Model-making is an essential, integral part of the product design process. Carelli Design maintains a model-making workshop on-site, as well as a variety of outsource specialists for a specific requirement. Model-making provides means for evaluation, concept integrity, considerations visual and functional, as well as the ergonomic merits of a design proposal.
RAPID PROTOTYPING—SLA, SLS, or CNC prototyping
is an essential means to generate models directly
from our engineering data. Once formed, the parts
are often finished in detail by hand according to
the specific type of model required.
ERGONOMIC MODELS AND FULL-SIZE ASSEMBLIES—range
in size from a computer mouse to a full-sized vehicle.
In many cases, a full-size example is the only valid
means to evaluate how the public will receive and
interact with the proposed design.
VISUALLY ACCURATE MODELS—usually only partly
functioning, but offering all of the visual aesthetic
details, and finished with such realism that the
public may not be able to distinguish it from the
eventual final product. Visual models are often
used for further research analysis, focus and marketing
groups, as well as early product photography.
SCALE MODELS—while a full-size model provides
comprehensive feedback on a final design, it is
often too time consuming and expensive to employ
as a mid-development checkpoint. For this reason,
we often create half-size or fifth-scale scaled
models that are easier to transport, recreate or
duplicate.
WORKING PROTOTYPES—when the physical interfaces
of a design are the critical elements requiring
evaluation, and review is mandatory. Working prototypes
often look rudimentary, but provide very accurate
information as to how the user will adapt to the
product, and how well the product’s physical
attributes hold up.