Ask HN: I want to design a new mixing bowl, where do I start?

[MagnitudeSw]

I'm a software engineer by trade and I have an idea for a new type of mixing bowl. This is a completely new domain to me and I'm not sure exactly where to get started. I'd like to do this with a very small budget.

What type of resources can help me build the prototype? For example is this something I can design via software? I'll need help getting the design correct, testing a prototype as well as figuring out how to manufacture it.

[sdoering]

I was asking myself, if you are sure to have a target-market, a target customer, of your mixing-bowl. what would differentiate it? what would be the unique selling-point? why should I buy a new mixing bowl, if I am quite happy with the specs of the bowls in my kitchen at home?

I recommend answering these questions first. then finding experts, designers, small manufacturers and asking intelligent, interesting questions. maybe you could design it and start a joint-venture with a producer - who knows. you could even start it via kickstarter and see, if there is any interest in your idea, before producing a lot of these bowls and even before producing a prototype. you would know, if you can have real customers, that are willing to pay real money for it. and you would have money to start with.

[drcode]

Probably the most efficient way would be to create a model with blender (http://blender.org) and then print a prototype via shapeways (http://shapeways.com).

Once the model is perfected, I think you can send it to some (China based?) companies who will send you a bid on mass producing a large number of them at a low cost.

[replicatorblog]

I'm an industrial designer and write a blog about manufacturing tech and DIY stuff. Feel free to shoot me a message and I can probably point you in the right direction.

[declancostello]

http://ponoko.com also allow you to create prototypes from your designs