In this guide, we'll help you get started in Backbone as a Technical Designer. There are many powerful Technical Design tools in Backbone, and we think the best way to learn is to dive in!
Level 1 - Create a Tech Design Status Report 📝
Before updating Products, we recommend creating a Tracker or Status Report to keep track of Products for a specific Season, Year, and/or development status.
What you will need:
A clear idea of what fields you'd like to track, and what season/year you are developing.
Tips and tricks:
"Call to Action" Custom Fields may be used to hand off Completed Products to teammates. One example would be to create a dropdown, checkbox, or date Custom Field for "Design Approved" and configure your Status Report by this criteria.
When a new Item View report is created, this will only be viewable from your account. To share your Item View Report with other teammates, click the +person icon in the upper right-hand corner of the report and add their names.
Level 2 - Build Size Specs and Blocks ✍️
Once you have created your Design Tracker, it's time to open up Products and start building your Size Specs.
What you will need:
Any existing Size Specs may be uploaded via our CSV Import Template.
Once your initial Size Specs are uploaded. You can save Points of Measure to your POM Library and build Blocks to import across Products.
Tips and tricks:
You may need to adjust the Size Range or Base Size without affecting the Grade Rules. To complete this, click the 3-dot icon, select 'Edit Size Spec,' then edit the name fields for each Size. See this FAQ for detail.
Level 3 - Manage Samples and Feedback 👚
As you begin to receive Prototypes, you will need to enter your Sample Measurements and Notes/Feedback.
What you will need:
Any measurements, images, and notes from your sample(s).
Tips and tricks:
Use your Design Status Tracker to bulk-update the Proto Received status for all products you are measuring.
Use the Adobe Plugin to update existing images or upload images directly to Feedback & Revisions.
Level 4 - Share Tech Packs ✉️
Once you have added your Sample Measurements and Feedback, you should create a new Tech Pack to share the feedback with your vendors.
What you will need:
Any vendor emails you wish to share feedback with.
Tips and tricks:
Once Tech Packs have been generated on the Product, these can be shared in bulk directly from your Design Status Report. Click the checkbox on the right-hand side of the Item View, then click Share Tech Packs to either share via Public Link or to add to a Shared Folder.
Additional Resources 🤩
Want a more in-depth view of how to take advantage of Backbone as a Technical Designer? Register for our Live Webinar: Backbone For Technical Design.
Other Resources and FAQs:
Tracking Development via Item Views
Size Spec
Feedback & Revisions
Tech Packs and Shared Folders
For any other questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our Support Team at support@backboneplm.com.