To be successful in the marketplace a product must balance three things. Bringing these elements into harmony with one another is the key to a great customer experience because they are fundamental to who we are and the choices we make.
art.
The art references the aesthetics of a product or service. It is the visual manifestation of an idea. ‘Art’ is a means of communication where language is not sufficient to explain or describe its content. Art drives the development of society, and build cultures and society over time.
It is the understanding of how the use of details, form, proportion, color and materials affect the perceived value of the product or service. Understanding how cultures, sub cultures, demographics, etc influence these things, impacts sales. Attention to these details elevates a product from simple to sophisticated and adds an element of interest that helps distinguish one product from another.
Despite the seemingly indefinable nature of art, there has always existed a foundation for its aesthetic judgment and analysis. Certain objective points lay the foundation for what can be considered beautiful art, these are things that need to be understood and mastered in order to break and create your own vision beyond the bounds of objectivity.
Beauty in terms of art refers to an interaction between line, color, texture, sound, shape, motion, and size that is pleasing to the senses. There is a basic human instinct, or internal appreciation, for harmony, balance, and rhythm which can be defined as beauty. But beauty without meaning adds no value to life.
technology.
The technology of a product or service does not need to be overly complex or sophisticated. It can be defined as innovation and it merely needs to make our lives easier or more enjoyable. It revolutionizes the way people work, live and play. Technology has touched every aspect of life, making it easier, better and different. Technology changes living.
When this is used the right way, technology can give you an advantage commercially, especially in a market that is saturated or shifting rapidly. Successful brands predict changes in the market and provide solutions before people even realize they need them.
life.
‘Life’ is defined as the human factor, the emotion behind a product or service. It refers to how that product or service makes someone feel when they use it, or see it. Bring in an element of humanity so there is an instant emotional connection between the consumer and the product.
This can be through things such as cultural influences/references, societal causes or movements, human factors (ease of use), and delighter features (unexpected features that add depth and consumer joy but wont be missed if not there).
The best products and experiences sell a feeling or an idea more so than an actual product. Emotion moves us in ways logic can’t.
Buying decisions are made emotionally and justified rationally. Understanding what drives your customer emotionally, before anything else, helps brands connect on a deeper level.