Greetings,
I am in the midst of researching the topic of metrics as it applies to product design. Measuring the performance of product design whereby one version of one product is chosen over another can an elusive target. If the mandatory parameters of the product design goal have been determined and achieved, then what is the process by which the outcomes are measured against each other?
I am a sole designer for a large corporation. The product is retail packaging goods. Let’s say I design 12 iterations from design briefs that fall into the parameters of the goals of the product, all different yet plausible and viable for manufacturing, with thoughts into factors such as: sustainability, case/pallet count, ease of production, assembly, rubustness, label area and ergonomically sound. Internal and counsumer testing can whittle the field down to 4 or less, but from there, its more of a subjective beauty contest. Some designs are just going to be chosen over others.
The question that I want to focus on is: How is it determined that a product design is deemed best, or backing up a bit in the design process, how does the best product become designed. The question then becomes - Is the designer here really doing an average job of providing the results in an on time ordely manner, or is the designer striving to achieve the best he can, and in doing so, should be recognized for above performance work behaviour?
This, my friends, is the real root of the issue, here’s why: My manager (an Engineer by training) is a data driven individual, always asking for numbers, proof and results. In order to evaluate the performance of my designs, and the performance of my position within the company, there is a need to provide a sense that an evaluation process is in place. Where there is packaging that new designs are replacing, the task of evaluating one verses the other is easy, purchase interest can be measured. For new product development into an area that is different or has no competition, the product can be measured against other brands or stand on its own. What I would like to discuss is the criteria with which the products are compared. Beyond plain purchase interest, which can often be based on price alone, there are other factors that lead to choosing a product versus another.
The research that I have come across has been thin. Design metrics often miss the point above, instead they focus on how many patents are rewarded, or the quantity of new product launches.
I’ll stop here to allow others to comment on what I have laid out. thanks for your time