What is Product Design? : The Process and Title Explored

"Good design is like a refrigerator—when it works, no one notices, but when it doesn't, it sure stinks."

–Irene Au.

I can relate to this quote as a product designer who knows how much it takes to create a design that is excellent in terms of function and form. It surely is a lot of work to come up with a good product design but another thing that is a challenge is to be able to constantly fix mistakes and keep yourself updated with the new trends.

In this article, I will explain what product design is and go over the key points.

What Exactly is Product Design? 

Product design is a broad term for all of the different processes involved in creating and producing both tangible and intangible products. Product designers are often responsible for coming up with new ideas for existing products or creating entirely new ones on their own. It is a vast field with many different nuances and specialties. It is a multidisciplinary process that requires understanding manufacturing, engineering, and aesthetics to create a product.

Product design is the process of designing a product, which includes the development of an idea by conceptualization. Product design focuses on both function and form; it creates tangible tools used in everyday life. Product designers are responsible for understanding customer needs, problem-solving, and creating aesthetically pleasing products that are also functional.

Spoiler Alert: Design is Only The Tip Of The İceberg

The product's design is crucial because it will be how people interact with the product, yet it is not the only aspect that a product designer needs to consider. A product designer's job is to understand the users' needs and create a product that they will be interested in. 

Product designers need to think of all aspects of the design process for it to be successful. They also need to communicate their ideas and feedback quickly with developers, designers, and other stakeholders in the process.

Designers must be able to empathize with people who are not like them or who they know personally.It's also essential for them to understand how people use their products to find out what needs to be improved upon in future iterations of their products.

What is an Example of Product Design?

Designers have various tools to decide on when it comes to product design. They can use the traditional method, sketching out concepts with pencil and paper and then creating models before they go into production. Modern designers will often create 3-D computer models using specialized software that simulates the object's appearance once it's made.

One of the very best examples of a product design is The Anglepoise lamp.

George Carwardine designed the Anglepoise lamp, a new design of an old concept. Carwardine created this lamp to help people focus better on their work while reducing eye strain. The shape of the base and the angle it rests at makes it easier for the eyes to stay focused and relaxed when reading or working on a computer.

Another example would be Oreo cookies. Oreo cookies are a true American classic. The iconic black and white cookie have been around since 1912, and over the years, Oreo has rolled out dozens of different flavors. The Oreo cookie is now 101 years old and has been through countless iterations since its inception in 1912. But it is still, without question, one of America's favorite cookies. 

Why is Product Design Important?

"The design is not just what it looks like and feels like. The design is how it works" .

— Steve Jobs

Product design is crucial because it creates a unique and creative experience for the consumer. As a result, the product's design can attract new customers and create loyal ones. A product's design can go far in creating a memorable experience, which in turn will build strong brand loyalty. 

Product design is also crucial for providing utility to the consumer. This means that the product must provide value to its user. The most important thing about designing a successful outcome is to design it for the consumer to want to buy it and use it again and again.

Product design is an essential step in the product development process. It makes sure that the final product is customer-friendly, presentable, and profitable to manufacture. Designing a product involves several stages of planning and thinking through the details before the actual designing stage begins.

What Does a Product Designer Do?

A product designer is a person who works across multiple disciplines to design the next generation of products. Product designers are responsible for ensuring that a product meets the needs of its users, is aesthetically pleasing, and functions appropriately. 

Since they work in so many areas, this can be challenging. However, product designers use their knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, and engineering to create innovative new designs and improve existing ones. 

Product designers are thought leaders in the digital space. They create a vision for the brand and guide their clients toward that vision. To do so, they have to be able to understand their client's business -- what drives it, how it works, and why it thrives or struggles.

This is crucial information for the design process because it's impossible to produce a clear direction on where your brand should go if you don't know these things.

Product designers can take different roles within a business, such as: 

UX Design 

Graphic Design  

UX designers are responsible for coming up with the look and feel of a website or application. They're involved in every step of the design process, from brainstorming to finalizing the finished project. Because these professionals work closely with other team members, they must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently – both verbally and visually.

The design of products encompasses the whole process from concept to production. The role of the graphic designer in this process is to create attractive and informative packaging for the product. On the one hand, you have to make sure that the package will attract consumers' attention at first sight in the retail store where it will be presented. A product designer working as a graphic designer creates visuals for your brand and ensures that these visuals are well-received by your audience.

Data Analysis 

Prototype 

Data is everywhere in the digital age. It's no longer something to be gathered and stored but rather a resource to be harnessed and applied. Data provides valuable insight into consumer behavior – enabling businesses of all sizes to find opportunities for growth that were previously obscured by information asymmetry.

Product designers can approach data differently than traditional marketing teams, and they can make it work for them using the right tools. For example, they can use data to understand what features customers want most, which features do they care about, where do their competitors rank, etc.

At the core of every great product, a designer is a strong understanding of how to prototype. Prototyping is an essential skill that allows you to show stakeholders and clients what your vision for their product or service will look like. It's also precious in the design process, allowing you to quickly and easily test ideas.

Should You Build a Career in Product Design?

Building a career in product design has its perks: you're creating valuable, tangible items that have a profound impact on people's lives. In addition, you'll be designing new products that consumers will buy and use every day. Product designers are among the most highly paid professionals in the world. The salaries they earn are commensurate with their contributions to the cost of living, but it's still a desirable way to make a living.

What would be the necessary skills that a product designer would need to have? 

Well, there are various skills that an aspiring product designer should have. These include creativity, problem-solving skills, and good communication. In addition, for a career in product design, you need to understand the process of creation from start to finish. This is because the field of product design is all about creating new products that are useful and can solve problems for people.

If you decide to become a product designer, you will have four steps to the top of the stairs. 

1. Associate Product Designer
2. Product Designer
3. Senior Product Designer
4. Principal Product Designer

The first step is;

1. Associate Product Designer: Associate Product Designer is the first step of the career ladder. As an Associate Product Designer, you'll be responsible for conceptualizing the look and feel of our products. This includes translating client briefs into visual models and working closely with engineering teams to create a pixel-perfect experience. You will work in a fast-paced environment alongside talented product designers creating beautiful user experiences.
2. Product Designer: Product Designers are involved in all aspects of the product from beginning to end. It is a Product Designer's responsibility to ensure that the product meets both business goals and customer needs. They'll need to speak with customers, test their designs, try them out with users and build prototypes.
3. Senior Product Designer: The responsibilities of a senior product designer include:

• Solving complex problems by bringing together different ideas and technologies. 
• Creating design solutions that are innovative, practical, and meet users' needs.
• Working with other designers to create a cohesive experience across various platforms.
• Managing projects from start to finish-from research, concept development, and user testing to final implementation.
• Ensuring that designs are on-brand and reflect the overall look and feel of an organization's products or services.

As a senior product designer, you will help the team create and design products that are helping people. You need to be able to work under pressure, be a problem solver, and have your finger on the pulse of new technology.

4. Principal Product Designer: The principal Product Designer designs the product and oversees the design of all critical aspects of the product. This may include but is not limited to: User experience, interaction design, visual design, motion graphics.

A principal product designer is responsible for leading a team of designers to create the overall design direction, look and feel of a product. This individual will oversee all aspects of the design process, including conception and execution. In addition, it is their job to make sure that the final product meets brand standards, user expectations, and company goals.

Product design is a creative field that brings together various aspects of craft and art to solve practical problems. Today, product designers are responsible for creating and improving the user experience of various products, including clothes, furniture, electronics, vehicles, and more. Designers work with engineers to create concepts and prototypes using computer-aided design software. To design an item or object correctly, several key components need to be considered before beginning any project.

Product design is a broad term that can encompass a number of different disciplines, from user experience to industrial design. If you want to make the most of your product design, it's essential to understand the process and how it is similar or different from other related fields. We hope our guide will be a helpful source for you; let us know if you have any questions!:)