The UK is full of garden shed inventors and innovators. It is no surprise that the industrial revolution started here!
The biggest barrier for the private inventor is usually the financial investment required to get a product to market. ‘No one else is making it’ is not always a good argument as to why you should make it.
A professional designer will always question your reasons for doing something. Don’t be offended by this, they are just doing their job and should save you time, expense and heartache in the long run. We wouldn’t advise applying for a patent before some objective research is conducted.
How sure are you that there is a real market for your product? Are you sure that your solution is the very best and most commercially valuable? Do you know how much it would cost to take your product to market, and how to get it there? If you do not have the answers to these questions, is it wise to spend thousands of pounds with a patent attorney protecting the idea?
Be prepared to give some of your idea away. There is a saying that 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. The value of a partner with industry knowledge, contacts, or money is not to be underestimated and can make the difference between success and failure. Make sure you have written agreements in place covering responsibilities, ownership, and liabilities before you set out together.
4D Products does work with private inventors. We do not fund projects, but are open to offers of shared risk, shared reward. Each proposal is considered on its own merit. So if you want to discuss a project, ask us to send you a confidential disclosure agreement (CDA), which protects your interests and allows a free discussion.
Tags: Design, Product Design
# July 7, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I am private inventor in the U.S. who needs help making idea become a reality. I have been looking into different design consulting firms in the U.S and abroad. 4D Products happens to among the the top of my list of companies I would like to discuss my project with.
Can you please send me a confidential disclosure ageement.
My email is ………………… and you can reach me on my cell at ………………
# July 12, 2010 at 9:51 am
Hello, I have browsed most of your posts. This post is probably where I got the most useful information for my research. Thanks for posting, maybe we can see more on this.
# July 13, 2010 at 11:22 am
I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. WoW
# July 14, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Thanks for the responses. We will add more on this subject soon as it seems to be of real interest to people.
# July 22, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Wow, this is so inspiring. Everyone should always be looking to better themselves. This really helps.
# August 8, 2010 at 4:22 pm
The product its self sounds great and quite intuitive which I feel is vital for photo bases applications. Look forward to checking it out myself – especially if i win!
# August 14, 2010 at 5:38 pm
I absolutely enjoy reading your blog posts, your variety of writing is amazing.This blog as usual was instructive, I have had to bookmark your blog and subscribe to your feed in googlereader. Your blog looks lovely.
# August 16, 2010 at 11:59 am
You have a great post here, truly informative. Very well written I will be bookmarking your website and subscribing to your feed so i can always read content of this quality.
# August 21, 2010 at 12:27 pm
This is a great blog and you should seriously think about building up this blog into a serious authority in this field, I’m sure you could definitely make a dollar or two from some ads. I would look into following recent news and raising the number of posts you make and I bet you’d start receiving some easy traffic soon. Just a thought, good luck regardless!
# October 5, 2010 at 4:23 am
This kind of website is rather awesome, keep posting amazing info.
# October 14, 2010 at 11:53 pm
“Hello,I enjoy studying by way of your blog, I desired to leave a little comment to assist you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the very best of luck for all of your blogging efforts.”
# November 1, 2010 at 1:32 am
I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.
# November 2, 2010 at 9:17 am
Doubt is the key to knowledge.
# November 6, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I find myself coming to your blog more and more often to the point where my visits are almost daily now!
# November 6, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.
# November 20, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Great Post. I add this Post to my bookmarks.
# November 23, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I’ve been visiting your blog for a while now and I always find a gem in your new posts. Thanks for sharing.
# November 28, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.
# December 10, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Great Blog. I add this Post to my bookmarks.
# December 11, 2010 at 11:15 am
I’m really Glad i came across this web site.Added http://www.4dproducts.co.uk to my bookmark!
# December 12, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Useful blog website, keep me personally through searching it, I am seriously interested to find out another recommendation of it.
# December 15, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Beneficial info and excellent design you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great work!
# December 17, 2010 at 12:56 am
Thanks for an idea, you sparked at thought from a angle I hadn’t given thoguht to yet. Now lets see if I can do something with it.
# January 3, 2011 at 11:54 pm
———————————————————–
“Hey – nice weblog. Just checking out some blogs, seems a pretty great system you happen to be employing. I am currently making use of WordPress for a couple of my blogs but I am not pleased with it up to now. I’m looking to change one of them more than to a system identical to yours (BlogEngine) as being a trial operate. Anything in unique you would suggest about it?”
# January 6, 2011 at 11:35 am
Thanks for taking the time to share this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you gain knowledge, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.
# January 8, 2011 at 9:30 pm
———————————————————–
“Hello to all I can’t fully grasp the best way to include your internet site in my rss reader. Help me, please”
# January 13, 2011 at 11:05 am
Hi There, we dont use an RSS feed, but you can sign up to newsletters at the ‘A Newsletter’ catagory of the news page.
# January 20, 2011 at 11:47 am
Important information for me. Thanks for really competent informative article. Ill be in touch with U
# January 29, 2011 at 12:29 am
A lot of people are put off from giving away their idea. This article makes it clear that sharing can also benefit the individual
# April 4, 2011 at 3:26 am
Pixels rule! Smashing mural – so what happens to it now? You would need a ENORMOUS living room
Regards, Joe
# July 8, 2011 at 6:20 am
I’ve been visiting your blog for a while now and I always find a gem in your new posts. Thanks for sharing.
# July 18, 2011 at 9:02 pm
I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.