What is product design?

Product design is a process that combines creativity, research, analysis and strategy with the objective of solving real user problems, which are aligned with business objectives.

Product design goes far beyond the creation of physical, digital or technological products. It is a discipline that integrates creativity, innovation, strategy and business vision with the objective of solving real problems and builds value for both users and companies. This is why the product design is often applied, for example, in the improvement of internal processes of the companies, in the optimization of systems or in the improvement of the logistics operation of a business.

In product design, the limit is in our ability to imagine solutions that improve the lives of people and the results of companies contributing value in the process. In this post I will detail you a little more how it works and how this discipline is applied so that you can integrate it as a work methodology for you or for your company.

Empathy is the fundamental basis of product design

Product design without empathy would be impossible. Designing means, first of all, understanding people and being able to connect with them. It is essential to understand what are your problems? What motivates them? What frustrates them? It is not enough to offer something that works;Product design raises challenges and ways to go further in order to create products that connect with customer emotions and needs.

The difference between services that are designed focused on the user and those that are not that, when using them, people have that feeling of "this have done so thinking about me. "At the most technical level, this is what is called the user -centered design that is the methodology that is based on putting people in the center of the design and decision -making process.

A good product design conceives solutions adapted to people and business and, both parties, have that feeling so pleasant that it causes all the pieces of the puzzle of a business and a product or service fit.

Product design goes beyond creating products

Product design is not (only) to create beautiful or functional things. The true magic of this methodology occurs when we apply that design mentality at all levels in a company. From the improvement internal processes that efficient the company through the way in which the product or service reaches the customer and also taking into account what its experience and relationship with the company is.

Innovating is not just creating products or services never seen. Innovating is also to rethink the way things are done to make them simpler, more efficient and valuable.

Product design requires a lot of creativity

If empathy is the heart of product design, creativity is the soul of this discipline. It is this, creativity, which allows us to think beyond the obvious and find new ways to solve complex problems.

Product design will help you to make a seemingly crazy idea become a reality that contributes value to the user and business. There is the false belief that the product designer is able to "paint beautiful things" when that is a task more dedicated to graphic designers.

A product designer uses creativity at all levels, is able to synthesize concepts, draw ideas in order to communicate and persuade others, reduce the complexity of the processes, get the best out of people from a team in order to buildA unified vision, anticipate future needs and propose innovative solutions that contribute value to users and the company.