Defining good product design

4 min readAug 6, 2018

When compared to other design disciplines, it’s fair to say that product design is relatively immature. Over the past 25 years we (the digital design community) have grown through phases. We have gone from an embryonic notion on the fringes of other design industries to a globally recognised discipline in its own right. We have had internal crises, we’ve struggled to find our identity, but product design is finding its stride. Like a teenager letting go of their internal angst and joining mature environments, product design is now sat ‘at the table’ and is contributing to the conversation.

However, for all of our collective progress we still lack beacons of good design. As a discipline we have little in the way of universally recognised exemplars. Unlike our peers in industrial design, furniture design or print design we don’t have examples we all point to and revere.

In fact there is little to define what a good piece of product design looks like. When I’ve posed the question of ‘how do you define good product design?’ the response is almost always an appropriation of another design discipline. Product designers usually cite icons from related disciplines like Dieter Rams or Wally Olins.

Here I draw a distinction to stating design principles. Brand often have their individual set of ambitions, but this does not allow us to measure success. Principles simply offer us guidance through the decision making processes.

So it seems we lack a collective view of what ‘good’ looks like. I feel this is a problem when we trying to explain or even justify our work. We often find ourselves arguing that our work is important, but then lacking the vocabulary to define when it’s done well.

So, in the absence of anything else, here is my attempt to create a definition. I don’t expect you to agree with them, so I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section below.

Good product design is…

1. Inclusive

A well designed product does not require special knowledge to find value in it. It doesn’t require any special technology to access it. Users are never excluded due to their intellect, mobility, location or health.

2. Calm

Good product design does not fight for your attention. It does not drain your energy and act like a needy dependant, whilst making you (the user) increasingly dependant.

3. Portable

A well designed product moves from device to device seamlessly. It works equally well across different input types and languages. It provides an equal level of value regardless of how it is accessed.

4. Joyful

A good piece of product design is a pleasure to use. In some way it enhances your life and the lives of those around you.

5. Disciplined

Digital products are transient and in a continual state of development. However, good product design does not sprawl with new features and non-sensical redesigns. It remains simple and true to its core value.

6. Balanced

A good product is the result of an equal balance in design, research, content, technology and business strategy. It may be lead by one of the constituent crafts, but it never lets the product become overwhelmed by one or another.

7. Complementary

A well designed product complements other products but more importantly it complements our lives. It plays well with others and it fits in to our world without any additional effort or energy.

Colophon

I’ve pondered over writing this article for a long time. In truth I’ve been torn between my evolving opinion of what good is and the question of ‘who the hell am I to define what it good?’.

Attempting to pool the past 20 years of my experience in to a short article has meant that I’ve edited out more than I’ve left in.