The Product Pyramid — Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Product Design
The framework first: The pyramid of product design is a mental modal for product teams to explore what the product can aspire to be and where design can contribute to, in a similar silhouette as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
It frames the product goals in six dimensions: designing for execution, problems, users, people, communities, and cultures. The lower dimensions are fundamental for a product’s success, and the higher dimensions open up opportunities for innovation, and the high-tier achievements would empower the product’s robustness and resilience.
Deficiency vs growth dimensions
Maslow sliced his pyramid into deficiency needs and growth needs. He explains the dividend (Mcleod, S. 2020) that
“Deficiency needs arise due to deprivation and are said to motivate people when they are unmet. However, growth needs continue to be felt and may even become stronger once they have been engaged.”
The product pyramid inherits the same logic — Designing for execution, problems, and users are Deficiency Dimensions, and designing for people…
