A product prototype company is a company that creates early models or samples of products to test and refine concepts before mass production. These companies help businesses and inventors bring their ideas to life by providing design, engineering, and manufacturing services. 

These prototypes are meant to: 

• Help stakeholders visualize product concepts 
• Spot and correct any design flaws  
• Assess if the product can be manufactured efficiently 
• Identify potential use cases 
• Allow for experimentation with different designs 
• Ensure the product works as intended 
• Optimize for increased user interactions and  
• Impress potential investors  

Some of the specific challenges that prototype companies can help businesses and organizations address include: 

• Difficulty in sourcing materials needed to achieve the final product’s properties at reasonable cost 
• Lack of cost-efficient access to highly specialized manufacturing techniques  
• Extremely complex product designs that require high precision and tolerance 
• Inability to meet delivery times without sacrificing quality 
• Lack of protection for proprietary product designs and sensitive customer information 
• Production does not scale with fluctuating consumer demand 

Product prototyping has experienced robust growth in recent years. With an estimated market value of $14.5 billion in 2020, the sector is expected to be worth $45.6 billion in 2031, with key industries such as healthcare, consumer goods, and electronics being the main drivers for growth.  

Success story 

Our agency experts have chosen the following example to illustrate how a product prototype company has helped business turn their ideas into success: 

• Challenge: Caristas, a car-buying service, teamed up with Texas-based product prototype company Simublade to develop a car-buying mobile app. The platform needed to enable car buyers to post questions and answers, which would then be collected and analyzed by the client’s intuitive engine to make personalized recommendations.  
• Solution: Simublade created a user persona based on the client’s target demographics. The resulting data was used to develop a user-friendly app prototype with minimal user distractions. The agency also developed an AI-powered custom app architecture with predictive functionalities to simplify the car search and buying process.  
• Results: Caristas implemented Simublade’s designs in the app's final version, resulting in a more than 16% increase in inventory turnover rates. The client also reported slightly lower costs per car sold as their current users organically attracted more customers. 

The two main categories of prototype manufacturing companies are low and high-volume manufacturers: 

• Low-volume manufacturers are smaller companies with fewer employees and less capital equipment, yet they are more agile and responsive to the needs of individual clients. They are often more willing to accept custom projects and try new manufacturing processes and technologies. It is recommended for projects with short timelines and limited budgets. 
• High-volume manufacturers are larger companies with more staff and extensive equipment. While they may be less flexible and less likely to accept custom projects, they can handle large orders and scale according to the project’s requirements. These manufacturers are better suited for projects with long timelines and large budgets. 

Product prototype companies typically offer a range of design, development, and manufacturing services to turn product ideas into actual physical or digital prototypes.  

Some of the key services include: 

Design and conceptualization: 

• Concept development 
  Transforming raw ideas into tangible concepts 
• Product design 
  Creating an initial design according to client specifications 

Prototyping: 

• Rapid prototyping 
  Quickly fabricating initial prototypes using computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printing for testing and iteration 
• Functional prototyping 
  Building prototypes with working mechanisms to evaluate performance 
• Cosmetic prototyping 
  Creating prototypes with a focus on visual design and appearance 

Engineering and testing: 

• Product engineering 
  Developing and refining the product’s performance, functionality, safety, and ease of manufacture 
• Finite element analysis (FEA) 
  Simulating a product’s performance and behavior under various conditions 
• Prototype testing 
  Evaluating a prototype’s functionality and durability and identifying any potential problems 

Manufacturing support: 

• Pilot production 
  Producing small batches of the prototype for testing before full-scale production 
• Tooling 
  Creating tools, molds, fixtures, and other equipment needed for mass-producing the final product 
• Consultation 
  Providing advisory services on materials and production processes 
• Intellectual property protection 
  Assisting in filing patent, trademark, and copyright applications 

Success story 

In the following case study, you can see the example of services provided by a product prototype company to bring a client’s ideas to life: 

• Challenge: Bioesse Technologies, an aromatherapy company, partnered with Outdesign.co to develop a wearable inhalation patch for pets. The device was intended to contain essential oils and the owner’s scent to keep the pets calm while their owners were away. 
• Solution: Outdesign.co collaborated closely with Bioesse to transform its initial concept into a tangible product. It provided initial product design prototyping, conducted tests, and finalized the model for mass production. The agency also designed the product packaging, highlighting the patch’s key features and benefits to customers. 
• Result: Bioesse’s inhalation patch achieved commercial and critical success. It was recognized as one of the top products in its category during the Global Pet Expo and was featured on several TV shows. 

The time it takes to design a prototype can vary between a week and a year.  

Here are some common timeframes you can expect for different prototyping tasks and projects:

The final timeframe can also be affected by the following factors: 

• Complexity 
  It takes less time to prototype simple consumer goods compared to more sophisticated products like medical devices. 
• Fidelity 
  Rough mockups, such as sketches or cardboard models, can be completed faster than highly detailed models that closely resemble the final product. 
• Resources 
  The availability of design, engineering, and manufacturing staff and equipment can also impact the project timeline. 
• Iterations 
  Making several design iterations or revisions can extend the duration of the project. 
• Tests 
  Various stress tests, such as pressure and vibration tests, temperature and electrical resistance tests, and weather simulations, can also affect the timeline. 

Prototype design services cost between $30 for simple 3D prototypes and $50,000 for advanced printed circuit board prototypes. The total cost is influenced by several factors, including the materials used, the number of prototypes to be developed, and the company's expertise, size, location, and reputation. 

The following are the common price ranges for various prototype design services: 

• Concept design: $1,000 and up 
• Engineering and testing: $10,000 and up 
• Basic 3D-printed mockup: $30-$5,000 
• Complex 3D-printed prototype with mechanical or electrical components: $1,500-$20,000 
• Electronics prototype with custom PCB: $10,000-$50,000 
• Mechanical prototype: $3,000-$30,000 
• Fabric prototype: $500-$5,000 
• Silicone rubber molded prototype: $2,000-$15,000 
• Mobile app prototype: $2,000-$30,000 
• Paper or cardboard prototype: $200-$2,000 
• Sheet metal prototype: $2,000-$15,000 
• Machined metal prototype: $2,000-$25,000 

The top 50 product prototype design companies on DesignRush charge an average of $111 an hour for their services. 10.8% of the agencies are willing to accept small-batch prototyping services with budgets of less than $1,000, while 3.3% specialize in complex and large-scale prototype production with budgets of $50,000 and up. 

You should hire a product prototype company to use its professional skills, knowledge, and connections necessary to create a successful product while minimizing costs and risks. The major benefits you’ll reap from getting a prototype design service include: 

• Faster time-to-market due to shorter development cycles 
• Less manpower and resources needed to develop new products 
• Forward-thinking designs that can generate up to 32% more revenue 
• Higher quality products that meet or exceed customer expectations 
• Identifying and fixing costly design flaws before they go into production 
• Mitigating risks by testing a product’s viability before launch 

Success story 

The following success story shows how a carefully developed prototype can turn a product into a market leader. The collaboration between the UK-based prototype design agency Bang Creations and a major hair products retailer highlights the transformative benefits of effective design:  

• Challenge: Bleach London approached Bang Creations to create a prototype of its Hairmoji hair loom. Although a trial version of the loom existed, the company needed to redesign it into a viable consumer product. 
• Solution: Bang Creations developed several test rigs to determine the loom’s viability and simplify its design. The designers chose a distinct anthropomorphic design that stood out from similar products. After developing a satisfactory prototype, multiple engineering teams optimized each component to improve assembly times and reduce production costs. 
• Result: Since its launch in 2017, the Hairmoji loom has become one of Bleach London’s signature products and continues to be sold in the company’s physical and online stores. 

To choose the best product prototype company for your business, we recommend following the steps below: 

1. Define your goals 
   Determine the prototype’s purpose and goals.  Decide if you need a visual-only mockup or a functional product. For a physical prototype, decide on the material and the number of iterations required. 
2. Set your budget 
   Establish a realistic budget for the entire project to avoid overspending and narrow your choices. 
3. Research and shortlist candidates 
   Start your search on Google and agency directories like DesignRush for detailed information on agencies. Check with your local chamber of commerce or trade shows for nearby prospects.  
4. Request for interviews 
   Contact the shortlisted prospects that align with your project’s goals and request an interview. 
5. Assess technical expertise and capabilities 
   During the interview, inquire about the agency’s services and experience with similar prototypes. Ensure they have the equipment, tools, and software for your project.  
6. Track record 
   Ask for case studies and portfolios showcasing past work. Industry awards like the Red Dot Awards and iF Design Awards are good competency indicators. 
7. Client reviews 
   Review client reviews on platforms like DesignRush and Google My Business for insights into the company’s reputation and reliability. 
8. Send out RFPs 
   Prepare and send requests for proposals (RFPs) to your prospects, clearly outlining the project’s goals, requirements, scope, timeline, and budget. 
9. Review proposals 
   Evaluate how each agency outlines its methodologies, processes, and KPIs and ensure they align with your expectations. 
10. Negotiate and set expectations 
    Discuss service pricing and payment options and specify your expectations for the final output. 
11. Decide on a partner 
    After considering all aspects, choose an agency that best fits your project needs.  

Need to kickstart your search for a product prototype company? Visit the DesignRush Marketplace and provide a few basic details about your project. We’ll connect you with up to the five most qualified candidate agencies so you can choose the most suitable partner. 

Use our list filters to find the best prototype design service on DesignRush that fits your budget. You can sort agencies by minimum budget tiers of $1,000, $10,000, and $50,000 or higher.

We recommend refining your search using other filters, such as agency size, industries, client types, and hourly rates, to find the most suitable prospects.

The key success metrics used in prototype design to measure its feasibility and effectiveness vary depending on the project’s objectives.  

Among the most used KPIs are the following:

Usability 

• System usability scale (SUS): Evaluates the overall usability of the product
• Task success rate: The percentage of users who complete tasks using the product 
• Time on task: The average time spent to complete tasks 

Engagement 

• Clickthrough rates (CTR): The percentage of users who click or interact with specific elements 
• Time on page: How long users spend on a particular page 

Performance 

• Load time: The time taken for the prototype to load 
• Response rate: The time spent before the prototype responds to user input 
• Error rate: The number of technical errors encountered during use 

Business metrics: 

• Conversion rate: The percentage of users who complete a desired action 
• Customer lifetime value (CLTV): Total revenue generated by the customer through the product 
• Return on investment (ROI): The overall profitability of the prototype 

The questions you should ask product prototype companies before hiring one include the following: 

Its Relevant Background 

1. What is the company's track record in prototype development? 
2. Have you experienced designing prototypes for companies like ours? 
3. What prototyping methods and technologies do you specialize in? 
4. Do you have in-house design, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities? 
5. Can you provide us with a notable success story on past projects that are relevant to ours? 
6. What is your success rate in developing prototypes? 
7. What is the typical turnaround time for completing a prototype? 
8. What pricing plans do you offer? 
9. What is your refund policy? 
10. Do you offer a warranty? 
11. What are your policies on intellectual property (IP) and other sensitive client information? 

Its Services and Processes 

1. What are the prototyping services your company offers? 
2. Aside from prototyping, what other relevant services do you provide? 
3. What kinds of prototypes can you create? 
4. Could you provide us with a breakdown of your prototyping process? 
5. What kind of support do you offer once the prototype has been completed? 
6. What is your quality control process? 
7. What is your company’s approach to sustainability and environmental impact? 
8. Do you outsource your services or processes to a third party? 

Relevant To Your Project 

1. What is your expected timeline for this project? 
2. Who will be our point of contact? 
3. How will our staff communicate and collaborate with your team? 
4. Are there any additional resources you need from our end? 
5. How will we track the progress of the prototype’s development? 

The best product prototype companies in the US are: 

1. Zazz 
   • 5.0 stars on DesignRush (95 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (12 reviews) 
   • Top clients: McDonald’s, Disney, Amazon, Verizon 
2. Codup 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (43 reviews) 
   • 4.5 stars on Google (46 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Steelcase, National Wildlife Federation, eFax, Pickles 
3. Stoke Ventures 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (21 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (26 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Logitech, Hasbro, BYG, Grassracks 
4. Simublade 
   • 4.3 stars on DesignRush (12 reviews) 
   • 4.7 stars on Google (47 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Opar, Doughfi, Quantlab, Tavus 
5. UXReactor 
   • 4.9 stars on DesignRush (10 reviews) 
   • 5.0 stars on Google (3 reviews) 
   • Top clients: Nokia, ServiceNow, VMware, Citrix