Then you start thinking about the design alternatives and
going towards the prototype phase.
Could you talk about how you went through that?
>> We initially sketched out ideas on paper.
So, we had a number of different ideas out and then, we chose our top two.
And then we modeled in a 3D CAD program, similar to Fusion 360.
>> Okay.
>> And so at that point, we were able to, within a few hours,
put them on a 3-D printer and already have our first prototype out.
And so that's the great thing about 3-D printing,
is because now you already have a fully functional prototype.
That you can either take home and test yourself or
give to your target market or your users.
And have them test and give feedback and so, at this point in the stage,
we're able to give it to our users.
We let them test it for a few days, and then give us a bunch of feedback.
And then we went back to the cabs software and fixed our issues and then,
printed it out again.
>> So how many prototypes would you have made?
>> For our specific product here, we had around 42 prototypes.
>> Wow. >> A large number.
But it really depends on your timeline and the problem you're trying to solve.
And the feedback you get from the user will kind of
define how many prototypes you should go through.
>> So you were able to do, to make the sketches,
design alternatives and prototype and tests all together.
With Feedback loop among these three stages, so
that's another important point to note.
That you may not want to look at these stages as discreet,
something that happens one after the other.
You might just be doing them in a cycle with a feedback loop
from each of these phases.
So, you were able to do so many prototypes in a short time feed.
Could you take us through sort of the timelines for this process?
>> So we spent about a week really, understanding our user needs and
researching and talking to the users themselves.
And then the next week or so, we spent ideating just on paper.
Figuring out, what are some ideas that we could have.
And then we jump right in, spend about eight or
nine weeks, CAD modeling our products.
And then prototyping and
testing, getting feedback from the user and then recycling that circle.
>> And so all of this was done in the Illinois Maker Lab where we
have 3D printers there.
And from identifying a problem to design, prototyping, and iterating and
even testing.
Their team also designed the packaging for the product and the branding.
And they were actuallyalso able to sell the product to
students in our time frame of 16 weeks.
So, that is pretty amazing and
I think several other teams in the same course were also able to do that.
So that is really a powerful example of how
fast this process can proceed given the tools that we now have.
>> Exactly.
3D printing has really let anyone become an entrepreneur.