A question that frequently arises is: When is engineering required in product development? This is a complex inquiry that relies on the perspective of the individual and the nature of the product itself. An industrial designer, for example, is likely to suggest that engineering comes into play after concept development and finalizing the design since their training emphasizes a design-centric approach. This approach works well for familiar products such as over-ear headphones, earbuds, wrist wearables, handheld remotes, IoT devices, and others, where specific constraints like driver size and ..read more

I might ruffle some feathers, especially among those who rely on white-labeling, but let’s face it: differentiation creates preference and affinity in the hearts and minds of consumers. In contrast, commodities often find themselves stuck in a race to the bottom, competing solely on price and convenience. Here’s why investing in design differentiation is not just strategic but essential for long-term brand building. The Emotional Currency: Building Brands People Love It’s Not Just What You Sell; It’s How You Make Them Feel Nothing Earbuds really plays into their branding message through their ..read more

Engineering development efforts are the backbone of innovation and progress in various industries. From conceiving groundbreaking ideas to transforming them into practical solutions, these developmental phases play a pivotal role in shaping the success of projects. However, the costs associated with engineering challenges vary significantly, presenting engineers and project managers with unique obstacles at each level. In this blog post, we will delve into the diverse landscape of engineering developmental costs, focusing on the distinctions between $5K, $50K, and $500K efforts. By understandi ..read more

With AI on the rise, we have to ask ourselves what does the future of design and product development hold with AI? As technology continues to advance, we see more and more industries embracing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their processes. The design industry is no exception. In fact, Hatch Duo believes that AI has the potential to transform the design industry in significant ways. However, it’s essential to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of AI to truly take advantage of this futuristic tool and integrate it into one’s design process. In this blog post, we’ll ex ..read more

What are the future physical product opportunities of VR? VR is still a relatively young technology and the Metaverse is still in early development. Think back to the creation of the IOT – it’s had nearly 80 years to develop into what it is today. From military origins to public domain, it’s grown to be an integral part of our everyday lives. Most even carry a mini computer with them every day without thinking about the power of it.  The future of VR is so bright- applications from remote, worldwide working, conferences, or even an enhancement to a workflow without the need to clutter yo ..read more

“How We Designed” Season 2, Featuring Grind Basketball We are excited to announce that season two of our YouTube Shorts Series, “How We Designed,” will launch tomorrow. For season two, we invite you to explore our work with Grind Basketball, hosted by Hatch Duo’s co-founder and Principal Engineer, Mike Yim. As a slight deviation from our typical design process, our Mechanical Engineering team took the lead on this project. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Thomas Fields’ team and assist in developing their innovative technology solution for athletes. By subscribing to our YouTube channel ..read more

One of the most common design misconceptions is that designers aim to “make things look pretty.” People mistakenly think of design as a back-end or decorative portion when in reality, it’s the tip of the spear. It is a process that involves enormous empathy and creative and strategic thinking to better-fit customers’ needs. Incorporating design and design strategy is essential to any company’s success. Design can intrinsically raise the valuation of a business, helps promote downstream savings, and contribute to brand proliferation. Increasing Profitability With Design First and foremost, de ..read more

In the longer-term future, AI may be able to create more complex machines, like automated cars or planes. After all, if a machine can create designs, what will stop it from eventually outperforming human designers, right? Fair question. But it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s unlikely that AI will replace design jobs entirely in the immediate future. AI is a fantastic tool or reference for designers, but it will never replace them. Design is about solving problems and finding creative solutions. AI is good at finding patterns, but it doesn’t have the creativity or empathy to understand t ..read more

“How We Designed” Season 2, Featuring Grind Basketball We are excited to announce that season two of our YouTube Shorts Series, “How We Designed,” will launch tomorrow. For season two, we invite you to explore our work with Grind Basketball, hosted by Hatch Duo’s co-founder and Principal Engineer, Mike Yim. As a slight deviation from our typical design process, our Mechanical Engineering team took the lead on this project. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Thomas Fields’ team and assist in developing their innovative technology solution for athletes. By subscribing to our YouTube channel ..read more

Can industrial designers become mechanical engineers? Can mechanical engineers become industrial designers? It’s no secret that industrial designers and mechanical engineers have their specific fields of expertise. But what happens when those fields of expertise collide and squeeze onto a thin line between industrial design and mechanical engineering? We believe it’s beneficial for all disciplines to be multidisciplinary: it’s really important for the design team here at Hatch Duo to have a basic understanding of mechanical engineering and vice versa. Our roles may differ, but our core skills ..read more