Working with a factory's in-house design team is one of the most rewarding ways to bring a product from concept to reality

Unlike working with external contractors or distant designers, an in-house team has a deep understanding of the factory’s capabilities, materials, production timelines, and quality standards

Shared knowledge eliminates guesswork—prompting smoother workflows and fewer expensive surprises

Start by building trust

Spend time on the floor learning how things are made

Engage with machinists, Women's sweater technicians, and inspectors—not just managers

Probe gently about past challenges, bottlenecks, and hidden shortcuts

Your humility transforms them from vendors into advocates

This isn’t just about getting approvals—it’s about creating a partnership

Establish boundaries and responsibilities upfront

Their expertise is rooted in daily execution, not theoretical design

Your role is to translate market demands into manufacturable reality

Make sure everyone knows where their responsibilities end and someone else’s begin

Offer direction without domination

Regular check-ins help keep everyone aligned without slowing things down

Welcome feedback as fuel for improvement

They’ll spot opportunities you never considered—like simplifying a feature or swapping a material

A 5% cost reduction across 100,000 units is a game-changer

Be open to feedback and willing to adjust your sketches or prototypes

The winner isn’t the most ambitious—it’s the most achievable

Avoid scattered files and fragmented communication

Even simple things like a shared folder with sketches, material samples, and test results help keep everyone on the same page

Avoid relying on verbal updates or disconnected emails

Clarity accelerates onboarding and consistency

Celebrate wins together

When a prototype passes testing or a batch comes off the line without defects, take a moment to acknowledge the team

Recognition matters

Shared ownership builds loyalty

Emotion drives performance

Finally, remember that the goal is not to have your design perfected in isolation

The goal is to create something that can be made reliably, at scale, and with pride

They turn sketches into supply chains, ideas into inventory

Collaborate with them not just as partners but as co-creators

Not from solo geniuses—but from teams who listen, adapt, and build together