Whether you're working alone or with a team of designers and product managers, having a clear picture of the product you're creating is vital to the success of the project. Having an idea is the easiest part of product design. Cementing it on paper is the hardest.

marker rendering of product designers

Product design isn't just representing your product in an appealing way. Even with an initial idea, product designers find a lot of idea generation happens after they start sketching. Product design requires you to think about the practicality, user experience, and, of course, the design of your product.

This guide will show beginner product designers a step-by-step guide on how to turn that idea into a sketch and a sketch into a fully marker-rendered product design.

Materials

All you need to truly get started are pens, pencils, some paper, and coloured markers for the final render.

Don't get stuck searching for the perfect, industry-standard tools. As a beginner, spending money on expensive materials isn't going to help you become a better designer. Senior product designers will tell you when it comes to the tools you use: It's what you do with it, not what you do it with.

So, it doesn't matter the brand you choose but shop around for a pencil that feels good both in your hand and on paper. You'll be spending a lot of time with it.

Initial Brainstorming

Initial brainstorming of marker rendering product design

Before you break out your sketchbook, you need to know what you're designing first. A product isn't just its appearance – it's a sum of its parts, each working towards providing a good experience for consumers.

What the product will look like, how it will work, and what you can do with it are all questions you'll have to ask yourself as a product designer when you begin your initial sketch. For example, you won't know to draw a button if you didn't anticipate its function beforehand.

The Sketch

Sketching step in marker rendering of product designers

Sketching is the biggest part of product design. This is where you lay the foundation of the product, so you'll want to get it right. As a beginner, getting it right will be difficult.

There are so many things you must consider: scale, perspective, shading, and proportions. It's important to have fundamental knowledge about drawing before you start, so you don't find yourself stuck sketching the same part repeatedly and making no progress.

Beginners should sketch over similar products with tracing paper or low-opacity prints to gain a good sense of proportion and perspective in the real world.

Time to render 

time render of product designers in marker rendering

Rendering your sketch is the last step to a finished product design, and marker rendering is about more than just adding colour. Once you're sure your sketch is final and complete, you'll want to go in and use your markers to add detail. Adding detail is the best way to represent the product you're trying to create. Detail adds an element of realism and helps bring a product alive in front of clients and product managers.

Aside from colour, marker rendering is about adding shading and contours. Examine how your product interacts with lights and shadows. Use base colours first and then go in with darker shades afterwards to introduce a smoother contrast. When marker rendering, you can always add more colour; you can't take it away.

The final step is to choose your lightest colour and add highlights. Make sure you know where your light source is hitting the product to finish up your piece.

product design data

5 Important Ethical Considerations in Product Design

Explore critical ethical considerations in product design, from accessibility and user privacy to data security and digital well-being. Learn more now.

read more
product designer digital tool

How to Create a Successful Product Design Portfolio

Impress potential clients and employers with a curated product design portfolio highlighting your expertise. Crafted for success in New Zealand.

read more
industrial designers NZ

Navigating Intellectual Property in Industrial Design

Learn how to safeguard your designs and stay ahead in the market by understanding intellectual property in industrial design. Get expert insights and tips now.

read more
product design planning

Applying the Principles of Minimalism in Product Design

Discover how to integrate minimalism into your product design with essential functions, streamlined form, high-quality materials, and optimal user interaction.

read more
environment

Sustainable Practices in Industrial Design and Manufacturing

Explore key sustainable practices in industrial design and manufacturing, from responsible material sourcing to energy efficiency.

read more
recycling materials

Designing for the Circular Economy: Embracing Reuse and Recycling

Learn about designing products for a circular economy: reuse, recycling, waste reduction, and energy efficiency for sustainability.

read more
product prototyping

Understanding the Importance of Prototyping in the Design Process

Explore how prototyping drives innovation, turning ideas into functional products that exceed expectations and thrive in competitive markets.

read more
metal material for Product design

Exploring Materiality: Choosing the Right Materials for Product Design

Choose suitable materials for product design: functionality, durability, aesthetics, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, user experience, and compliance.

read more
product manufacturing v2

Understanding the Importance of Quality Control in Manufacturing

Discover the role of quality control in manufacturing for compliance, production optimisation, cost reduction, liability mitigation, and customer satisfaction.

read more
3d printing prototype

Innovations in 3D Printing and Its Role in Industrial Design

Explore the evolution of 3D printing, its role in industrial design, and how innovations in this technology are reshaping manufacturing processes.

read more
CAD in product design

Understanding the Role of CAD in Product Design

Explore the transformative impact of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) on modern product design, revolutionizing the innovation process in various industries.

read more
Product Design Manufacturing

Understanding How Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Works

Unlock efficient manufacturing with Design for Manufacturability (DFM). Learn principles, benefits, and examples. Engage with design experts for optimal results.

read more
industrial design products 1

The Intersection of Art and Function in Industrial Design

Discover industrial design's dynamic blend of creativity and innovation, shaping a world where functionality, culture, sustainability, and emotion converge.

read more
industrial design products

A Quick Look at the Evolution of Industrial Design

Discover the history and future of industrial design, from Bauhaus to 3D printing. Explore the influences shaping this creative and innovative field.

read more
rapid prototyping

6 Benefits of Rapid Prototyping in Product Design and Manufacturing

Revolutionise product development with rapid prototyping—swift, cost-efficient, collaborative, flaw-detecting, customisable, and streamlining processes.

read more
Product design for people with disabilities

Designing for Accessibility: Inclusivity in Industrial Design

Dive into inclusive industrial design, prioritising user needs, universal principles, ergonomics, accessible materials, and intuitive controls.

read more
successful executive asia young businesswoman smart casual wear drawing writing using pen with digital tablet computer thinking inspiration search ideas working process modern office

Navigating Entrepreneurial Passion in the Realm of Product Development

Some of the best things ever made often start out as an inspirational idea. It could be because the person with the idea noticed a glaring need that was never addressed, or maybe was not addressed satisfactorily. Many people are often moved by the idea that "this could always be made better", and this idea also happens

read more
business presentation

Mastering the Complex Landscape of Product Development Challenges

In and of itself, product development is no simple feat. To the untrained eye, it involves masterful planning, complex processes, requiring accurate mathematical precision, and a good amount of monitoring when the actual production gets underway. A new product is actually the result of hundreds, if not thousands, of ho

read more
bulb with speecch bubbles

Navigating the Art of Novel Product Ideas in the Modern World

Considering the modernity of the world today, figuring out an idea for a new product is both severely limiting and potentially limitless. It is limiting in that the way product development has shaped throughout the years, manufacturers have created almost something for everything, making ideas for new products somewhat

read more
online marketing

What Goes into New Product Development?

Ask anyone who is into new product development and they will mostly agree: bringing in a new product from idea to reality is both the most wonderful thing and the most nerve-wracking thing in the world.

read more
Product concept testing team

The Role of Collaboration and User-Centered Product Design

Collaboration and user-centred design are integral to the country's design process, helping designers create functional and visually appealing products while meeting consumers' needs.

read more
emotional connection

Designing for Emotional Connection: How to Create Products That Resonate

Designers who prioritise emotional connection in their work may see more significant results in customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business success.

read more
product manufacturing

A Guide to Understanding the Manufacturing Process (+Steps and Types)

Manufacturing consulting is a crucial component of the product development process that contributes to the efficiency and competence of the entire procedure.

read more
3D model designs

A Quick Guide to Product Design: Deeper Understanding of What Your Product Designers Do

A product designer understands what it takes to produce a functional and aesthetically pleasing design. Creating a successful product design requires much effort, but another issue is rectifying faults and consistently staying current with new trends.

read more
Pro Dev with Chinese manufacturers 1

A Quick Guide to Understanding the Phases of Product Development

Every path to a final product during product development is diverse, and each sector has challenges while innovating. The process of product creation necessitates consistency and balance for most businesses. Entrepreneurs who want to be profitable and relevant must always come up with and produce new items that succeed

read more
From Ideation to Manufacturing Product Development Guide

From Ideation to Manufacturing: Product Development Guide

If you've decided to bring your idea into development into a product, understanding the process associated with it can help you understand behind the scenes better.

read more
Product Compliance

10 Best Practices for Management of Product Compliance

Product Compliance Management monitors future regulations to ensure that your systems, team, and processes are prepared for them. Improve your Product Compliance Management with the following practices.

read more
People using industry disrupting innovations

How To Create An Industry-Disrupting Product

Disruptive innovation spurs growth and finds new and better ways to solve problems. Understand your industry before creating a disruptive marketing strategy.

read more
421A2070

12 Steps of the Product Design Process

A product design process is essential for creating high-quality, user-friendly products. Following a well-defined step-by-step process, you can create visually appealing products that work well for their intended purposes. Creating a new product should be as smooth and straightforward as possible.

read more
Facial Recognition

Facial Recognition: The Future of Biometrics Security

If you are a fan of spy movies, you will find gadgets not yet invented come to life. Fingerprint scan. Voice activation. Facial recognition

read more
a person scanning a QR Code for cashless payment

How QR Codes are Transforming the Contactless World

Quick Response (QR) Technology is an advanced innovation that became a readily available solution. It’s a type of barcode that is read by a digital device and can store information in the form of a series of packed pixels.

read more
new product launch

7 Ways to Identify a Winner Product Idea

Only a fraction of thousands of products launched every month succeed. To guarantee that your product idea will succeed, it should gain traction once it is out in the market.

read more
Design production Mass manufacturing

Find a Good Manufacturing Company: What You Need to Know

Unleash your innovative ideas with the right manufacturing company. Explore types of partners, essential considerations, and the path to turning your vision into reality.

read more
Dual level cabin

Exploring Vertically Staggered Airplane Seating

Discover the innovative concept of vertically staggered aeroplane seating and its potential benefits for airlines and passengers. Explore how this alternative seating arrangement can maximize space utilization, enhance comfort, and potentially revolutionize the passenger experience.

read more
Product Design and Parts Christchurch

Benefits of Rapid Prototyping You Should Know

All products resulted from conceptualising, designing, and prototyping hours before they hit the market.

read more
brainstorming for product design customer journey

What is Product Lifecycle Management and It's Benefits?

Discover the concept of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and explore how it can benefit businesses in terms of longevity, market insights, consumer behavior, and brand sustainability.

read more
Product manager v2

A Comprehensive Guide to Product Design

The term "product" can evoke a wide range of imageries in mind. When you walk into a retail store, you pick up products—things that satisfy your needs and want.

read more
product lifecycle management

Why Understanding the Product Lifecycle is Important

Gain insights into the significance of the product lifecycle and how it impacts business decisions, marketing strategies, and long-term success.

read more
product management report

Product Concept Testing

Product concept testing is a research method that involves asking your customers or target audience what they feel about the concept of a product or service before launching it.

read more
Project management

Product Management

Product management refers to a series of activities that deal with managing a product's lifecycle. The product management job starts right from planning for a new product.

read more
CAD

Benefits of CAD Design in Product Development

Time is money, as the old saying goes, so heightened productivity will positively impact your corporate bottom line.

read more
Los Angeles Product Design

A Complete Guide to Industrial Design Storyboard

A storyboard can help you predict the outcome of your product. It'll help you visualise the users' experience with the product.

read more
marker rendering of product designers

From Idea to Marker Rendering: Product Designers Guide

Whether you're working alone or with a team of designers and product managers, having a clear picture of the product you're creating is vital to the success of the project.

read more
Product design Concept

What is Product Design and How Does it Work?

Every step in the product design process involves detail-oriented expertise combined with efficient project management and today's best methods and software platforms.

read more
product manufacturing work

How Does Product Manufacturing Work

Bringing your vision for an original product to reality is undoubtedly one of many business owners' biggest hurdles.

read more
3D Product Design

What to Expect When Working with an Industrial Designer?

Industrial design is a field of design that involves creating and developing products that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, safe, and user-friendly.

read more
marketing team getting to know their target market v2

Elevating Product Innovation: The 7 Stages of Product Innovation

In this article, we will explore the 7 stages of product innovation, from idea generation to launch. We will also discuss where to manufacture a new product and the importance of working with a product design services company.

read more
User centred product design and development

Why User-Centred Design is Crucial to Product Development Success

Design is all about problem-solving, and people-centred design approaches prioritise the user as the central element of the design process.

read more