Competitor & Inspiration Analysis
Or How To Start The Product Design Journey Aligned As A Team
The starting point for the entire SetDesign product design process, the very first deliverable, is none other than the Competitor & Inspiration Analysis. While it’s a design deliverable pieced together by a single designer, it’s paramount that all stakeholders/teammates participate as the exercise is absolutely communal & collaborative. While we’ll break down the How & the What shortly, it’s best to first understand Why we start with the C&IA (competitor & inspiration analysis); we’ll expand on each reason below, however, there are at least three high-level reasons for making this the product design origin:
- Triple-Checking Business Viability By Gauging The Competitive Landscape
- Preemptively Addressing Visual & Design Expectations By Understanding Stakeholder Tastes
- Providing A Sense Of Ownership Early-On
The final product, a 2 or 3-page document (seen below), is less traditional graphic design & is more accurately described as a product management deliverable. Nevertheless, it’s critical as the origin of our design process.
