Product Face-Offs
Updated: June 25, 2009
We have all fallen for bling at one time or another; the casing perhaps, or some original aspect of the spec. We have all paid over the odds for products that were not worth more than a few euros. Once bitten, twice shy however. And manufacturers know this. This is why designers often work hand in hand with engineers and technical teams. In this article we suggest products, launched both recently and some time ago, that prioritise an original look and/or concept.
The design and look should, as far as we’re concerned, be an added extra and not an attempt to cover up poor performance.
We look at a product's conception, build, design, practicality and ease of use and we check out the technical side. We then rate the product accordingly, that’s to say on a slightly different criteria to the one we usually use.
When the technology itself can’t provide this, manufacturers look towards design and build to give products more allure. Whether they go for originality or the tried and tested formulas, manufacturers, working with designers, are making more and more of an effort in terms of the look and feel of their products. Design can even become the main sales argument.
Performance is never far out of mind of course but just as in other areas (cosmetics, fashion, furnishings etc), the aesthetic of an object has also become important for High-Tech brands.
Consumer impressions
Your average client is often confronted with the difficulty of choosing a product for which they don’t necessarily master all aspects of the spec. In addition to their budget, that the customer either has or not, the look of the product also comes into play. Does it look good to me? Will it go well in my house? Is it trendy or original? Am I sure that I won’t find it in everyone else’s house? Whether the consumer falls for an object aesthetically speaking is just as important as any reasoned argument.
There’s also another factor that brands are fully aware of. Wider target markets. Not long ago, men were the only tech addicts around. Things have changed. Women, already the key to sale of products for the home, have also become a completely separate tech target market. And of course, this means that how a product looks has become much more important. You can see how different brands are attempting to attract a female clientele by including their tastes in the aesthetic of objects.
Is it however enough that a product is pleasing to the eye? No. The customer will often do their research before buying, search out the opinion of experts and other consumers.
