I think that the design of a product is certainly an important aspect when considering the usability and intrigue of that particular object. What happens when someone doesn't know how to use something? Or even more, doesn't even want to try to know because it looks so undesirable? No one will use them, and they will become useless. Pointless. Irrelevant.
Dwell starts off his article An Introduction to Product Design by talking about different products that are "wholly crappy." He used an example of scissors that has holes so small that toddlers fingers can hardly fit into. What is the point of a product that can't be used? Nothing. It is worthless.
In order to combat that, the product needs to be useful. It needs to serve a purpose, to be attractive and easy to use. To produce a profit. A useless product simply becomes waste that never gets anywhere. I think it is important to have a product that jumps out to people. Makes them see a reason to use or enjoy it.
The way that Alain de Botton explained one aspect of this in his talk Why Design Matters, he discussed how certain pieces of art that you look at make you feel melancholy. I loved this example because it showed how things that you see, designs, should make you feel things. The more you feel, the more likely you are to be attracted to something.
In terms of products specifically, the more attracted you are to something, the more you are likely to purchase it. Thus, filling the goals of purchase and profit.
Focusing on the aspects that make things user friendly as well as desirable is the best way to achieve that effective product design.
Dwell starts off his article An Introduction to Product Design by talking about different products that are "wholly crappy." He used an example of scissors that has holes so small that toddlers fingers can hardly fit into. What is the point of a product that can't be used? Nothing. It is worthless.
In order to combat that, the product needs to be useful. It needs to serve a purpose, to be attractive and easy to use. To produce a profit. A useless product simply becomes waste that never gets anywhere. I think it is important to have a product that jumps out to people. Makes them see a reason to use or enjoy it.
The way that Alain de Botton explained one aspect of this in his talk Why Design Matters, he discussed how certain pieces of art that you look at make you feel melancholy. I loved this example because it showed how things that you see, designs, should make you feel things. The more you feel, the more likely you are to be attracted to something.
In terms of products specifically, the more attracted you are to something, the more you are likely to purchase it. Thus, filling the goals of purchase and profit.
Focusing on the aspects that make things user friendly as well as desirable is the best way to achieve that effective product design.
References:
Why Design Matters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QcTQSNTONw
An Introduction to Product Design:
https://www.dwell.com/article/an-introduction-to-product-design-8ca338bd