Articles

What is a Product Strategist?

It’s a title that often raises eyebrows. When I say I’m a product strategist, people sometimes t... Read the article

Design to Reality: Why Product Development Isn’t a Straight Line

In product development, we often celebrate innovation as though it springs from certainty. A brillia... Read the article

Custom Ultra-Low-Power RF Adventures: Building an STM32U599 + CC1101 Transceiver Board

Ever tried to pair a Bluetooth gadget and wished you had your own private wireless network instead? ... Read the article

De-Risking Product Development: How Integrated Manufacturing Secures Investor Confidence

Why Investors Are Losing Faith in Traditional Product Development In today’s volatile market, cap... Read the article

Beyond China: Why Businesses Need a Smarter Approach to Global Manufacturing

The Misconception of "Made in China" – and Why It’s Outdated For years, the narrative around ma... Read the article

Why “Free” Design and Low-Cost Manufacturing Often Cost More in the Long Run

The Pitfalls of Cheap Product Development In an era where some design firms and manufacturers offer... Read the article

Why Product Development Is Broken—and How We’re Fixing It with Aligned Manufacturing

In today’s landscape, launching a physical product is harder than ever. Startups face tighter capi... Read the article

Why Cheap Thinking Kills Great Products

The Problem with the Procurement Mindset When you squeeze the design budget, you don’t just cut c... Read the article

How AI and Robotics Will Reshape Global Manufacturing in the Next Five Years

The Next Industrial Revolution is Here Manufacturing has always been shaped by technological advanc... Read the article

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Product Development: Why Most Businesses Are Overpaying

The Unseen Money Pit in Product Development Many businesses unknowingly burn millions in avoidable ... Read the article

New Product Development as a Growth Strategy: Tapping into New Markets and Fending off the Competition

"Standing still is not an option"—every business owner and commercial strategist knows this. Optim... Read the article

Beyond the In-House vs. Outsourced Debate: A New Model for Product Design and Manufacturing

Article written by Austen Miller - Founder of 3fD (View LinkedIn Profile) Imagine a model where p... Read the article

Breaking Barriers in FemTech: Béa Fertility’s Fight Against Stigma

From product censorship to societal stigma, many companies in the FemTech industry are faced with a ... Read the article

Looking back to how COVID-19 changed the product design industry

While society grappled with unprecedented challenges, the product design industry was compelled to a... Read the article

Unveiling the Pitfalls of White Label Products

We’ve helped many clients develop bespoke solutions in place of the white-label products they were... Read the article

Six Steps To CE Mark Your Product

Contrary to the popular opinion that CE means Conformity Europe, it doesn’t actually stand for any... Read the article

Pointless Objects of Plastic (P.O.O.P)

This term encapsulates the essence of products that contribute to excessive waste, both in terms of ... Read the article

A Brief Overview of Developing ISO Compliant Products

In today's global marketplace, adhering to International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) stan... Read the article

Developing IoT Products that Sell

Within the domain of industrial design, the Internet of Things (IoT) presents both an opportunity an... Read the article

The Art of Developing User Interfaces that Empower

User interface design plays a pivotal role in the success of many products in today's digital age. W... Read the article

Stonehenge… 3fD Rocks! 😂

I wouldn't say that the type of products we get involved with are by any means predictable, but when... Read the article

Medical Products – Developing Devices Adhering to ISO 13485 in 2024

In the realm of medical device development, adhering to stringent quality standards is paramount to ... Read the article

True Power in Prototyping: Insights from Our Founder & CEO

Prototypes often get labelled as “models” or “mock-ups.” But in reality, they can be much mo... Read the article

Bringing Our Designs to Life: A Collaboration in Fully Functional Prototypes

We’re passionate about designing products that don’t just look great on paper—they perform in ... Read the article

Innovating Water Conservation: The Role of Precision Engineering

It is an ever-growing responsibility for us (and every other design agency) to design products that ... Read the article

Rethinking Product Design: Why 3fD Skipped the Sketchbook and Jumped Straight into CAD

At 3fD, we’ve never been afraid to challenge convention. Back when most design consultancies still... Read the article

Seeing Beneath the Surface: How 3fD Helped Novarix Make Blood Sampling Easier

Taking a simple blood sample can be surprisingly stressful — both for patients and clinicians. Whe... Read the article

Making Mealtime Easier for Parents and Babies: The Wean Machine

Feeding a baby on the go is never easy. Fresh, nutritious meals are essential, but preparing just a ... Read the article

Austen Miller Talks Innovation and the 360° Cup on BBC Radio

When BBC Radio’s Innovation Slot turned its attention to everyday inventions that make life easier... Read the article

How 3fD Helped Miura Create a Pocket-Sized Payment Solution

UK company Miura Systems wanted to make it easier for small traders—like taxi drivers, cleaners, a... Read the article