Are We Subconsciously Consumed by Product Design?

I have always been a creative and I am still un-layering how much product design impacts so many aspects of my life and the lives of every person around the globe. Its effects are so far-reaching and now so much more perceptible.

I was very drawn to the fact that a “great” product not only affects the tangible idea but also the intangible one. For example, Instagram, it’s a platform that showcases imagery by letting users explore, create hashtags, and comment. It dives deeper into the emotional connection of how many followers you have, how many video views, and whether you are trending. It has developed into a product that services not only imagery but emotional connection to other people. It’s like a passive viral hangout except you might not have ever really met this person in real life.

It all makes me think about how many products I depend on every day. The minute I wake up in the morning I check Instagram, Facebook, and Gmail. Am I addicted? It’s such a subconscious routine that I don’t even realize I depend on it emotionally.

What attracts me to a product most is the look, feel, and usability of its interface. If it’s hard to navigate or perform a task, I most likely won’t use it. The process is just as crucial as it’s UI. As a tech savvy person, I sometimes find the most modern products challenging to navigate. An example of this would be the new Facebook interface. I think visually its beautiful but it’s confusing to navigate. To get to your profile page you have to scroll to the top, click the down arrow, and then click to view your profile. While the younger generation can figure this out, I strongly feel that people over the age of 50 might have some trouble.

I am now seeing that Instagram is a platform that is both innovative and addictive. They instantly identified that Snapchat was one of their biggest competitors and integrated live stories and messaging. They basically mimicked Snapchat’s service but elevated its process. To me, this is innovation. They aren’t trying to offer a new process that confuses people they are taking one that has been created and improving its efficiency.

In closing, I love the experience that UX design sets forth. I love that there are so many layers of design and you can really find which one speaks to you. It’s so detailed, emotional, and impactful. It really has opened my eyes for the better. I strongly feel that I am exactly where I am supposed to be as a creative.