Product platforms holds great potential for cost effectiveness since several components are reused in different product variations. This bachelor thesis evaluates the implementation of a product platform of simple geometric products by applying the two different product development theories Design Thinking and Product Platform Concept Exploration Method(PPCEM). Design Thinking is a well-used theory which is mainly applied for development ofindividual products with the user in focus, while PPCEM is used for building large-scale and complex product platforms. In collaboration with Seldén Mast AB the possibility of creating a product platform for their product was investigated. It was accomplished by first developing the platform through Design Thinking and then theoretically recreating it through PPCEM. The difference in performance between the two theories was then analyzed. The results showed that none of the methods are individually adapted for the development of modularity for smaller products and volumes. Great importance was attached to being able to identify and define the essential correlations between the reusable components that constitute the modularity, which was most effectively achieved by combining the two theories.

The study is structured by a thoroughgoing implementation of Design Thinking where several methods and models are used to support the structure of the concept for the platform. The re-creation is then based on PPCEM, where the theories methods are used as a basis for defining the conditions and foundation of the product platform. The purpose of this report is to compare the implementation of the various theories and analyze its suitability for designing a product platform for simple geometric articles.