The Power of Design: How Investing in Product Design Can Transform Your Business

Intro

Product design plays a crucial role in the success of any business. It involves creating and optimizing products that meet customers' needs and provide a delightful user experience. Investing in product design yields numerous benefits for companies, ranging from increased customer satisfaction to improved brand reputation. This article explores six key benefits of investing in product design.

1. Enhanced User Experience

One of the primary benefits of investing in product design is the ability to create an enhanced user experience. By focusing on a product's usability, functionality, and aesthetics, businesses can build a seamless and enjoyable experience for their customers. A well-designed product makes it easier for users to navigate and interact with it, leading to higher customer satisfaction and increased loyalty.

2. Competitive Advantage

In today's competitive market, standing out from the crowd is essential. Investing in product design gives businesses a significant competitive advantage. A visually appealing and user-friendly product has the potential to attract more customers and differentiate a brand from its competitors. By investing in innovation and staying ahead of industry trends, companies can position themselves as leaders in their respective markets.

3. Increased Customer Satisfaction

Product design directly impacts customer satisfaction. When a product is intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and meets users' needs, it creates a positive experience that leads to higher customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat buyers and advocates for the brand, resulting in increased sales and revenue.

4. Improved Brand Reputation

Investing in product design significantly improves a company's brand reputation. A well-designed product reflects the values and commitment of a business to quality and customer-centricity. Positive customer experiences with a well-designed product can lead to positive word-of-mouth recommendations and reviews, further enhancing the brand's reputation in the market.

5. Cost Savings

While investing in product design may require upfront costs, it leads to long-term cost savings. Businesses can identify and address potential issues early by conducting thorough user research and usability testing during the design process. This helps minimize the need for expensive redesigns or recalls down the line. Moreover, a well-designed product is less likely to require frequent customer support or maintenance, resulting in cost savings for the company.

6. Increased Profitability

Ultimately, investing in product design contributes to increased profitability. A well-designed product that meets customers' needs enhances user experience, differentiates the brand, commands higher prices, and improves market demand. This, in turn, leads to higher sales and revenue, ultimately driving profitability for the business.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, investing in product design offers numerous benefits for businesses. From enhancing user experience to improving brand reputation and increasing profitability, the value of product design cannot be understated. By prioritizing product design and incorporating it into their overall business strategy, companies gain a competitive edge, delight their customers, and achieve long-term success.

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My flexible pricing model

Working with traditional freelancer/agency pricing can get complicated. My pricing model is simpler.

Simply hire me by the month at a fixed cost.

Need to pause the work? That’s fine. Since there aren’t any long-term contracts, we can pick things up later when the time is right.

Schedule a consultation call to discuss my specific rates, go over any questions you have, and walk through the next steps.

Prefer email instead? Reach out to me at hello@timhaskins.studio

A little about me

With deep roots in brand, design, and technology, I specialize in delivering best-in-class UX & UI. I've done this for hundreds of companies around the globe over the past 25 years.

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Client history

I've worked with many types of clients worldwide. From small startups all the way up to Nike, Adidas, Xerox, Williams-Sonoma, and Lowe's — to name a few.

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My purpose

Everything I do is centered around helping people live fuller lives — a driver for what gets me up each morning. That can take many shapes, such as pro-bono work for non-profits, mentoring other designers, or designing products that impact lives.

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Life-altering moment:

In 2016, I suffered a life-altering traumatic brain injury and lost my ability to do much of anything. Without the ability to fully comprehend language, living with constant vertigo and depression, and the loss of my creative problem-solving skills — my life was turned upside down.

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Fast-forward to today. I consider myself one of the lucky few who fully recovered from an injury like that. I have a deeper appreciation for life now; from mundane tasks to relationships to my craft — which shows in the quality of my work.

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My superpowers

Translating strategy into a marketable product, simplifying the complex, pinpointing a person's hidden pain, and breathing new life into outdated UIs.

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Additional facts:

I live in Portland, Oregon, once had a 30-person design agency for over a decade, launched my own SaaS products, and am raising 3 boys (the latter being the hardest but most rewarding!)

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FAQ

How do we know we're a good fit?

I’m very selective with the companies I work with, and I admit I’m not the right fit for everyone. Here are a few indicators that I’m not the right fit:

1. If you seek full-time hires: I’m not for those seeking permanent, full-time roles; I specialize in fractional, high-impact engagements.

2. If you prefer in-house solutions: If you believe all expertise should come from within your existing team, I won’t be the right fit.

3. If you micro-manage: I'm a seasoned expert who thrives on driving outcomes and high autonomy. I’m very collaborative, but if you want to hand-hold/dictate, I won’t be the right fit.

4. If you’re only looking for quick fixes: While I can often deliver quick wins, I focus on sustainable growth and long-term impact.

5. If budget is your only concern: My value lies in the elite talent and strategic expertise I bring; if cost-cutting is your sole priority, I may not meet your needs.

What is your pricing model?

My pricing model is based on a monthly engagement rather than an hourly rate or a long-term contract. As you’ve likely experienced, multiple changes, discoveries, and pivots can occur when building a product, requiring a flexible pricing model that can ebb and flow with you.

Within my model, I offer four pricing tiers, starting at $1,500/month (USD). Clients choose from one of the monthly pricing tiers depending on the amount of work needed.

‍Example scenarioIn Month 1, a new client chooses my lowest tier to get things started and trial my services. Month 2 requires more work and they’re getting value, so they choose the second pricing tier. Then, they pause for a few months as their team implements my design. After that, they return for another month to have me audit and refine what the developers have implemented.

My clients love my model because they don’t get nickel-and-dimed for changes or feel beholden to a contract written months ago that’s woefully outdated compared to their current situation.

Can you work within a fixed budget amount?

While my model is based on a monthly engagement to optimize my client’s budgets, I have made exceptions in the past. Some of my clients have had fixed budgets that they need to work within, and in certain cases, I can work within that structure. Let’s talk more about your situation and see if it will work.

How happy are your clients?

What tells me my clients are happy (and see value in my work) is that I have 100% client repeat rate — something I strive for — which is reflected in my approach, style, and work ethic.

This means that every client has come back a second time to continue our work together. They wouldn’t do that if they didn’t see value or weren’t happy.

I also survey my clients every quarter, and each one has repeatedly given me a 5-star rating.

Do you have a team of people, or is it just you?

It’s just me. My ideal client prefers working with an individual rather than an agency or team. They want someone experienced who focuses on their project and communicates directly with them — without the bureaucracy or cost of an agency.

If you choose to work with me, I will be your main point of contact. I will be the one designing your product; fully grasping your product, strategy, and business needs.

How do you manage projects?

I use a platform called ClickUp to manage and communicate project updates to clients. It also hosts documentation, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards.

Slack is the primary communication tool for me and my clients. I can either add your team to a private Slack channel in my account or, if you already have your own (or Teams), I can join yours instead.

Often my clients have their own platforms, like Jira, Monday, or Trello. I’ve used those and many others and am happy to explore what it would look like for me to use your tool.

What do you deliver?

What I deliver can vary depending on your needs. The most common deliverables are flow diagrams, wireframes, and dev-ready Figma design files (including Design System documentation.) Secondary deliverables include things like interactive prototypes, animated UI concepts, custom icons, audits/user research documentation.

Do you specialize in our industry?

Over the past 25 years, I have worked in dozens of industries versus specializing in just one. My ideal client values this because they want fresh ideas and someone thinks differently. They want their product to be unique and innovative, not follow the same tired strategies.

When we collaborate, I take a deep dive into your business and industry, understanding it thoroughly. This way, I can provide insights that significantly enhance your product's design and user experience.

We need designs yesterday — can you help us?

I hear this often and I totally get it. You have a real sense of urgency and could already be behind on your goals due to one factor or another.

As you’ll see, I can turn around designs very quickly and we can get some quick wins if need be. But to make a product that really stands out, one that meets your goals, and users love, takes time, thought, and research. And while I do have a thorough process for getting us there, my process is designed to be flexible for getting quick wins and long-term success.

Why wouldn’t we just hire a cheap designer from one of those freelancer sites?

Sure, you can hire a designer on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, but they likely won’t meet your expectations and you’ll typically get what you pay for.

Some clients I've spoken to tried that route before working with me. They found that the design quality was not up to par, and the designers mainly followed instructions without offering innovative ideas. It’s a gamble.

My clients need someone who will deeply engage with their project, show enthusiasm for their product, and propose creative solutions, rather than simply executing tasks as instructed.