History is littered with teams that have already tripped and learned some hard earned lessons. Here I’ve tried to compile as many lessons and techniques that I’ve gathered from my own experiences as well as others. My goal vague platitudes but to make it as tactical as possible focusing on observable actions that can be taken. No matter what stage in a products life cycle the goal is to create a field manual that you can go back to reference. Truthfully I wrote and documented this for myself as a place I can go back to and reference all the lessons I have gathered. While every product design presents its unique challenges, I tried to distill those lessons into actionable steps that can help replicate success.

I hope this helps you build more beautiful functional objects that people want use and care for. This document is laid out. A linear way, but by no means doesn’t need to read front back. It is meant to be used as a tool that makers and builders can go back in reference throughout the design process.

— Franz Cerwinka