A buyer does not always arrive with a complete technical package. Sometimes the starting point is a sketch, a reference image, an existing product that needs adaptation, or a clear design direction without production drawings.

Furniture product development is the process of converting that starting point into something that can actually be manufactured, inspected, packed and repeated. Satori Furniture supports international buyers through this translation process in Vietnam.

How Complete Does a Design Need to Be?

There is no single required starting point. A development project may begin with detailed CAD drawings and specifications, but it can also begin earlier—with reference images, dimensions, sketches, material direction or an existing concept that needs to be adapted for manufacturing.

The less complete the initial information, the more decisions must be resolved during development. Those decisions can include dimensions, construction, joinery, material thicknesses, hardware, finish, tolerances, packaging and other details that affect both appearance and production.

The First Step: Design and Manufacturing Review

Before quoting or prototyping, the product needs to be understood from a manufacturing perspective. We review the information provided, identify missing specifications and clarify the intended product, materials, quantities and target market.

This early review is important because a visually convincing concept is not automatically a production-ready product. Construction choices affect cost, stability, production time, packaging volume and repeatability.

Technical Drawings Turn Intent Into a Manufacturing Reference

Once the design direction is sufficiently defined, detailed shop drawings establish the information required for fabrication. These drawings can include exact dimensions, construction details, joinery and material callouts.

Approved drawings become a central reference for prototype development, production and quality control. Satori’s standard shop-drawing target is approximately 10 working days, subject to product complexity.

Materials and Finishes Are Part of Development

Product development is not limited to shape. The same design can perform very differently depending on the wood species, engineered materials, metal components, upholstery, hardware, finish system and construction method selected.

Finish samples are therefore developed and approved separately where required. Satori’s standard guideline for finish samples is approximately 15 working days, plus shipping time to the buyer, subject to complexity.

Prototype, Review, Refine

The prototype converts the approved technical direction into a physical product. This is where the buyer can evaluate proportion, construction, material execution and finish before committing to production.

If revisions are required, they should be resolved at this stage and incorporated into the approved production references. The goal is not simply to produce an attractive sample; it is to establish a product that can move into repeatable manufacturing.

Designing for Repeat Production

For wholesale and retail programs, manufacturability matters as much as the first prototype. A product must be capable of being produced repeatedly with controlled specifications and commercially realistic processes.

That is why Satori approaches product development as a bridge between design and manufacturing. The final objective is a controlled production program—not an isolated prototype.

What to Send Us

To begin a development review, send whatever information is currently available: reference images, sketches, drawings, dimensions, material preferences, finish direction, expected quantities, packaging requirements and target market. We will identify what is sufficient, what still needs to be defined and the appropriate next step.