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How to Market test your products?

Design Leadership
Industrial Design
Sep 27, 2006
6 Comments








nakamichi.jpg

Simple, by using design prototypes.

Which was what this product is. Make it, test it, then sell the hell out of it!

One of the reasons, in the past few months why occasionally my postings have been intermittent is that my design team and I were feverishly working to get this TV prototype out for showcase at the iFA consumer electronics show in Berlin.

The Kimono TV was inspired by the Kimono both an epitome of traditional Japanese Luxury and craftsmanship. The LCD TV spots a “super hard” 7 coat lacquering process that protects its hand crafted wooden body.

We love feedback both bad and good as it help guides us on how to refine this design into a final polished product. Such market testing is vital for any successful product. However you will need to take all comments with a pinch of salt and analyse it based on your corporate brief and design requirements, but it’s helpful anyways.

Here are some of the interesting reviews and feedback:

Nakamichi the Bang and Olufsen of the East presented its Kimono LCD TV at the IFA fair. The design is inspired by the refined elegance of kimonos to create a frame with an assymetrical fold and highlighted by a set of black brushed metal buttons. The television also adopts the sculptural aspects of kimonos to create a visual where the television appears to be spinning on a sharp pivot above the black marble base.

~ New Launches


While we enjoy sporting a snazzy kimono as much as the next guy/girl, we’re not sure that we want our super-expensive LCD TV to be fashioned after said article of clothing. Nonetheless, Nakamichi has just unveiled a new flat panel lineup with a swooping lower bezel called the KIMONO series, complete with an “asymmetrical fold” designed to resemble the overlapping sections of the traditional Japanese robe. Besides the questionable aesthetics, however, the 42- and 47-inch KIMONOs offer quite an attractive feature set…

~ engadget




~ AVING USA



Some really positively good and positively scathing comments on our design and thus by taking it in our stride, it looks like we still have a lot of work to do! Oh fellow viewer please do leave comments as well as you have reached one of the designers of this product!

So stay tuned for images for the final incarnation of this product when it is officially launched!




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    • Comments

    clueless inspiration
    Sep 28, 06 – 11:10 am

    locomoco @ Sep 7th 2006 3:08PM

    Seems odd that Nakamichi would build it with it appearing that the right side is folded over the left… you usually don’t don’t wear a kimono folded that way unless you’re dead.

    Design Translator
    Sep 28, 06 – 2:06 pm

    Hey thanks for stopping by.

    Hah-hah you are absolutely correct!

    This was one of the things we learnt thru the user feedback. You see we placed it intentionally on the right because of usability issues, i.e. the majority of the population is right handed.

    We have actually decided to switch it to the right instead, so we do stand corrected. This is a great example of being so focused into the details of the product we failed to take a step back and look at the big picture.

    Zampik
    Sep 28, 06 – 11:33 pm

    Could I know what does mean logo of nakamichi? means that red something…somehow dont really fit to this hi-quality electronic brand…for me…is just my feeling….has it some tradition? and thats why they are staing with?

    and also du you have some other pictures your product..means some details or so…fold….
    picture from fair is not so well captured.

    Design Translator
    Sep 29, 06 – 12:15 pm

    Hey Zampik,

    Thanks for visiting.

    Nakamichi is actually famous for its Hi-Fi systems. We are currently only moving into LCD/Plasma displays.

    Yes we do have more pictures, but its probably better we show you the finished product, as in-process work is always nasty!

    csven
    Oct 04, 06 – 6:26 am

    Haven’t honestly thought about Nakamichi is some time. The uni-directional auto-reserve cassette player was the first Nakamichi product I recall. Still first class, it seems.

    Design Translator
    Oct 04, 06 – 8:47 am

    Hi csven,

    Nice to hear from you again, yes that cassette, was one of our best sellers and a design classic.

    Unfortunatly its not made anymore.


    Commenting Rules: I love reading your comments as it allows me to interact and learn from you. Being critical is fine, giving constructive criticism, even better. However if you are rude, I will delete your comment. Repeat, and I will blacklist you. The world is full of negativity, so I don't need anymore on my blog, which I consider my online home. Would you encourage Neanderthal behavior in your home? Neither would I.

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