The power of desiderata

Cory over at Boing Boing has a great example of how the right design can make a book become “desiderata, an artifact you want to own as well as read.” I hadn’t encountered this word before, but I recognize the power of the idea it represents. Basically, whatever your product is, the right awesome design/interface can compel people to use/buy your product not just because it’s useful, but because it’s also downright beautiful/unique/a work of art. The iPhone is a great example of this principle in action. The point is, for heaven’s sakes, don’t tack design on as an afterthought. Instead, use it to set your product apart, to make it remarkable. This is perhaps one of the hardest things to accomplish, but it pays you back exponentially.

Desiderata: something desired as essential