Businesses often speak about the importance of design and innovation for new product
development. Think about the products designed by Apple, Hewlett-Packard,
Samsung, and more. Beautiful designs coupled with easy-to-use functionality are
what we think of when considering innovative design.
But is the design the only thing that matters?
Does every product that has won design awards and accolades achieve success in
the marketplace? Unfortunately, no - innovative design does not translate into
market acceptance, or even a good product.
In
this TED Talks video, Timothy Prestero (the founder and CEO of Design that
Matters, a nonprofit organization that works with entrepreneurs on products for
developing countries) discusses his own experiences with product innovation
geared for developing countries. Prestero candidly discusses his experience
developing an infant incubator for developing nations - a product that won TIME
Magazine's "50 Best Inventions of 2010."
Beautiful
design - yes. Practical product implemented in hospitals - no. The lesson for
innovators and inventors is that good design needs to focus on who will use the
product - as well as all the ways that the product can be used incorrectly. As
Preston said in his talk, "There's no such thing as a dumb user; there are
only dumb products."
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