New Product Development: Is Less Actually More?

Is having “more” truly better? We’re currently living in an era where technological advances are continuously surfacing, and the demand for “better” products is placing pressure on companies to stay ahead of their competition. Designing new and usable products can seem a bit overwhelming. As we’ve learned over time, adding special features or a unique design to compliment a product’s advanced capabilities may not be the best thing for your customers. Often, integrating more options into a customer’s experience can cause complications or present difficulty in a customer’s experience. Ultimately the question is, does having more features equate to a better user experience?

May 6, 2021

Question your product’s intended use:

New product design poses many questions and can be challenging to do. In order to create a new or improved product for your customers, you need to consider how it will affect your user. While visually appealing is important, functionality is the highest priority. Our HBI team has brainstormed a list of several questions for you to consider before leaping into new product development:

What is the purpose of your new product?

Does your new product solve a real-world problem?
Is your new product helpful?
What advantages will it provide your user? (i.e. How will your product improve your customer’s life?)
Are you redesigning a product? If so, what functions are you keeping, and what features are you excluding? Why?
Is your design user-friendly? Will a user intuitively understand how to use your product?

Prioritize your product’s intentions. Any answers to these or other questions should ultimately be user-centered and provide you and your customer with solutions. It’s also important to understand that not all great ideas become great products. If your new product isn’t solving an existing real-world problem or assisting a customer with a current need, you may need to reconsider your product. Don’t waste time developing a new product if customers aren’t going to feel like they’re reaping the benefits.

Declutter and prioritize your ideas:

Of course, you need to develop a visually appealing product; however, what’s more important: a product’s functionality or its aesthetics? A product needs to grab a user’s attention while simultaneously providing a customer-friendly experience. So what do you do? You design a product that understands your customers.

Focus on the little details that will empower your customers and enhance their experience. High-quality products consist of high-quality features. Paying close attention to the little details will go a long way in your design and product’s life cycle. While there is no guarantee that customers will always use the product the way it’s intended, developing a product from a customer’s viewpoint will provide you with an opportunity to “see it from their perspective.” Hopefully, this may allow you to see where complications or misuse may interfere with your products’ actual intended use.

Start small. Too many features may become an overwhelming component of your product’s design, leading customers to try a competitor’s product. Often, the more functions and clever features a product involves, the more complicated it becomes to new users. At the end of the day, customers want something that is useful and works—identifying the value of your product and design from your customer’s perspective may help eliminate possible questions or challenges to the intended use of your product.

How Can HB International Assist You in Your New Product Design & Development?

We are a global manufacturing sourcing agency equipped with the most desirable team for new product design. HB International’s product development team works directly with our approved high-quality suppliers that incorporate advanced technology and high-quality equipment to ensure your products remain competitive throughout their lifecycle. From product design and development to production and logistics, HBI is here every step of the way to provide each of our unique customers with a high-quality experience that supports not only your ideas but also your expectations.

Are you ready to start developing? Let our project managers know! Complete our “Discovery” form, and let’s get started on your new project together!