Reflection Point: Product Design
What makes a product good rather than great?
Great products are what people use the most in their lives or rather its well-integrated into their daily ecosystem. Just thinking about all the apps, websites, or even physical products, we all can think of a few things we use on the daily. Furthermore, we almost rely on these products everyday and it’s fully integrated in our lives. Habitual uses of a product is a great one whether it affects you positively or negatively.
What personally attracts you to product design?
The article, Principles of Product Design points out that the experience is the product. At first glance, I always thought great products were great because I used it all the time, but with most products, I attach a certain amount of emotion into it. In general, I equate positive emotions regarding great products, but lots of frustration with just okay products. When emotion is involved, the product essentially controls how the experience was for the user. Exploring human psychology is the main reason product design is so attractive to me. But that can be translated into things we enjoy in life such as listening to your favorite music, watching a movie, and eating a delicious meal. As I am writing this, I’m starting to delve deep into my own thought about how experience is the core to a great product design.
What is a digital product that you can’t live without? What problems does it solve for you?
A digital product I use the most is Spotify. I’m actually using it now as I gather my thoughts into this article. When I first moved to the states, the first friends I made were this Filipino family in the same apartment complex. With knowing limited english, I spoke to them visually by pointing things out and reading body languages. When I was invited over to hangout at their place, the first thing we looked at was this boombox with a cassette and CD player. I was introduced to an artist I still listened to this day, Usher. My love for music started at that moment listening to the My Way album. I am forever grateful for that family who I still talk to even now. I used to borrow my sister’s Sony Walkman and CD players growing up listening to all kinds of music. Music gives me experiences every single day. Whether I’m happy, sad, frustrated, angry, and motivated. Many years later, a streaming service that allows millions of songs in the palm of my hands feels incredible. All that is to say that I love music and Spotify is an app I can’t live without it.
As a final statement, these are just early thoughts I have about what great products are like and as I continue this journey to becoming a designer, I’m excited to discover more about product design.