As product people, we're trained to see the world through a lens of problems and solutions. We deconstruct experiences, question assumptions, and appreciate the details that separate good products from great ones. Here are three seemingly unrelated products that have profoundly influenced my product philosophy.
1. The Dyson Fan: Reimagining the Mundane
The humble fan was a solved problem—until it wasn't. Dyson didn't just make a better fan; they completely re-imagined the experience. The bladeless design is a masterstroke in user-centric thinking. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about safety. For a parent, the fear of a child's fingers near spinning blades is a real, visceral pain point. Dyson eliminated it entirely.
But they didn't stop there. The "Hot + Cool" functionality transforms a seasonal appliance into a year-round fixture. This isn't just a feature; it's a fundamental shift in the product's value proposition. It solves the "storage problem" of traditional fans and heaters. It's always there, ready with a single switch. Dyson teaches us a crucial lesson: **Safety > Quality > Cost**. By prioritizing the user's deepest needs (safety) and solving the entire user journey (year-round use, no storage), they created a new product category and justified a premium price point.
2. The Japanese Toilet: Elevating a Universal Experience
Every single human on the planet uses a toilet. It's a universal, daily ritual. Yet, for most of the world, the experience has remained unchanged for a century. Japanese toilets, or washlets, demonstrate the power of applying thoughtful design to a universal human need. Once you've used one, there's simply no going back.
Great products often hide in plain sight, improving experiences we've long accepted as "good enough."
The heated seat, the bidet function, the automated lid—each feature is a small moment of delight and consideration. It shows a deep empathy for the user's comfort and hygiene. It's a reminder that no experience is too mundane to be improved. The lesson here is to **look for the universal constants in human behavior** and ask, "How can we make this not just functional, but exceptional?"
3. Japanese Packaging: Designing for the Moment of Use
Japanese packaging is a masterclass in user-centric design, and the onigiri (rice ball) wrapper is the perfect case study. The problem: how do you keep the seaweed (nori) perfectly crisp until the moment of consumption? The solution is a brilliant, multi-step opening process that separates the nori from the rice with a thin plastic film.
If it takes you more than eight seconds to open, you're probably doing it wrong. The design guides you through a simple, satisfying sequence. This isn't just packaging; it's part of the product experience. It shows an obsession with delivering the product in its ideal state. The key takeaway for any PM is to **think about the entire user journey, right up to the moment of consumption.** How can we ensure the user experiences our product exactly as we intended?