Product Design Reflections:
What makes a product good rather than great?
From the previous lessons in this unit I’ve learned that the definition of a product is an object that creates value in their users’ lives by alleviating problems or creating gains. A good product can create habits and inspire emotion in its users, while great products feel indispensable. In my opinion, an example of a great product is apple’s AirPods. My own personal experience with this product started off by observing others using them on my daily commute in NYC. My original opinion was that they looked stupid, and why would anyone spend $200 plus on headphones that will most likely fall out of your ear and sound as bad as the other corded headphones? Then I was gifted a pair from a friend and discovered why they are so well loved by their users. The audio quality is wonderful, the lack of tether/interference of the cord provides an effortless way to listen to music and audio books while working out, and I no longer have to hold a phone to my ear to chat with my mother (allowing me to go on long walks or do the dishes in my house while I catch up with her). I would argue that the AirPods are not only a good product, but a great product because they have both alleviated problems I faced (working out without interference), created gains (ease my communication with long distance family members), they feel indispensable in my daily life (I don’t want to live without them), and have added joy and ease.
What personally attracts you to product design?
I love great products and I love creating useful and beautiful things. The majority of us use countless products everyday, and often forget about them as they are simply integrated into the fabric of our existence. For instance, in this very moment I am using/have in front of me — a laptop using WiFi, an online education platform (DesignLab), an email service, a music streaming service, headphones, a file organizing system, a calendar application, and I am at a cafe with a water bottle, a coffee mug and people around me using many other digital and tactile products. I want to have an active part in this reality and use my passion and experience to better the lives of myself and others.
What is a digital product that you can’t live without? What problems does it solve for you?
Aside from AirPods, I definitely would not like to live without Google Maps. Google Maps specifically on my phone has fundamentally altered the way I navigate and explore the world around me. I remember life before internet navigation maps, and I remember it when I solely used Google Maps on my desktop. Before I had a smart phone with Maps I would wander around aimlessly not knowing what shop to go into and sometimes getting lost in a new neighborhood causing me anxiety. Having Google Maps on my phone, while I am actively moving around has allowed me to explore new areas of the world, find wonderful places to eat, and get me back to my original destination safely and with ease, all on the fly.
What is a digital product that you consider innovative, and why?
There are so many to name, but the first that comes to mind is Kindle. I am an avid reader and aspiring minimalist. Kindle allows me to keep all of my books in one place and eliminate clutter. The ease of buying or renting books and having them immediately available is a pleasure and aids my curiosity and learning. Before Kindle, I would have piles of books, partially read all around my apartment. And when traveling I would have to choose which book(s) I planned to read, only to wish I had brought others mid-adventure.
What’s a product you feel “addicted to,” or otherwise feel negatively habituated?
Instagram — I often check Instagram to see what my friends are doing and be immediately entertained. I have noticed over the years the addicting quality it has and have seen a decline in my productivity and mental heath. I since have decided to only use the app on my desktop and limit my time spent on it. Eventually I think I will delete my Instagram account, as I did Facebook because I notice that it doesn’t bring me much joy and checking it feels like a bad habit. I’m not alone in this criticism, seeing the many articles about how Meta-Facebook/Instagram has chosen to prioritize endless scrolling and time spent on the app over the well-being of their users. This specifically came to the attention of more people through studies and articles showing that the mental health of young women is increasingly degrading with the use of social media platforms such as these. Here are two relating articles from The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. This toxic addiction could lead to many users (like myself) abandoning the product all together.
