Abstract:

What makes one minty toothpaste stand out from the other?

Is it just the fact that it cleans your teeth? Far from it. Function is but one dimension of the product experience that differentiates one product from the other. Consumers are not interested in a product; they are in search of an experience. As such, our role as product designers is not to simply optimise function, but rather to create exceptional experiences. Experience, in turn, is shaped by the interplay between a product and a person?the thing and I. Experiences evoke feelings, behaviours and thoughts that register life as lived and felt in the product moment. In this moment, it is in the rich interaction that speaks to all senses where a product transforms into an experience. Consider how this consumer?s description of the seemly inconspicuous element of smell reminds us how an everyday product experience can create resonance well beyond the brushing ritual.