The Winning Product is…
We hate to break it to you, but lots of people have great ideas.
There are many facets to what makes a product a success. Does it fill a need? Does it come in at the right price point? Is it properly marketed? Does it captivate customers’ emotions?
Arguably, one of the most important elements is the design of the product, and this is especially true with consumer products. Product design must extend beyond function and tune in to the psyche of the audience. Strong styling, combined with smart marketing, can create a subtle emotional bond between the consumer and the product.
These days, consumers are faced with choices galore. Manufacturers understand that nearly any product can be “sexy.” Even items that are purely functional – your razor, your spatula, your lawnmower – are designed with a certain style. A well-designed tool can make a gardener feel efficient, strong and outdoorsy. A sleekly-styled razor can make a consumer feel attractive.
Smart manufacturers know that a consumer faced with a choice of two items that perform the same function equally must be lured in their direction by other qualities, and determining these qualities is key in product design.
The logic behind the most successful products is this: Function trumps beauty, yet beauty still matters. Consumers place the most value on products that do the right things, but they also must make people feel the right ways.
Product engineers must strike a balance with new products. It’s a dance, of sorts, a blending of multiple forces. Creating a great new product is a skill, but designing a new product that combines ergonomics, beauty and emotion while achieving optimal function, now that’s an art form.