The Role of Product Design: A Digital Swiss Knife
The Role of Product Design: A Digital Swiss Knife
A Swiss Knife in the right hand is incredibly useful. Similarly, a nice product designer in the right team is unparalleled.
Understanding Product Design… Sometimes, there’s a bit of confusion around Product Design, what it means and what it can do for you, so let’s try to answer that: what’s product design? what’s the difference with other designers and what can a product design bring to my team?
Published in
2024
TOPICS
Product Design, Process
Website
landerzaro.com
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LZ's Swiss Army Knife
It's easy to jump to conclusions and associate a product designer with a more traditional definition of the term. Historically, this role was often linked to industrial design or, as a friend's grandad calls it, 'an inventor.' While both roles share similarities in creating user-friendly designs, their focus areas and skill sets differ significantly. What are the differences between Product Designers and Industrial Designer?
The focus and scope of a product designer are around user experience and user interface, mainly in digital products such as apps, web, and software. They aim for a balance between functional and intuitive design for users.
The skill sets require proficiency in many different design principles, like graphic design, interaction, UXUI, knowledge of processes, software and tools for achieving their goals, and some code too to understand the logic behind the decisions they make in their design.
It's easy to jump to conclusions and associate a product designer with a more traditional definition of the term. Historically, this role was often linked to industrial design or, as a friend's grandad calls it, 'an inventor.' While both roles share similarities in creating user-friendly designs, their focus areas and skill sets differ significantly. What are the differences between Product Designers and Industrial Designer?
The focus and scope of a product designer are around user experience and user interface, mainly in digital products such as apps, web, and software. They aim for a balance between functional and intuitive design for users.
The skill sets require proficiency in many different design principles, like graphic design, interaction, UXUI, knowledge of processes, software and tools for achieving their goals, and some code too to understand the logic behind the decisions they make in their design.
Product Design Framework by Ted Goas
Product designers focus on the overall user journey, ensuring each interaction with the digital product is seamless, enjoyable, and intuitive for the target audience. Empathy and understanding of users are crucial for building the right information architecture. What really defines a great product designer is the ability to understand the full process, to deduct what’s going to happen, and to make the right efforts at the right time.
On the other hand, industrial designers are more focused on understanding how people interact physically with objects and products, and their ergonomics. Their main goal is to produce object designs that are feasible to produce and market, while product designers look more into creating cohesive digital experiences that will meet business objectives.
Product designers focus on the overall user journey, ensuring each interaction with the digital product is seamless, enjoyable, and intuitive for the target audience. Empathy and understanding of users are crucial for building the right information architecture. What really defines a great product designer is the ability to understand the full process, to deduct what’s going to happen, and to make the right efforts at the right time.
On the other hand, industrial designers are more focused on understanding how people interact physically with objects and products, and their ergonomics. Their main goal is to produce object designs that are feasible to produce and market, while product designers look more into creating cohesive digital experiences that will meet business objectives.
…the ability to understand the full process, to deduct what’s going to happen, and to make the right efforts at the right time.
…the ability to understand the full process, to deduct what’s going to happen, and to make the right efforts at the right time.
Product design as a holistic way of creating digital stuff
As someone who loves tackling design from a holistic perspective, I’ve been always thrilled about how to improve experiences for users, to make them feel connected with what they are using. The Bauhaus integration of disciplines, Dieter Rams and his approach to everyday products from a User-Centred design perspective, IDEO’s Design thinking, and FAANG competition to deliver integral experiences… all were great sources of inspiration in order to seek and build great design.
Their approach led me to understand and view design not just as an isolated function, but as an interconnected system that requires a deep understanding of user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. Understanding these perspectives allowed me to develop an interest in approaching design comprehensively, where the focus is not only on visual appearance but also on high functionality. This mindset has been crucial in my journey designing and crafting digital solutions.
This, plus my early experience during Startup Weekend Gran Canaria, where I had the chance to participate, collaborate with new professionals, and win the contest with our project BasketUp, made me quite interested in how I could provide the best possible all-in-one solutions. I started hanging out with start-up founders, partners, and employees, and soon realized that whenever they sought help, they were looking for designers who were like their own digital Swiss knife—who could understand all levels of design, combine it with a great business approach, and possess technical knowledge.
Product design as a holistic way of creating digital stuff
As someone who loves tackling design from a holistic perspective, I’ve been always thrilled about how to improve experiences for users, to make them feel connected with what they are using. The Bauhaus integration of disciplines, Dieter Rams and his approach to everyday products from a User-Centred design perspective, IDEO’s Design thinking, and FAANG competition to deliver integral experiences… all were great sources of inspiration in order to seek and build great design.
Their approach led me to understand and view design not just as an isolated function, but as an interconnected system that requires a deep understanding of user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. Understanding these perspectives allowed me to develop an interest in approaching design comprehensively, where the focus is not only on visual appearance but also on high functionality. This mindset has been crucial in my journey designing and crafting digital solutions.
This, plus my early experience during Startup Weekend Gran Canaria, where I had the chance to participate, collaborate with new professionals, and win the contest with our project BasketUp, made me quite interested in how I could provide the best possible all-in-one solutions. I started hanging out with start-up founders, partners, and employees, and soon realized that whenever they sought help, they were looking for designers who were like their own digital Swiss knife—who could understand all levels of design, combine it with a great business approach, and possess technical knowledge.
How to choose your next designer and get it right
It’s crucial that you evaluate your current needs and try to summarize what are your 3 key main necessities, those that can’t be missed. Is it the experience? Is it the way of presenting the work? Maybe the overall skillset? Or the lapse between starting and providing actual value?
Search for a designer who not only enhances the user experience but also aligns design solutions with business objectives, and who also is a great addition to your current team.
Do you need some design expertise? Reach out
How to choose your next designer and get it right
It’s crucial that you evaluate your current needs and try to summarize what are your 3 key main necessities, those that can’t be missed. Is it the experience? Is it the way of presenting the work? Maybe the overall skillset? Or the lapse between starting and providing actual value?
Search for a designer who not only enhances the user experience but also aligns design solutions with business objectives, and who also is a great addition to your current team.
Do you need some design expertise? Reach out
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