Boxee: Thinking Too Far Outside The Box
They unveiled their new set top box last night in Brooklyn, and to be honest I don’t know what they are thinking. There is no way this will sell well, I guarantee. Most people are going to want something they can stack with their current audio & video equipment, inside of an entertainment console, or on top of a console. I’m sorry, but I don’t want an incongruous piece of electronic equipment sitting around in my living room.
This would be a good example of thinking too far outside of the box. They used the same designer whom designed the XBOX 360. Generally, when you start a design project, there is a very simple 3 rule step you follow when creating ideas: called Step, Stretch, Leap.
Step, Stretch, Leap
Step referring to a small “step” forward from similar products on the market. Stretch meaning quite a bit more advanced and forward thinking than what has been done before. And Leap, referring to something completely out-of-bounds thinking. We do this process to help get a grasp on where the product needs to be.
Guess what? No one ever moves forward with a leap. I would say 99% of the time a revamped product or new product ends up in the step or stretch zone, and 80% of that is the step. Why? Consumers are just never ready for huge advancements in styling because it confuses them. When you see huge advancements, it is generally in higher end products which don’t need to be sold at high quantities. For example: Bang & Olufsen.
Boxee: I think you are making a big mistake. A) it isn’t practical B) it isn’t practical C) it is ugly
12.8.09 26 note(s) Comments
