Reflection Point: Product Design

• What’s the difference between what makes a product good vs. great?

To me, the main difference of what makes a product good versus great really depends on how convenient the product is and how it makes me feel. It needs to be convenient to learn and convenient to keep using every time I use the product. Disruption in my flow is frustrating, as I have a million thoughts happening in my brain at once, and to get side barred by disruption with using a product, adds unnecessary frustration to my flow. I believe it goes without saying, that a product that LOOKS AMAZING, adds extra value to the product, even though the product could be completely functional if the UI were very basic.

• What personally attracts you to product design?

Making processes more seamless for people is attractive because we all have enough to deal with just living. Also, innovation upon an existing product that you had no idea had room to be innovated is so impressive each time I experience it.

• What is a digital product that you can’t live without? What problems does it solve for you?

Google Maps, hands down. It’s amazing to think that people DROVE everywhere using maps, for over a century. Not only are maps confusing at times, but they are a distraction for the driver/passenger, which can be unsafe while in motion. Google Maps offers you the best route, with the actual time to get there, and directs you a different route to save time.

Besides that, you can also search ANYWHERE in the world with Google Maps. Want to know what Uzbekistan looks like? Do a search, and pics of the country are generated within 30 seconds. This can provide those that aren’t able to travel as much as they’d like (likely the majority of people) opportunities to explore without costing them a dime.

• What is a digital product that you consider innovative, and why?

My ChaseMobile banking app. I literally only have to go to the bank if I need actual paper cash. I can upload photos of signed checks. I can sign in with my fingerprint. The app signs me out once I’m done using it. I never thought I would use an APP that deep inside its contents knew my account information, due to security issues, but I do not feel insecure using this app.

• What’s a product you feel “addicted to,” or otherwise feel negatively habituated?

Well, it’s usually whatever social media platform is all the rage at that moment in time. Right now, for me, it’s Instagram. I am so sick of looking at IG. However, I am COMPELLED to pull up my phone to check stupid stories and scroll incessantly, like every hour at the very least. It’s like a cigarette. Seriously, if people had cell phones back in the day, they most likely wouldn’t have smoked cigarettes nearly as much as they did.

I feel COMPELLED to post stupid sh*t to my stories, almost daily at this point, for validation. This is all heightened due to Covid and having very little IRL social interaction.

TikTok seems to be the newest big deal these days, and just like with IG, being a very latent adapter, I haven’t even looked at the platform- yet.

Social media frightens me, as it does a lot of others. It’ll like cause people to not be able to interact IRL any more comfortably, and will consider whatever validation they receive on social media more important than anything anyone in person tells them.

And, tech keeps feeding on this.

What’s next?