You've probably already seen it: a new invention! In this blog post, I'll take you through the development of the cozy UP, which took over a year! And I can tell you: it came with its fair share of setbacks, challenges, and complications. Was it all worth it?
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On the couch
A little over a year ago, I was lying on the couch, daydreaming. My thoughts were wandering in all directions, and out of nowhere, I suddenly had an idea.
That Christmas season before, someone had told me how incredibly happy she was with the Advent calendar. Adding a little something each day. A little something to hold onto—it did her good. Something inside me had been toying with the idea of developing something like this for multiple times of the year, because if it helps and is enjoyable, why just for Advent? And there, on the couch, it finally occurred to me how I wanted to do it.
Hyper and at full speed
I got really hyper. My mind just couldn't stop thinking, sketches flew out of my hands, and I filled pages with ideas and elaborations. I sawed the blisters on my hands for the first test (I'm terrible at sawing, and it took forever, haha), I painted a few pieces, and then...
I got stuck
So much for my strengths. Now I had to figure out if it was feasible. How, where, is it affordable, where to start?
It overwhelmed me so much that I put it aside for a few months. I felt defeated.
Below you can see all the process steps and some (ugly) pictures of 'how it all started'.
Stubborn
And yet, I couldn't let it go. I remembered that afternoon on the couch and the conviction I had then that it was truly a good idea. That this was truly something I wanted and would use myself (that's always my benchmark for product development, haha).
So it was time to make some contacts. I spoke with a printer who helped me get started. I received some promising quotes. Techniques were discussed, and feeling confident, I got back to work. This time, I was going to "really" design the sets and create a plan.
Finally painting
After six months, I could finally start painting—wonderful! The project was taking shape and wasn't just in my head anymore. The first sets were a failure, because every time I tried to put them together, the picture didn't quite add up. But after a few tries, I got the hang of it and pieced the painted pieces together into a 2D whole. That gave a good impression, but...
The first tests and major problems
The first tests really brought the project to life. But with the supplier I'd selected and the carefully chosen production method, we couldn't get it as beautiful as I'd hoped. I wanted to cut out all the small details, I didn't want any edges around the figures, I wanted more.
So I started looking for alternatives again. A Christmas gift inspired me to consider laser cutting instead of die-cutting. But would that be affordable? What about my current supplier?
Stress so
You guessed it, stress. Meanwhile, I had a deadline. I'd chosen three sets in the first round, themed Easter, Spring, and birthday. I couldn't face any more major delays with the first two, or I'd have to postpone the entire project for another year.
A few busy weeks followed: emailing, calling, talking, consulting, and, above all, listening to my gut. Because once all the details were in, it became clear that the better choice was to go for top quality and laser.
And that wasn't all; I also switched suppliers for the board quite late in the process. It was a matter of price-quality ratio. And the hardest part? Having to tell the people I'd been working with that I was going to be manufacturing elsewhere. It kept me awake at night.
Deadline stress
But after a while, everything was sorted out and production could begin. Because of all the delays, it was all rather rushed and stressful. As a result, I spent an entire weekend packing sets last weekend instead of spreading it out over a few weeks! But now it's finally here. The deadline has been met. We're in time for Easter and spring. My dream has come true!
The great wait
It's not in the process overview, but now comes a step that's actually just as exciting and stressful: waiting. Will people like it, or was I the only one who needed this? Was my gut feeling right? Can I call it a success in a few weeks and start the next three sets (autumn, Christmas/Advent, and winter coming in August), or should I scrap it? Oh, and we haven't even talked about marketing, newsletters, social media, stores, word of mouth... so it's still busy and exciting for a while!
Was it worth it?
The question from the intro resonates in my mind. Seeing the cozy UP completely finished and something from my imagination come to life is definitely worth it. But whether others agree remains to be seen. Well, that's what happens when you invent something "new." No one knows if people will like it. So, you'll have to wait and see the answer ;-)
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