Free Product Design, Manufacturing & Innovation Resources
A free reference library for engineers, designers and makers. Learn from 480+ methodologies and 14 courses with exams, work with 280+ online tools and a patent search, then find suppliers, universities and jobs, in 11 languages.
methodologies
online tools
courses with exams
suppliers
universities
engineering jobs
What do you need to do today?
Pick a goal. Each card opens a topic hub with the guides, methods, tools, courses and partners for that goal.
Ecodesign
Ecodesign for engineers: build sustainable products with life cycle assessment tools, circularity and repair rules, and ecodesign standards, and prepare for EU requirements while keeping function, safety and cost on target.
Manufacture Cheaper
Cut waste and cost with lean manufacturing tools and Lean Six Sigma tools. Match the method to your factory problem, from 5S, SMED and poka-yoke to SPC and FMEA, and see where agile manufacturing and automation fit in.
Design Better
Value-driven design that hits the target cost without losing reliability: apply design to cost, use design review methods and design for reliability, and check every choice before release, from first concept to production.
Sell More
Plan your go-to-market strategy with marketing frameworks, product positioning, pricing methods and a product launch checklist, with extra help on patents, NDAs and CE marking, written for engineers who build hardware.
Innovate
Choose the right innovation framework for the problem in front of you: idea generation techniques, TRIZ, design thinking, stage-gate and Scrum, compared side by side, with ready-made methods to select, run and judge ideas.
Latest Tech
Scan a free technology radar of over 100 emerging technologies, with their latest patents and scientific papers, judge maturity with the TRL scale, and prototype with simple tools before you invest in a new technology.
HR & Psychogy
Lead change and build strong engineering teams: learn change management for engineers, compare Kotter vs ADKAR, rate skills with engineer scorecards, and improve communication, decisions and ergonomics across your team.
Collaborate
Build your innovation ecosystem: find suppliers, universities and standards worldwide, compare open innovation models, and protect your know-how with NDA and patent guides, so that partners add speed without adding risk.
Not sure where to start?
Search the whole library, or browse every methodology by category.
Libraries and directories for product design and engineering
Everything below is free to browse, and each directory has its own search.
Free tools created by innovation.world
Practical tools for design reviews, ideation, product planning, marketing and skills assessment.
Popular guides to start with
Hand-picked guides that engineers read first.
Design and quality
Lean, strategy and innovation
Latest additions
- May the 4th: added the international Jobs Repository, dedicated to product design, engineering and manufacturing: 8000+ fresh job listings for your next career opportunity.
- October the 10th: added the Suppliers Directory, with 1500+ companies currently. Register your company now, if it is not already listed.
- November the 4th: +6 new courses and exams have been added to the Courses section, making a total of 14 courses currently.
Frequently asked questions
What is innovation.world?
innovation.world is a free reference library for product design, manufacturing and innovation. It combines 480+ methodologies, 280+ online tools, free courses with exams and directories of suppliers, universities and engineering jobs. It has been online for more than 10 years.
Is innovation.world really free?
Yes. The site is free, and joining is free too. Members get unrestricted access to all methodologies, communities, libraries, the suppliers directory and full-size images. See Join the community.
Who is innovation.world for?
Design, mechanical and electronic engineers, quality and lean practitioners, product and marketing managers, students, researchers and makers, and anyone who needs suppliers, universities or engineering jobs.
What can I find in the methodologies directory?
More than 480 engineering methodologies for ideation, project and risk management, ergonomics, product design and lean manufacturing, such as TRIZ, FMEA and the Business Model Canvas. See the full directory.
How do I find a supplier or a university?
Use the Worldwide Suppliers Directory to search by map, keyword, category or full text, and the universities directory to browse 2,400+ schools by country, status and diploma type.
Can I search patents and scientific papers here?
Yes. Free Latest Patents Search lists the latest patents in English from the European Patent Office, and Free Latest Scientific Publications Search covers leading peer-reviewed journals. Both are updated in real time.
Which languages does the site support?
English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Portuguese. Use the language switcher in the menu.
How do I add my company to the directory?
Check that it is not already listed, then follow the instructions on Add Your Company. Submit only your own company. Listing is free.
About innovation.world
innovation.world has been a free reference library for product design, manufacturing and innovation for more than 10 years. It brings together 480+ methodologies, 280+ online tools, 14 courses with exams and directories of suppliers, universities and engineering jobs, so engineers, designers and makers can find the right method, tool or partner in one place.
Joining is free, and members get unrestricted access to all methodologies, communities, libraries, the suppliers directory and full-size images.