While most texts stated the first trace of product design back in the 19th century, another school of thought believes that it has been there forever. Product design has existed since the first time a human being picked up some rocks and made helpful tools out of them.
But what exactly is product design?
Diving Into Product Design
Product design means creating a product to meet user requirements through creativity in common person terms. Does product design mean creating software? Or, is it creating industrial products? Does it also include material objects like dishes, furniture, etc.?
Product design is a concept based on design thinking which means finding creative solutions to customer problems. This term also refers to results, where the design qualities of existing products are tested.
Product design is different from UX, as the former is a process. The work in UX ends after the final result is achieved. But, even after the launch of a product, the product design process stays. The product designer analyses the performance, finds bugs, and strives on improving it in the long term.
Some of the iconic examples of product design are:
- Uber
- Highlight Marker
- Disneyland
- Rolls Royce
3 Key Facts About Product Design
- The process of product design is complex and involves a variety of tasks. They range from research to prototype and testing. It is not a one time process but consists in creating a better version of the same product/service.
- It is human-centred as the entire process revolves around providing creative solutions to people’s problems. Every design needs to consider the needs of the business and the market while revolving around humans.
- It is a never-ending process. It has a clearly defined structure, but it involves design thinking too. People follow the most suitable and efficient system, but there are multiple iterations to understand the best solution for any problem.
A Mckinsey report shows that companies that stand out have more robust financial performance. This is a result of product design. It also showcases that if product design works so well for existing companies, it is indeed crucial for emerging businesses too.
Involvement Of Design Thinking In Product Design
Product design is based on design thinking. But what exactly is design thinking?
Design thinking is a process where one tries to solve some problem with creativity and innovation. As per Tim Brown, these are fundamental principles of design thinking:
- Empathy: It focuses on problems around us, the issues that people deal with. Until the product is tested in the market and it is verified that it solves a problem, empathy cannot be established.
- Optimism: To find a solution, one must believe that there is one.
- Integrative Thinking: One needs to go beyond their habitual thinking and find new aspects to find a new solution. Sometimes a different perspective is a must.
- Experimentalism: To be willing to find a new thing, one must be ready to experiment as many times as it takes.
- Collaboration: When you work with multiple people, new ideas come up. Collaboration leads to innovative ideas, which make this process even more productive.
Conclusion
Product design is a crucial aspect of anything in the world. Most businesses and brands are built on this concept which is why they thrive. If one seeks a creative solution that works best, product design must be thought about.
Author name- Grace
