With so many products in the market, the uniqueness and attractiveness of a product play a significant role. A product’s design, color, packaging, shape, and texture define it more and make it outstanding among the other products. Have you ever considered why consumers go for certain products even though they have never used them before? It’s due to its uniqueness among other similar products.

Product design help to create an emotional connection with the consumer.  It gives brands an advantage over the high competition. It’s worth noting that a product’s physical and visual appearance can elicit some form of emotion that can urge consumers to try it.

So, how much do you know about product design? Do you know the product design process? The following article will provide a comprehensive guide on product design.

What is Product Design?

Product design is crucial in defining a product among the numerous products with similar features. Product design is the process of developing a product to meet the demands of customers and the objectives of producers.

Though some companies have a design team, top-rated product design companies specialize in designing products for other businesses.

Some of the benefits of product design include the following;

• Helps to increase sales of a given products
• Makes the product outstanding among the competitor’s products
• Reduces customer complaints and enhances satisfaction and loyalty
• Help to create a robust brand identity

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Here is the Process of Product Design

#Stage 1: Defining the Product

The first crucial stage is the definition of product vision. It is a tactical and strategic stage meant to define roles and give clear objectives for the whole process. Defining a product allows you, as a designer, to know where to start and envision the final result. When determining your product, consider its physical characteristics and type.

In addition, you need to consider what you wish to accomplish, why you will be carrying out the design, and how you will do it. At this point, you set clear and precise goals that will help meet the user’s needs.

#Stage 2: User Research

The product design team carries out thorough user research before designing. This is where you learn how users feel about the product and their expectations. You can do this research through online interviews or holding one on one interviews.

Besides doing user research, it’s also essential to do a competitive analysis. You must understand your competitors well, their approach, and their product design. This primarily aims to get an edge over your competitor through design. Further, you should point out the available gaps and maximize them.

Besides understanding your competitor’s techniques, the competitive analysis should also identify products that are used similarly to your product though they don’t belong to the same category.

#Stage 3: User Analysis

After gathering enough data in the research stage, you must use the information well. You should analyze the data and draw essential insights that will help you in the design process. Two methods are ideal for visualizing the collected data and making reasonable decisions.

The first technique is through creating user personas. This enables you to understand what users want and expect from the product. In addition, it provides you with a guide on how to visualize and strive to satisfy the end user. 

Another method is through an empathy map. This helps you to be user-centric in product design. You can know what users say and know, think, feel, and do when they use the product. You then use that information to curate a design that will give them satisfactory answers. 

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#Stage 4: Ideation

The ideation stage is where the actual design process starts. Here, you need to develop methods and techniques that will be used in designing.  Also, conceptualize what you want and how to realize users’ expectations. There must be a good understanding of users’ motivation and interaction with your products.

The ideation phase involves more brainstorming and curating creative ways to solve the available challenges. It would help if you collaborated with fellow designing teams adequately. This stage is significant for challenging your assumptions and pre-made minds before researching.

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#Stage 5: Designing the Product

Now that you are equipped with adequate data, you are in a better position to begin the designing process. By now, as the designer, you clearly understand what needs to be designed and how to approach it. Therefore, you are well-positioned to develop a product that prioritizes users.

The designing process should begin with outlining design specifications, which may include providing a precise overview of the whole project, defining the target audience, and role definition in your team. In addition, you should include unique features, such as specific colors, shapes, and measurements, in the specifications. This stage also involves bringing the vision to life.

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#Stage 6: Testing and Validation

Once the product development is concluded, you kick off the testing and validation process as a product designer. You must identify the doubts and determine whether the final product design meets the desired needs and gives users a great and satisfactory experience. Before launching, this stage allows you to observe and identify whether the product will solve the intended problem.

In addition, as a product designer, you can identify any design problem at this stage. You devise a possible solution or decide to revisit the designing stage. The testing stage runs until the final product is satisfactory and meets the desired needs.

#Stage 7: Post-Launch

As a product designer, your job continues even after launching the product. The product design process continues as long as consumers still use the product. As the principal designer, you must regularly assess the product and guide the team to add new features if the user needs to change.

Wrapping Up

Prioritizing users in product design is crucial. Therefore, a designer should create a product design that improves the user experience and fulfills their needs. This means that you, as the designer, should identify the target audience, understand their needs through research, and concentrate on designing a product that meets those needs. Moreover, the product design needs to align with the business objectives. If a company meets all the above points well, there is a fair reason to deploy them and get the best from your business.

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