.svg)
{{spacing-16px}}
Back in April of last year, we had a great time speaking at the Boston Hardware Meetup in Lumafield. Our talk was called “Designing Without Designers.”
{{spacing-16px}}
We couldn’t help but notice a common trend among many hardware startups – at the initial stages, a lot of emphasis tends to be on the engineering side, and usability and design is often neglected. Whether it is due to oversight, or a tight budget, many hardware teams do not have a dedicated designer.
{{spacing-16px}}
We strongly believe that design can be a game changer for a product’s success, but we understand that not every team can afford a good designer.
{{spacing-16px}}
So, with the intention of giving a helping hand, we put together a practical toolbox for engineers and other non-designers that offers insights on important design considerations when building hardware products.
{{spacing-60px}}
{{spacing-60px}}
The major point we wanted to make clear was that for us, design is not just aesthetics. At the end of the day, good design is about usability. Good Usability = Good Design. Bad Usability = Bad Design, even if it looks good.
{{spacing-60px}}
{{spacing-16px}}
We also went over some things you should still try to do to ensure the success of your product if you are going to create a hardware product without a designer:
{{spacing-60px}}
Thoroughly Research the Market and Competition
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Look at as many products as you possibly can find on the market, and the reviews that real users are giving (if available). Amazon reviews is a goldmine of user feedback.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Just research a couple of company’s products and list their features. If you want to stand out from the market, you need to understand exactly what makes your product unique.
{{spacing-60px}}
Understand Your Target User
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Create realistic personas based on real people who would use your product to understand their needs and preferences.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Make assumptions about your target audience without conducting proper research.
{{spacing-60px}}
User Experience — Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Emphasize simplicity and prioritize features based on their importance. Figure out the hierarchy of importance for your product.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Jam all possible features into the product without considering their relevance to the main goal.
{{spacing-60px}}
Borrow Aesthetics
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Find visual inspiration from products in both similar and different categories to understand the design language of the market and where you want to position your product.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Ignore aesthetics or create a design based solely on personal preference without considering the visual and emotional appeal for your customer.
{{spacing-60px}}
Visualize and Prototype
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Create prototypes and use rendering software or other mediums such as 3D printing to visualize the design. Test and refine as needed.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Just create an engineering prototype without considering the user experience or aesthetics. This kind of product, especially if it is consumer facing, will not appeal as much as another product that works well AND looks good.
{{spacing-60px}}
Seek Feedback Through User Testing
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Seek feedback from potential customers who fit the target persona to identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Just give the product to your 5 closest friends and colleagues to give their feedback on, unless they fit your persona.
{{spacing-60px}}
Iterate
{{spacing-16px}}
Do:
Iterate quickly. Try different mediums of sketching: paper, iPad, even napkins. Focus on user experience.
{{spacing-16px}}
Do Not:
Get stuck on one idea from the beginning and get discouraged by initial results. Keep trying, iterating, and incorporating feedback.
{{spacing-60px}}
We highly recommend having a designer on your team, even if it’s part-time. But hey, we get it, situations differ. So if you’re diving into a hardware product without a dedicated designer, these tips can be a game changer for making your product a success.
{{spacing-16px}}
Interested in having us talk at your next event, or need our help in designing your next product? Please reach out to us at contact@spatialdynamics.design. We would love to hear from you!
{{spacing-60px}}
.webp)
.svg)