Empowering BC's Wood Sector

At TWIG, our goal is to empower individuals to unlock the potential of their ideas and nurture their businesses, fostering significant contributions to BC's Value-Added wood product sector. We're actively sculpting pathways to guide individuals through their journey, offering essential resources at every step. Our partners currently offer diverse programs catered to support business and product development. UBC CAWP specializes in technical development, prototyping, wood science, and testing, while BC Wood provides comprehensive aid for business and marketing development, supplying access to consultants and educational resources.

Our programs at TWIG serve as a springboard for developing ideas from inception, starting with raw materials and progressing to garnering visibility for the work. We view innovation and the product development process through the lens of Industrial Design – a method considering material, processes, regional context, application, functionality, and the human expertise essential to materialize a design. Our programming aims to facilitate individuals in finding a harmonious alignment among these factors, considering their objectives and business goals.

Our product development process journeys through distinct stages: Concept, Design, Make + Visibility, each integral in bringing your idea from inception to a tangible reality.

Concept - This stage is the seed of your idea, the napkin sketch or the rough prototype you've created that forms the core of your vision. This phase goes beyond just capturing the essence; it involves conducting market research, feasibility studies, and gathering early customer feedback. These actions enrich the exploratory phase, validating the idea's need and potential impact. It's not only about defining the idea but solidifying its relevance by understanding its potential impact and market feasibility.

Design - This phase progresses from the developed concept, ushering in a process to validate your idea, navigating through details, engineering, material selection, connections, and aesthetic features. It involves an iterative process of prototyping, testing, and trial and error, gradually evolving towards a fully functional design. Within this stage, the focus pivots toward anticipating the future, encompassing an understanding of manufacturability, market potential, and other pivotal factors essential for finalizing the design.

Make - This stage interlaces with the design phase, entailing prototyping and engaging in physical processes to materialize your idea. It involves a deeper exploration of the necessary processes to render your concept into a feasible and producible entity, considering material and production constraints. The primary function here is the actual manufacturing of your design, whether it's a single prototype, a limited production run, or a large-scale production reaching thousands. Moreover, it's about establishing a relationship between the necessary production volumes and the suitable methods of manufacture.

Visibility - This stage revolves around presenting your idea to people for them to experience firsthand. We consider visibility as an ongoing aspect throughout the entire process, involving engagement with potential customers and users in the early stages. It encompasses various arenas such as sales, marketing, trade shows, exhibitions, and other physical or virtual spaces where individuals can observe what you've created and are developing. This phase is crucial for gathering essential feedback, insights, and potential offers, generating sales, and serving as the catalyst to propel your vision forward.

In support of these main stages, these subjects inform the process, often running in parallel at each of the stages.

Sustainability - Embedding sustainability throughout every stage, from material selection to production processes, amplifies the product's value and relevance within the market. By embracing sustainable approaches that make the product more localized, energy-efficient, and waste-minimized, it not only adheres to ethical and environmental standards but also resonates strongly in the consumer marketplace.

Data and Analytics - Infusing data analytics and performance metrics into the development process empowers informed decision-making and continual enhancement. Through the utilization of user feedback and market data, this approach becomes the foundation for agile adjustments and ongoing evolution, ensuring the product is finely calibrated to meet the dynamic demands and desires of your target audience.

Technology Integration - Showcasing the seamless integration of technologies, encompassing software, machinery, and tooling, at various stages, underscores the fluid harmony between traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation. By embracing emerging technologies, your product not only exudes a forward-thinking philosophy, gaining a competitive edge, but also positions itself for future success in an ever-evolving market.