Posted by ronlusk at May 4, 2005 03:38 PMI've tried to learn from how wrong I was about the bud vase. I look for "bud vase features" when I'm thinking about designing products. What's a bud vase feature? Here's my definition:
A "bud vase feature" is functionality outside the core purpose of a product that evokes positive emotion about the product, and allows the user to express their personality or character in their use of the product.A bud vase doesn't make the Beetle drive any faster, and it may even marginally reduce the safety of the car. But it makes the driver happy every time they get into their car. Of course you want your product to compete with other products in all the standard ways -- price, performance, quality. But to draw your users into falling in love with your product, look for a bud vase.