How To Make an Impact in Design
It is a predicament faced by designers and engineers everywhere: “How am I making an impact with the products I am creating?” Sometimes that impact is clear from the start, and sometimes it is not. We’ve put together a brief guide, used in our own design process, and we hope it helps you to better understand and assess your own!
Understand the Problem
To create a product that leaves an impact, you need to get to the nitty-gritty of the problem you are solving through design. Here are some helpful questions you and your team can ask:
Where did the problem originate?
Is the problem functional or does it have to do with materials used?
How does the problem affect the product and its usability?
Has this problem been solved in the past? If so, what features were added to the product to make it better and how could my design improve those features?
Interestingly, some processes used in internal company operations can be applied to impact design. Intercom.com has a great, simple flow chart that illustrates the “What?” and “So What?” of design, based on the Kellogg Model.
Image: Intercom
While this chart is more organizational in nature, the terminology can be replaced by terms that pertain to the steps in product design. For example:
What:
Work --> What solutions can we offer with this product?
Output --> How do we deliver those solutions to our customers, via product design?
So What:
Outcome --> What do these solutions achieve for the customer?
Impact --> What problem does this particular solution(s) solve?
Follow the Iterative Design Process
To define Iterative Design, it is the process of developing a prototype, testing the prototype, and making the necessary alterations to ensure the final product meets the customers’ needs. There are 7 steps in the iterative design process, and they are as follows:
Define – Define the problem. This is a crucial step to ensure that your product properly solves said problem.
Ask – Ask the necessary questions to guide the project. For example: What are the project goals? Who is the end user? What resources are needed to successfully develop the product?
Imagine – Brainstorm the project specifications and conduct user research if needed.
Plan – Plan out the design and what resources and components you will need to create.
Prototype – Develop a prototype that is like the final product but has room for error and alteration.
Test – Test the prototype and gain insight from real consumers and user experience.
Improve – Use all the above information and data to improve and finalize the design.
Impact design thinking comes into play in most, if not all, of these steps. During the “Define” stage, you are defining the problem. During the “Ask” stage, you are asking your team members how this problem can be solved, so on and so forth. If you follow the iterative design process, you are sure to come out at the end with a product that solves the customer’s problem and meets any additional needs. And, it can be easily edited should new problems arise.
Utilize Empathetic Design Principles
Empathetic Design is the process of design that involves user research and focuses more on the person rather than the technology. Through empathetic design, you create solutions that address human needs. Empathetic design thinking is extremely helpful, even necessary, when it comes to creating an impact because it is so customer centric.
Empathetic design requires designers to put themselves in the shoes of the user, whether it is spending an extended amount of time using a tool or observing how others use an object. This can either be achieved through a focus group, or observation in a designer’s personal life (with family and friends). The goal is to better understand how users interact with their products, and in turn create products that better serve the customer.
Another effective way of obtaining and organizing this data is Empathy Mapping. This is a visual presentation that contains information regarding user behavior. Here is an example of an empathy map:
Image: NNGroup
Look Beyond Aesthetics
While a pretty product is certainly appealing to the customer, it doesn’t necessarily equate to optimal functionality. You can have an aesthetically pleasing product that does not perform to the standard it needs in order to meet the customer’s needs. There is a reason for this though, and it usually has to do with most of the cost going to flashy materials instead of higher quality components.
This is why it’s crucial to look at the functionality of the product first when designing. Of course, aesthetics is key to marketing and selling the product, but they should not take precedence over the product’s usability. For example, let’s say you want to use 100% stainless steel for a product, but the cost of steel is too high. Instead of compromising on the components that make the product work, you can add a slate finish. This is more cost-effective and gives the product the stainless-steel look without the cost.
Think Sustainably
Nowadays, it is so important to think sustainably. One way to do so is to source beyond the traditional materials. We just gave the example of using a slate finish versus 100% stainless steel. This logic can be applied to opting for more sustainable materials. For example, you can opt for a recycled HDPE sheet instead of virgin plastic. Or, you can try a plant-based wood alternative like Lingrove’s Ekoa. This is one way to make a significant impact, and ensure that the products you are selling to your end user are made with the planet in mind.
More articles to check out:
Electronic Textiles: An Ingredient for Impactful Innovation