The principles driving these programs are informed by an Industrial Design process of product development that considers the material, process, regionality, application, functionality and the people and knowledge required to realize a design. The goal of our programming is to help support people in finding harmony amongst these factors and in consideration of their goals and business objectives. We want to help people realize the possibility of their idea, and match that with support on the technical and wood science side brought forth by the team at CAWP.  With partnerships with other organizations like BC Wood, we can direct people toward additional resources as their projects are realized and receive access to marketing and business training, consultation and education. 

Our process to support you through a product development journey follows the stages of Concept, Design, Make + Visibility and our programming is aimed at focusing on one or more of these stages.

Concept - This is the seed of your idea, the napkin sketch or the rough prototype you've created that encapsulates the core of your idea. In this stage your still exploring, gathering information, researching and trying to get a sense for the potential application and impact for your idea. You have a general direction in terms of where it's headed and are on the cusp of bringing it into the world in physical form. 

Design - This stage takes the concept you've developed and moves you through a process to validate your idea, work through details, engineering, materials, connections and aesthetic features. This stage includes an iterative processing of prototyping, testing, trial and error and moves you closer to developing a fully functional design. It's in this stage that your looking forward and understanding the manufacturability, market potential and other key factors that allow you to conclude on your final design. 

Make - The make stage overlaps with design as the process of making includes prototyping and exploring physical processes that make a tangible thing. It has you digging deeper into the processes that will make your idea a viable thing to produce, while understanding the material and production constraints. The main function at this stage is the manufacture of your design, whether its a 1 off, a series of multiples or a full on production run of thousands. 

Visibility - This stage is all about bringing your idea in front of people for them to experience. We believe the visibility stage something to be carried throughout this entire processes as you engage with potential customers and users of your idea in the early stages. Visibility covers sales, marketing, trade shows, exhibitions and other physical or virtual spaces where people can view what you have made and are working towards. This is how you can get key feedback, insights, offers or purchases that allow you to move forward with your vision. 

The Shape program is the first of its kind in BC - A wood product incubator program supporting the design, development and exhibition of new ideas showcasing objects, furniture and accessories made from regional materials. Shape builds on the success of previous programs offered by BC Wood and CAWP, but ties these resources together in a cohort-style program, taking people from raw material to market in 7 months. Shape concludes with an exhibition at IDS Vancouver where you can experience the results of the program and see first hand what the participants have been up to. 

Learn more +

Wood products manufacturers and industrial designers can access competitively-priced product development services from CAWP, which can include design, engineering, CAD drafting assistance, production process optimization, prototype manufacturing, technology selection, costing studies, and market feasibility studies. These services are available to wood products companies of all kinds and in all locations. British Columbia-based manufacturers can receive support for these projects through the Wood First program.

Learn more +

BC Wood provides you access to key business development services that help support your business. Using these services, you gain assistance in becoming more competitive through improved business planning, increased marketing capacity, adoption of new technology in manufacturing, and enhanced product development and design. These programs are open to all value-added wood companies in British Columbia.

Learn more +