DIY Product Design vs Hiring a Team: CAD, Prototypes & Manufacturing Tips

If you’re like most inventors, you have a great idea, a target market, and are bold enough to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. You probably began with sketches and maybe a rough prototype made from parts you crafted yourself or found at the hardware store.

Once you have your physical prototype, it’s time to move on to drafting your product on the computer. This means learning CAD software, perfecting your dimensions, and starting to plan your supply chain for quality parts.

But where do you draw the line? How long do you operate on your own before considering hiring a product design team? This blog will help you figure that out.

1.) Start Small, Do It Yourself

Most inventors can handle their first few prototypes on their own — and that’s usually the best way to begin. Sketching and building something with everyday materials can be exciting, and builds confidence that your idea is worth pursuing.

This early phase is where you focus solely on your vision without outside distractions. Don’t sweat the small details yet — keep your eyes on the long-term goal.

-          What do you want your product to look/ feel/ operate like?

-          How are you going to make it?

-          Who are your going to sell it to?

2.) Moving from DIY to CAD: When to Consider Hiring a Design Team

Now you have a few prototypes, and you’re happy with your latest revision — congratulations! The next step is transerring your prototype into CAD software like Solidworks or Fusion 360. Fortunately, many companies offer free or discounted versions for entrepreneurs (Solidworks for Entrepreneurs: https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-for-startups-program).

Learning CAD for inventors takes time—your evenings, weekends, or money if you hire someone.

Pros of doing CAD yourself:

• Saves money

• You learn CAD

• You understand your design inside and out

Potential Pitfalls

• Are you designing with your manufacturing process in mind (machining, injection molding, etc.)?

• Are all your dimensions and units correct?

Benefits of hiring a design team at this stage:

• A sounding board for manufacturing, scaling, and selling advice

• Industry-specific manufacturing expertise — no guesswork

• Prototypes designed precisely for manufacturing, avoiding costly design pitfalls

If you’re enjoying the process and making progress, keep going.

Our rule of thumb: Keep DIY-ing until you hit a wall that is more trouble than it’s worth to overcome on your own (i.e., learning engineering skills, purchasing manufacturing equipment, etc.)

3.) Final Prototypes and Production: Why Experts Matter

At this stage, you have a polished CAD model, a clear manufacturing process in mind, and confidence in your project’s direction. Now it’s time for the final prototype — your last chance to catch and fix issues before full production.

Your CAD model must be clean, perfectly dimensioned, and production-ready. If it’s not, you risk paying your manufacturer to correct errors—if they even take your project on.

Once your final prototype is ready, you’ll need to choose a manufacturing partner, establish your first order quantity, and prepare to launch.

This is where bringing in professional help can make all the difference. Experienced product design teams bring intimate knowledge of manufacturing technologies and materials that help ensure your design is optimized for cost, performance, and manufacturability. They have hands-on experience navigating supply chain complexities and quality management, which reduces costly delays and defects.

With expert guidance, you can avoid last-minute surprises and position your product—and your business—for a smoother, more successful production run.

4.) Conclusion

If you’ve got an idea for a product and the motivation to learn along the way, dive in. It’s a rewarding process — and a storybook-worthy journey.

But if you hit a wall, aren’t sure how to design for your chosen manufacturing method, or want to avoid costly mistakes, don’t hesitate to reach out. An experienced design team has likely helped people in your exact position—and would be thrilled to help bridge the gap between your idea and reality.

If Ashbrook Engineering can help with your next product, reach out via email or our website. Every inventor gets 4 hours of complimentary design labor — our way of supporting bold ideas and the people who chase them.