Rapid Product Development in University-Industry Collaboration: Case Study of a Smart Design Project

Abstract

University-industry collaboration aims at mutually beneficial knowledge and technology exchange between higher education and business. Prototyping new products is one sweet spot where industry can gain new valuable knowledge and understanding of technology, while higher education institutions develop the skills and competences of students by encouraging them to work on authentic real-life problems. From the “design thinking” perspective, rapid product development can be defined as the creation of new products, in the shortest timescales possible, that meet the criteria of desirability, feasibility, and viability. This article addresses rapid product development by presenting a case study of developing prototypes in university-industry collaboration. As a result, the study highlights key design principles, such as the importance of involving teachers, business representatives, and students in collaborative project design, of focusing on the customers or service users who will benefit from the design, and of guiding students participating in co-creation activities. Presenting conclusions for both academics and the industry, the article contributes to design thinking and rapid product development in university-industry collaboration.

Keywords

• co-creation
• co-creation pedagogy
• design thinking
• rapid product development
• university-industry collaboration