jmaDESIGN
8191 Morse Rd
New Albany, OH 43054
614 855 7690
john@jmadesign.co
Product Design
& Development

Communication
of Ideas One

Communication
of Ideas Two

Introduction to
Corporate Image
and Identity
Portfolio & Resume

jmaDESIGN

designFUTURIST

designCOMPUTING
In my view, products are both tangible objects and intangible services. Product design and development takes many forms involving many different skills. Product design includes improving an existing product as well as creating something entirely new to address consumer needs or desires. There are many possible approaches to new products development.No single method solves every product design problem. I have found, however, four major design factors that are common to all successful new products. The samples on these pages and in my portfolio illustrate how I have applied those factors.
First, I establish the genuine need for a new product. Identifying the need is the most important factor in product success, but is seldom a simple process. Needs are both physical and psychological. The need for a product that makes you feel good about having it is just as real as the need for a product that helps you get something done. What ìmust be doneî is often as much about perception as reality. Producers of products often fall into the trap of producing what they are comfortable with. Marketers know that consumers don't change to match products; products must match their needs. Identifying the latent needs of the consumer and translating those needs into products appropriate for your development as a producer is what I do.

Frigidaire Concept Design Team prototype of new micro-wave form utilizing thin-film technology and incorporating a built-in serving tray and steamer for cappuccino.
Simple products or solutions will always be more successful than complex ones. Technology for the sake of technology is a dead end. Complex, computerized, filing systems fail if they are not as simple to operate as stack of 3x5 cards and a file box. A feature-laden, but complex, VCR will sit on the shelf and flash 12:00 while never being used to its full potential. My thorough design analysis ensures that my solutions have the appropriate level of simplicity.
Value is a frequently misunderstood concept. The balance between cost, quality, physical need, and psychological need is a delicate one. Again, as with need, it is more about perception than reality. Is there competition for fulfilling the need? Are there simpler solutions? Does the user understand the product? Will it do what he/she needs it to do? Does it enhance their self image? Will anyone else see it? Does it make a statement? Does the user care if it makes a statement? Should it last, or does the user want to dispose of it? Can they live with its impact on the environment? The list of questions does not have to be endless. Identifying the right ones and developing a product that gives consumers the right answers is what I do.
Rebreather unit for Mine Safety Appliances, incorporating improved ergonomics, canister replacement, and graphics/color codeing to ensure use of correct filters for hazardous environment encountered.
How you use products, features of products, and controls should be clear, unambiguous, and self evident. The ergonomics and semantics of making products and their operation intuitive is a difficult, and often neglected, aspect of design. My experience with visual cues, form language, clear and unambiguous symbols and text, appropriate materials, colors and textures ensures that products are self evident, and that design will contribute to increased sales.