Design in 2020 – what will product design look like?

What do you think 2020 will hold for product design?

We are seeing a shift in what ‘product’ is and this is going to become more apparent in 2020. People want on demand convenience, companies want brand loyalty, and the industry can no longer turn a blind eye to environmental responsibility. Two part pricing products are going to be king. Subscription services will rise. And fingers crossed this will open doors for more sustainable consumption through re-fillable, re-usable, upgradable products.

As products become services, consumers will expect an ever more bespoke offering. Whilst we are increasingly concerned about data capture, the industry is simultaneously capitalising on the benefits of it. The increase in companies providing sophisticated and uniquely personalised services and products to users, particularly in the cosmetics and wellbeing markets is going to escalate in 2020, opening new doors to on-demand manufacturing capabilities in the process.

Finally – the key thing for 2020 is transparency. Consumers want to know more about where their products come from and companies are going to be called out for unsustainable, unethical business.

What is your favourite product design project from 2019 and why?

My favourite project by any company from the past 12 months is Dame. Plastic free periods should be a given and yet they are the cause of tonnes of single use plastic entering landfill and water ways every single day. It’s companies looking to fix these types of issues whilst building a successful and carbon positive B-corp business that we should all be taking inspiration from.