What is product autopsy in Design research and why do we use it at our studio?

Disassembly of a powered air-pump. Design research for ASAP.

The Purpose of Product Autopsy in Design Research

Product autopsy is an essential tool used in design research to determine the design decisions that have been made in an existing product, such as what materials were used, what manufacturing techniques and processes were employed, why certain components were used, and why aesthetic decisions were made regarding the product's form, colour, and finish. A product autopsy is an effective tool to determine how well a product has functioned and how well it has aged over its lifetime.

Conducting a Product Autopsy

At our studio, conducting a product autopsy is an essential part of our design research process. It allows us to delve deep into the inner workings of a product, unraveling its strengths and weaknesses. When conducting a product autopsy, the goal is to gain insight into the product's lifespan, functionality, and any damaged or durable components. The process involves a thorough visual examination of the item for any signs of wear or damage. We carefully disassemble, often starting with removing a sturdy outer casing to reveal more delicate inner components and materials. A typical air pump for instance can consist of over ten major parts including an LCD screen, electronics boards, connectors, display screen, battery and keypad. When performing a product autopsy, it is important to handle the components delicately and thoroughly. This helps determining their origin, potential for reuse or disposal after the autopsy, manufacturing process, maker, purpose, and effectiveness in the product's overall function. The goal of the product autopsy is to gain insights into initial development, maturation, degradation, and expiration in order to improve decision-making for materials, coatings, packaging, manufacturing methods, and design for future products.

Product autopsy of a mosquito trap. Design research for GreenStrike.

Benefits of Using Product Autopsy at Our Studio

It is important for us, designers, to remember that a good product is not just about aesthetics, but also about longevity and user experience, which build trust and ultimately loyal customers. It is not just your responsibility as a designer to create beautiful products, but also to ensure your products degrade elegantly. One major benefit of using product autopsy is that it helps us identify the strengths and the weaknesses of a product. By dissecting its components, features, and functionality, we can pinpoint what worked well and what didn't. This knowledge enables us to make informed decisions when designing new products or iterating on an existing ones.

Another advantage is that product autopsy allows us to uncover hidden issues or flaws that may have gone unnoticed during initial testing phases. Sometimes, certain problems only become apparent after prolonged use or in specific contexts. Through careful examination, we can identify these issues early on and address them effectively. For ASAP, for instance, we consider noise of the air pump as a criteria to improve during prototyping.

Conducting a product autopsy provides valuable insights into user behavior and preferences. By examining how users interacted with the product – whether they struggled with particular features or found certain aspects intuitive – we can refine our design approach to better meet their needs. This reflects mostly in ergonomics such as button placements, weight distribution or overall proportions. By involving multiple stakeholders in the process (designers, engineers, marketers, and most importantly end-users) we foster collaboration and cross-functional learning. Everyone gains a deeper understanding of the design choices made throughout the development process while contributing their unique perspectives.

Flat-layout of two dehumidifiers. Design research for ROOM.

Real-Life Example: How We Used Product Autopsy in a Project

We recently had the opportunity to apply product autopsy in a project involving the redesign of a humidifier to a sanitizer. The goal was to identify pain points and areas of improvement in the existing mass market device.

Product architecture of two different humidifiers. Dissecting products helps to understand the composition and assembly decisions.

We dissected two humidifiers from different vendors. By dismantling the devices, we were able to understand similarities between the two such as the electronics components, and the differences mostly in terms of product architecture. Component selection and part optimisation are often guided by price contraints in detriment of the final user. In this case, the heights of both devices were too low for a weekly maintenance, users complaining about back-ache when refilling the water, hindering user satisfaction. These product autopsy insights combined for user-interviews helped us prioritize our design recommendations based on their impact on improving overall user experience.

Through these real-life examples of how product autopsy can be applied in design research projects like ours at our studio, you can see how it provides valuable insights into understanding current problems within products or services. By thoroughly examining each component and engaging various stakeholders during this process, we are better equipped to make informed decisions about improving designs for optimal user experiences with less guesswork involved.