and feels nothing like what you imagined. We believe in end-to-end design, so that what you want and what your customers need is what gets delivered.
What to do instead:
Involve manufacturing early in the process to avoid costly redesigns or compromises. Build or hire a team that can carry your vision through to a real-world product.
Mistake 3: Assuming every design firm knows how to build
Reality: Many don’t. And it’s expensive to find out the hard way.
We’ve worked with clients who came to us after being handed gorgeous renders that were completely unbuildable. A portfolio full of eye candy and awards does not necessarily translate to quality design and real products.
What to do instead:
Ask for proof: real products, not just pretty pictures. Look for teams that have successfully taken products all the way to shelves.
Mistake 4: Thinking engineering limits creativity
Even though many people assume design firms understand engineering, a lot of them worry that engineering firms can’t be creative. In our experience, nothing could be further from the truth.
Reality: The best PD firms treat product engineering and product design as two processes that must go hand in hand for a product to be successful.
We believe constraints fuel creativity. A product development process should balance aesthetic ambition with technical know-how, so you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for practicality or vice versa.
What to do instead:
Choose teams that see constraints as creative challenges. The best engineering teams elevate design by making beautiful things that actually work.
Mistake 5: Rushing to get something built
With the speed of our current marketplace and world, we know time is of the essence. But we’ve also cleaned up many messes after companies decided to go with the firm that promised the fastest turnaround.
Reality: Fast isn’t the same as strategic.
Beware the “too good to be true” timeline. Rushing product development often leads to oversights that cost more later. At SPARK, we move quickly and deliberately because getting it right the first time is faster in the long run.
What to do instead:
Speed can be a competitive advantage, but only when paired with thoughtfulness. Invest time up front to understand user needs, plan for manufacturability, and avoid expensive do-overs.
Mistake 6: Hiring a team of order-takers
There’s something comforting about a PD team promising you they’ll turn your exact vision into reality. But unless you’re a product development expert, you may have blindspots or assumptions that need questioning.
Reality: You want a partner, not a puppet.
The PD firm you choose should bring challenge, refinement, and insight. The best outcomes come from healthy tension, not blind agreement.
What to do instead:
Look for a firm that asks tough questions, tests assumptions, and catches issues early.
We hope these common mistakes (and the better options forward) help you feel more prepared and informed as you move through product development. They’re based on decades of real-world experience and hundreds of products, and we’ve seen firsthand how avoiding these traps can make a massive difference.
If you have questions or want to talk through any of them with a team of seasoned engineers, we hope you’ll reach out.
We’re always happy to offer a gut check, or do a quick problem solving session. Schedule a free 30-minute session with our team here.