A lot of times we don’t appreciate the little things product developers do that make our everyday lives just a little better. Sometimes it’s just a little tweak on an established product that complete changes the overall experience. I especially love seeing a company take the initiative to convert a wide-used and efficient item into something even better. It’s all about going from good to great. These are some of those products:
Nest Thermostat
The Nest thermostat lets home owners set their temperature settings on a innovative schedule to mindlessly save money on heating and cooling bills. The interface is so simple to use, that anyone can easily program their temperature schedule in a matter of minutes, and Nest will remember. No more turning the heat down at night or having a friend turn your AC back on before you get back from vacation. Even if you forget to program your Nest before you leave the house their smartphone app has your back and lets you update your home remotely.
The best part about Nest is the interface, though. One simple wheel and a button lets you control every setting you’d ever dream of (and then some). It makes setting your thermostat fun and easy, and you’ll feel really good about all the money you’re saving, too.
Conversational Doggie Bags
My wife and I received these as a gag gift one time, but I’ve got to be honest: I love them. United Pet Group creates these doggie bags with quirky poop puns and comical illustration on each one. Although cleaning up after your dog may be the dumps (pun intended), United Pet Group has managed to make me crack a smile while doing so. My personal favorite is a picture of a hippie dog saying, “Make poop, not war.” It may not save time or money, but it brightens your day and I applaud United Pet Group for making a good product even better.
La Cross Clip Catcher
Clipping your fingernails is tedious enough when you have to trim your nails often. Then you throw in the added frustration (and sometimes danger) of nail clippings soaring through the air in every direction. Not anymore, thanks to the La Cross Clip Catcher. It may not be a new product, but I’m surprised every nail trimming set doesn’t come equipped with one of these. The simple metal guard encloses the side of the trimmer and successfully catches most, if not all, of the fingernail clippings. Then, when it gets full, the metal guard slides back and the clippings fall out. Other than that it’s a normal fingernail clipper. Without the hassle of chasing my excommunicated nails around the bathroom I can trim my nails back in half the time and move on to move important things. I give it two thumbs (and thumbnails) up.
What’s the point?
These products are great, and they make everyday life better. Even though another product existed before these, these companies set out to make the experience even better. It’s something we always strive to accomplish at Illuminate Design Studio, too. We create Web sites with innovative user experiences to redefine the way users interact, make processes more efficient, and convert the mundane into fun.
So, what products do you see that have revolutionized an existing idea?