Design and WOM
May 16th, 2005
The June “Special Issue” of Fast Company is all about design and the increasing influence it has over all aspects of business - even word of mouth:
“Whether it’s software or sippy cups, when something works right, looks right and feels right, it sparks an emotional connection. People come to love it and loyalty soon follows, along with the three Rs: repurchase, reuse and recommendations - benefits that fall directly to the bottom line. Such is the power of design.”
I agree on some levels. But to get people to recommend your product to their friends and family, it has to be more than pretty, doesn’t it?
Other posts by Spike.
FI Chris says:
Absolutely. Personally, I’ve always been a function-over-form kinda guy. I focus more on performance than appearance. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate good design or care if something looks bad; it just means I care more about how something works than how it looks (you should have seen my last two cars). Even a well-designed piece of crap is still a piece of crap. We have this new coffee maker in the office, and emblazoned upon it are the words “Designed by F.A. Porsche.” When we got it, everyone gushed about how cool it looks (and it does), but I just wondered, “Does it make a better cup of coffee?” I don’t really know if it does, but its sleek lines and brushed-aluminum frame apparently make it more worthy than any other coffee pot to sit on our counter. What I do know is that we could have gotten another coffee maker for a lot less money. It might not have looked as cool, but it would’ve made coffee. FI Chris
February 20th, 2006 at 2:16 pm