Product development
Electronic Product Design Services: What Is Actually Included
A hardware product with electronics inside it needs two things to work together: a physical design that houses and cools the electronics, and an electrical design that makes the electronics actually function. Those are different disciplines, and the confusion over where one ends and the other begins is a common source of scope gaps on a first hardware project.
What industrial and mechanical design actually covers
This side of the project owns the enclosure geometry, material and finish, the user interface (buttons, displays, ports), thermal management for heat-generating components, and DFM for the manufacturing process (injection molding, sheet metal or another route). It also owns mounting bosses, connector cutout placement and how the enclosure protects the electronics from drops, dust and moisture.
What PCB and firmware design covers, and why it is a separate discipline
Schematic capture, PCB layout, component selection against a target bill of materials, and firmware development sit in electrical engineering, a different skill set from industrial design even though the two must coordinate closely. A hardware product needs both, and assuming one covers the other is a common gap on a first electronics-containing product.
Where the two disciplines have to coordinate directly
Connector placement, antenna keep-out zones, thermal venting and mounting boss locations all have to be agreed between the mechanical and electrical sides before either can finalize their own design, since a board layout decided in isolation can force an enclosure redesign, and an enclosure locked without board input can leave no room for a connector or antenna.
What to ask a design partner before committing scope
Confirm explicitly whether industrial design, mechanical engineering, PCB layout and firmware are all in scope with one partner, split across two firms, or whether the electrical side is expected to be sourced separately. A firm that only does mechanical and industrial design should say so clearly rather than leaving PCB and firmware as an assumed gap.
Practical checklist
| Stage | Practical guidance | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure and mechanical design | Physical housing, material, finish, thermal management and DFM for the chosen manufacturing process. | This is the industrial design and mechanical engineering scope. |
| PCB and firmware | Schematic capture, board layout, component selection and embedded software. | This is a separate electrical engineering discipline, not typically covered by an industrial design firm. |
| Coordination points | Connector placement, antenna keep-out, thermal venting and mounting bosses. | These decisions need both disciplines' input before either side finalizes its design. |
| Scope confirmation | Explicit agreement on which partner covers which discipline before work starts. | Avoids a late-stage discovery that PCB or firmware was never actually in scope with either partner. |
Common mistakes to avoid
Approving visuals too early
A polished image can still hide structure, cost, tolerance, material or supplier risks.
Skipping useful outputs
Each stage should produce files, notes, samples or checklists that support the next decision.
Sharing sensitive files too soon
Start with safe context and move to detailed files after fit and NDA terms are clear.
Related questions
Does an industrial design firm also do PCB layout and firmware?
Not usually. Industrial design and mechanical engineering cover the enclosure, interface and manufacturability; PCB layout and firmware are a separate electrical engineering discipline, sometimes offered by the same firm and sometimes sourced separately.
Why does my enclosure design depend on the PCB layout?
Connector locations, antenna placement, thermal venting and mounting bosses all depend on where components sit on the board, so the enclosure and board designs have to be coordinated, not finalized independently.
How do I know if a design partner covers electrical engineering too?
Ask directly and get it in writing. A partner that only handles mechanical and industrial design should state that clearly so the electrical scope can be sourced from elsewhere before it becomes a late-stage gap.
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