Through my extensive research into product development, I learned that not too much information exists on the subject. Aside from the basic ideas, the details of a product’s journey are hard to come by. I did learn however that 3D printing is having a huge effect on this field and will continue to do so as 3D printing technogies continue to improve. 3D printing enables product developers to create products in a cheaper, more time efficient manner. Old, outdated methods included clay sculpting, wood working, modelling, metal working; highly skilled crafts that were painstakingly slow and a lot more expensive. Not only would one have to pay for various materials, the labor itself was a big cost in this prototyping model. Today a 3D file can be sent, scaled, and printed within within a day, depending on the size of the model. The company paying for the prototype would save costs by paying for the materials, not the labor, and for not paying for excess, unused materials. Most of the aformentioned crafts are subtractive methods of manufacturing, meaning much of the material is wasted because the manufacturer takes away from the material. For example with clay modelling, a clay block becomes a car prototype by an artisan carving away at the block, resulting in much waste. 3D printing is additive manufacturing, in that magterials are added layer by layer, resulting in much less waste. Also new, “organic” structures can be created due to 3D printing. Elaborate curves are no problem for certain 3D printers. Because of this, new products can be created that use the minmum amount of material necessary for that product to serve its function. Also the consumer has an ever increasing role in product development through the popularization of customizing options. 3D printing allows thesecustomizations to be made without affecting the cost of the finalized product.