Trying to develop a product in an already over-saturated market is always an arduous task. Where does one begin? What are we offering to consumers that they don’t already have access to? Are there possible pains that consumers often overlook and simply accept as the norm for using certain products? Can we uncover potential issues in existing products?
This week at our meeting with SJ, we discussed the topic of user experience. The user experience is an extremely important facet of product design that can determine the success or failure of any tangible product. If we plan to embark on a path of creating an industry game-changer, an in-depth analysis of how people will be using our product is required. Consequently, even if we had an amazing secret formula that claims to satisfy a myriad of ailments and provides a comprehensive list of health benefits without the right methods of delivery, it would all be meaningless.
Some questions and ideas that SJ posed during our meeting this week:
- Think about being “the world’s first in ______”
- Develop a “claim to fame” strategy
- You don’t necessarily have to be the best, but be the first at something, others will follow
- Consider other revenue streams. A company cannot sustain on a single revenue stream
- Innovation process does not have to stick to the product itself. Consider the packaging and other aspects of the user experience
- Try to have open-ended conversations with consumers. They may reveal clues about other pains and issues we have not considered
