Product designer assembling and testing electronic components during prototype development.

Explore our product design and development services, built to help bring your idea from concept to production.

From early concepts to production, Tarlow Design provides industrial design, product development, engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing support for entrepreneurs, inventors, startups, and companies. Based in San Rafael, California, we help clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond turn new physical product ideas into functional prototypes and manufacturable products.

Services

Prototype phone cases, product design mockups, and rendered images arranged on a worktable.

We help turn early product ideas into thoughtful, functional designs. Our product development process can include concept development, industrial design, ergonomics, mechanical problem-solving, materials, 3D CAD, and design refinement as we move an idea toward a functional prototype.

Whether you come to us with a sketch, an existing design, or an early prototype, we work collaboratively to develop the product around its users, function, manufacturing requirements, and business goals.

Industrial Design / Product Development

Product designer machining a prototype component during hands-on product development.

With more than 30 years of product development experience, Tarlow Design has built relationships with manufacturing partners in the U.S. and overseas. We help clients prepare their product designs for manufacturing and connect them with appropriate production resources.

Our manufacturing support includes material and process considerations, design refinement, design for manufacturability, tooling considerations, and production preparation. We work with clients to move from tested prototypes toward manufacturable, production-ready products while considering quality, cost, and production requirements.

Manufacturing Assistance

Product designers reviewing a 3D CAD model alongside a physical prototype during design development.

We create detailed 3D CAD models and engineering designs with manufacturing in mind. Material selection, wall thicknesses, tolerances, assembly methods, component fit, and production processes are considered as the product is developed.

Tarlow Design also prepares CAD files and technical documentation for manufacturers to review, helping clients obtain accurate estimates for tooling, components, and production while preparing designs for prototyping and manufacturing.

CAD Design & Engineering

Product designer developing concepts through sketches during the early stages of product design.

For clients interested in licensing their product idea rather than manufacturing and selling it themselves, Tarlow Design can provide guidance and materials to support the licensing process.

We can help develop the prototypes, renderings, animations, and presentation materials needed to communicate your product to potential licensees and manufacturers. We also provide a free Product Licensing Guide and can help clients understand next steps, including licensing agreements, royalty considerations, and when to work with a licensing or patent attorney.

License Guidance

Testing and evaluating prototype components during the product development process.

Prototypes are an essential part of product development, allowing ideas to be tested and refined before investing in manufacturing. Tarlow Design builds functional prototypes to evaluate form, fit, ergonomics, mechanisms, and product performance.

Using prototypes throughout the development process, we can identify potential issues, test design decisions, and refine concepts and CAD designs into physical products ready for the next stage of development.

Prototype Construction

“What can I say Ken and his crew did a OUTSTANDING job creating our working prototype for the cannabis industry!! They went above and beyond to keep us informed, to sending us renderings of my invention every step of the way from start to finish. If you guys want the best of the best go ahead and give Ken a call for all your invention ideas! You won’t regret it one bit! My family is very happy with our finished product.”

— Seth Hoover

“Ken and his team gave us great guidance to produce our dream products The Pole Hugger and The Pole Hanger, the world's first and best headphone hangers for studios, musicians & podcasters. He and his team were vital in our process, offering great solutions and options while getting everything done quickly and efficiently. You won't find a better company for your design needs. I, we, all, highly recommend Tarlow Design 100%.”

— Pole Hugger Music Co

“Very wide range of services from patent attorney to prototyping.”

— mk b

“Ken was incredibly helpful and capable. After my project was completed, I had several follow up questions/requests and he was always prompt in responding and came through with everything I asked for. He is very professional and knows his stuff. Highly recommend!”

— Jessica E.

“I've been working with Ken at Tarlow Design for the past 6 months, and couldn't be happier with his work.

Ken has done a great job of expanding our team's thinking, and has helped us work through multiple difficult design challenges. While a very "outside-the-box" thinker, Ken remained tightly bound to timelines and provided us with regular updates on his outputs. If additional clarity was needed on a request, Ken would routinely reach out to our team for guidance.

His deliverables exceeded our expectations, and were always delivered on-time. Similarly, it was great to have Ken come down to our office to present his work. For a team looking for inspiration, innovation, design, and ultimately manufacturability, Tarlow Design is the place to go. I look forward to continuing to work with Ken, and recommend his with 5 stars!”

— Adam, The Clorox Company

“Nice guy. Fair price, good work has people skills which is a little unusual in his field. Would recommend him to others with projects similar to mine.”

— Paul L.

“From the beginning Ken and his team have been incredibly insightful, helpful, creative, honest and supportive through the development of our work together. I greatly appreciate him and his team for their excellent work and attention to detail. They are fair, punctual and responsive to my needs. I highly recommend Tarlow Design for anyone seeking entrepreneurial support and development!”

— Steven G.

“Tarlow Designs is amazing! Ken Tarlow made my idea come to life! I can't express how happy I am with the services they have provided. Tarlow Designs has the tools and knowledge to take a simple idea, and turn it into something real. Ken was able to answer all of my questions, explain the steps and process required to take something from the idea phase, all the way to the store shelf. It's been a pleasure working with this company, and I can't wait to start on the next project!”

— Tyler N.

Product design team reviewing technical sketches and development concepts during a collaborative design session.