Product design can be a tricky undertaking. It requires the fusion of many different types of skill, from artistic creativity to engineering. The product has to be useful and functional, while still being aesthetically pleasing. You’ll need a lot of skill, practice, and patience to make your new product come together. This article will help you find ways to achieve this.
1. Use the Right Tools
The rest of the tips you’ll read here will be mostly useless if you don’t have the right tools to execute your design. This means starting the design process by looking for the right software for the task, which will vary based on the particulars of the design you’re hoping to make.
Whether you’re looking for something that will work long-term, planning to take several months to a year for the design process, or something short term, like a design sprint, there’s software that is prepared to help you with that challenge. Getting the right tools in your belt before you begin the creative process is essential to avoiding time-wasting road blocks along the way.
2. Stay PracticalÂ
It’s easy to get carried away during the design process with aesthetics and creativity, but it’s important to keep yourself grounded in the idea that what you’re creating is ultimately built to function in the real world. This means that every aspect of your product, however small, should be built to be functional, not just pretty. Many times it is much easier to keep adding more bells and whistles than it is to pare it down to the essentials.
But the most beautiful designs are frequently the simplest, and the most functional products won’t have a bunch of extra features slowing them down. Plus, the more complicated a design becomes, the less intuitive it will be for the user, and that will be a huge problem. Keep the primary purpose of the design in mind as you go, and try to reign it in when the creative juices start flowing a little too freely.
3. Pay Attention to Detail
Now that you’ve been preached to about keeping things practical, it’s important to say that the aesthetics of the design are still important, even if it’s possible for them to get in the way. The best way to keep yourself focused on function while approaching the aesthetic aspects is to hone in on the details of the product.
For instance, the best suit jacket won’t be the one with the loudest patterns or the biggest buttons, but the one that has the perfect fit. By honing in on detail, you’ve created a product that can stand out without having to be overly complicated. If each component of your product has been given attention and care, customers will notice and appreciate.
4. Be an Innovator
No matter how unique your product idea might be, there will be competition, each one claiming to be the most innovative. If you’re hoping to design a product that will truly stand out in its market, it’s important to find your unique angle. Once you’ve brainstormed possible unique approaches, make sure the angle is one that will appeal to customers. An angle is useless if its function is only understandable to other professionals in your industry, so rather than trying to impress your peers, focus on what your customers are missing and try to give it to them.
5. Design to Last
One of the quickest ways to make your product the go-to for customers is to create a product that will survive the test of time. The longer your product lasts, the greater proof there is of your skill, and the more your designs will speak for themselves. It’s much easier to sell someone on an expensive product if they can be sure it’ll last them a lifetime, so make sure you keep longevity in mind as you design. Use these tips to create a lasting product that you can feel proud of.
