How vibrators are designed: inside the process

We get asked this a lot. And honestly? We love the question — because the answer is so much more involved than most people expect. Designing a vibrator is not about picking a shape from a catalogue and slapping a logo on it. At Smile Makers Collection, it never has been. Here is the full inside look at what it actually takes.

It starts with listening.

Before anything gets sketched or prototyped, we listen. Our community tells us what they want — not just from us, but from their sex lives in general. We build a broad, honest picture of where needs are being met, and where they really are not.

Every product is a response to a real gap — a form of stimulation that is underserved, a life moment that existing products do not speak to, a conversation we have been having with our community for months. The Artist was one of the most requested products we had ever had. The Whisperer came directly out of conversations with the motherhood community. Community listening shapes everything.

What does the research phase actually involve?

Medical and anatomical research.

This is the part that surprises people most. Before we ideate on a single design, we go deep into the anatomy — the difference between the clitoral glans and the vaginal opening, the exact shape of the pelvic floor, the inner lining of the vaginal wall and how a product interacts with it.

We check medical literature. We cross-reference anthropomorphic data. We map the anatomy of the vulva in detail and use that to define the limits of what is pleasurable. The margin is tiny — sometimes we are talking millimeters between something that works beautifully and something that misses entirely.

We also consult our experts — pelvic floor specialists, sex therapists, OB-GYNs — asking about their clinical experiences and whether the literature we are reading is current. (It often is not. We know so much more about the female body now than we did a decade ago.) For The Neighbor, we drew on studies that explored pleasure specifically — not just frequency data, but what actually felt good and why.

Market research and the design brief.

We do thorough market research — what already exists, what the trends are, what reviews say positively and negatively. From all of that, we write a design brief: the backbone of the project that sets direction, framework, and non-negotiables. It answers the why before we ever get to the how.

"Form follows function. We have very distinct shapes, each designed to capture a different kind of stimulation and experience — and none of that happens by accident." 

How do we move from idea to object?

3D printing — a lot of it.

At some point, the design has to leave the screen. 3D printing is where it gets real. We produce many iterations — quick ones to test proportions, refined ones to feel material and weight. Every version teaches us something. The gap between the first prototype and the final one tells a whole story. We sit with them, handle them, photograph them side by side. Holding something changes everything — what looks right on screen often does not feel right in your hand.

Working with manufacturers.

This is where we push hardest. With catalogue products, engineers create the technology and a design team decides what is best for the user — but the focus is technical efficiency, not pleasure. We do it differently.

We go to our manufacturers and look at the motor, the size, the vibration quality, and the button placement — and then we advocate. The engineers are highly skilled, and we are there to push them toward ergonomics, toward the user experience, toward what it actually feels like. If the button needs to be better placed, we go back. We always go back.

What do users actually want from a vibrator?

Based on our community of 250+ testers and multiple rounds of product feedback, the answer is consistent:

The inside of every Smile Makers product is designed to be beginner-friendly. Modes are carefully selected and discoverable — not a wall of options to work through.

What is the final step — the Smile Makers-fication?

Aesthetics are deliberate. They are never an afterthought. The colors, the names, the sense of joy — these all come together right at the end, and they matter as much as anything else. Sex is supposed to be fun. We want our products to intrigue people, to make them smile, to make them excited to explore their body and their partner's. 

The naming process draws on a bank of over 1,000 options, each inspired by a sexual fantasy. The color is often the first thing people remember — as simple as "oh, I have the blue one." The unboxing experience, the feel in your hand, how it looks on a nightstand — all of it is considered. Attention to detail at every stage is what makes Smile Makers, Smile Makers.

How long does it all take?

The honest answer: a long time. From beginning to end, a product can take a few years. There are design patents to consider, manufacturing timelines, shipping logistics, and three to four rounds of testing in different formats with different users. We are a small brand making a big investment — and we think that time is worth it.

FAQ

Are Smile Makers products designed with anatomy in mind?

Yes — anatomy sits at the center of our design process. We conduct detailed anatomical research, cross-reference medical literature, and consult clinical experts before ideating on any product.

How is Smile Makers different from other vibrator brands?

We design everything from scratch rather than working from catalogue templates. Every detail — shape, motor, interface, color, name — is considered with intention, driven by anatomical research and community insight.

Why does vibration quality matter so much?

Rumbly vibrations — produced by a heavier spinning motor — penetrate deeper and feel more satisfying than buzzy surface vibrations. We test multiple motor configurations before committing to a final specification.

How do you know what users want?

Through a community of 250+ testers, multiple rounds of feedback at different development stages, and rigorous review of positive and negative user experiences across the category.

How long does it take to bring a vibrator to market?

Typically one to a few years, from initial community insight through to launch. Testing, manufacturing timelines, patent considerations, and our own rounds of refinement all add up — and we believe that care shows in the final product.