As someone who is known to be very observant, I have always enjoyed paying attention to the elements of a product and then determining if I felt that it was a quality product. I define a quality product as one that is made with quality materials, is designed to last, is made with the principles of good design, and is one that does not fall into the trap of trends.
One of the reasons I believe that quality products are not found within trends is because of how quickly the trends change. This causes multiple problems with the products that are “trendy.” The first problem is that the products that are made for trends (a common example being fast fashion) are designed to be thrown away within a very short period of time and they are not designed to last. They are designed to be worn for a couple of months, maybe a year, and then they either fall out of trend, fall apart, or are a mixture of both. The second problem is that the continuous cycle of trends causes the products to be tossed to the side when the inevitable new trend comes along.
In contrast, quality products are designed to last for decades and therefore go beyond trends. While trends may have a lot of people fawning over a product for a couple of weeks to a couple of months, quality designs crafted with the principles of good design will remain relevant through the test of time. This is not only amazing for our planet, but it is also incredibly important for fighting the effects of excessive consumerism because the user will keep the product around as opposed to throwing it out and buying a new one. I truly believe that having a handle on quality products is significantly more valuable than having a lot of trendy products.
While the trendy product might be the cheaper option, the quality product is an investment, increasing the likelihood that you will not have to buy something similar for many more years to come.
The way I identify quality products used to be solely through the quality of the material, the thoughtfulness of its design, and the way it made me feel. However, since studying interior architecture and design, I have been able to learn about a lot of design theories and principles (many of which I talk about on this blog) so I have since then been applying my knowledge to articulate why a product has more perceived quality than others.
I will admit that at some point there is the topic of preference, but since learning about different design theories and principles, my professors have made it clear that there is such a thing as “bad design.” I talk more about what makes a product a good design in another article, so whatever quality of design I mention in that article, invert that to highlight a product that could have elements that make it a “bad design.” I will not bash on any products on this blog and will do my best to leave personal bias at the door, but I will apply my knowledge about design to evaluate quality products that I believe embody good design and explain why I recommend that product.
In general, the way I identify a quality product is by looking at the type of material used, any initial signs of product failure, and the way the user is designed to interact with that product.
The types of materials used and the craftsmanship of how the product was assembled are great ways to begin thinking about how long this product will last you. Let’s say you have a thin, cotton t-shirt that has slightly fraying ends and loose threads throughout. It’s a safe bet to assume that this t-shirt will not last (in a similar condition to which it was bought) for five or more years. In contrast, let’s say you have a slightly thicker cotton t-shirt that has no fraying ends and you can tell that the threadwork was thoughtfully incorporated and not quickly run through. This second t-shirt is clearly one of higher quality and is way more likely to last five or more years.
When I say initial signs of product failure, I am talking about the small elements of a product that can often go unnoticed but indicate if the product was rushed and will likely be the first part of the product to fray or fall apart. Let’s go back to our t-shirt example from the previous paragraph. If you look at the first t-shirt and see that the threadwork includes some loose loops and was done in a rushed manner, it is much more likely to create a point of failure within the product as compared to the second t-shirt that was more thoughtfully and slowly sewn together.
Another way I identify a quality product is by looking at how it is designed to interact with the user. If the product was created with the intention of somehow adding value to the user’s life through the way it interacts with their body or making a task easier, then it clearly shows that the product was made with intention. Intention is having a reason behind each element of the design and being able to explain how it adds to the overall functionality or quality of the product.
Part of my goal with this blog is to encourage more people to pay attention to and think about the products they use daily. It is truly powerful to take a second and appreciate all the time and effort that went into something that is really well-designed, so I encourage you all to look at everything around you, reflect on what you like, and think about why you like it. Someone had to design that and it was based on their vision and attention to detail that you now have that product in your immediate surroundings.
All in all, quality designs can be easy to spot when placed next to poorly designed products. It is amazing how much we look past our immediate surroundings and take for granted the products that took a lot of time and effort to create. So the next time you use something you often don’t think about using, take the time to look at every element of that product and think about how it adds to the overall design.
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