You’ve got your digital product to work, users are coming and staying. Things are going well. So, why redesign a product if it’s already great? Great question. It depends on what we mean by great. Kodak, for example, was great. Blockbuster, even, was great. But just because things are working doesn’t always mean it isn’t time to adapt and change.
As time goes on, users and their needs change. Best practices for design, security, UX, UI and more change. The key is to keep up with these changes, and to know when it’s time to redesign.
From Google Maps to Facebook to Squarespace to Wix, these digital platforms have gone through substantial change over the years. Though we know them as premiere products and services, they have always noticed their own room for improvement. It’s key that we adopt this same thinking for our products, especially as we’re doing well.
The key is to notice when there’s time for a change.
Here are three ways to redesign a product that’s already great:
1. Enhance the working features
Once a feature has seemingly reached perfection. You have to ask: How can we make it easier, simpler, better? Consider this: Shopify is currently developing an accelerated payment feature, similar to that of Amazon’s 1-click feature. Shopify could rest on its laurels and accept that the feature works as is. But there is always room for improvement. It’s especially urgent when a similar need is being satisfied by a nearby competitor.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What actions can we simplify?
How can we make things easier for users?
What is our most requested feature?
What is painful about the current process?
How can we save our users time?
2. Build an entirely new product
In 2009, WeTransfer started as a file transfer service. Today, they make products for other needs including idea capturing, visualization and grouping. Once the group perfected their first flagship product, clearly it was time to start thinking of other ways to satisfy users. Perhaps your flagship product has reached the same: How else can you serve your customers? If your product is already great, make another one.
Here’s a few questions to ponder:
What other pains do our users feel?
How can we own the entire category of what we do?
How can we not overthink and create something simple?
3. Update the look
As with any visual trend, design styles come and go. While the functionality of your product may work well, its look may be outdated. Consider how Instagram looked in 2011, to 2016. The main function of the app: Users upload photos of whatever they want and apply beautiful filters. At the same time, scroll through a timeline to view what your friends are posting. Simple premise. But as you can tell through their visual design over the years, a lot has changed. They’ve consistently updated the visual environment to not only make the experience better but to move along with the times. The key is to know when it’s time to update the visual look.
Here are a few items worth considering:
What are the current visual trends?
How can you update the look?
What fonts, colors and shapes can you add?
How can you change the size of elements?
If your product is already great, congratulations! But remember, this is when it’s most important to keep an eye on redesigning.
Learn more about Neuron's offering here. If you want insight and a partner in redesigning your product without changing the things that work well, we can help - contact Neuron here to get started.
Neuron is a San Francisco-based UX/UI consultancy that creates best-in-class digital experiences to help businesses succeed in today’s digital world. Learn more about our services and explore our work.
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