Reducing Product Risk and Removing the MVP Mindset: Creativity in Curation

Reducing Product Risk and Removing the MVP Mindset: Creativity in Curation

In the world of product development, one of the key challenges is reducing risk and ensuring that the final product meets the needs of the target audience. This requires a shift in mindset, away from the traditional Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach and towards a more iterative and user-focused approach.

When building products, it's important to remember that initial releases will never have everything that teams want. However, by continuing to iterate and release updates, this becomes less of a problem. The key is to provide value to users as soon as possible, even if it's not the complete solution.

Users themselves are not always reliable narrators of their own behaviors and preferences. While it's important to regularly talk to them about their problems, we also need to infer solutions ourselves. As the famous quote attributed to Henry Ford goes, "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse." It's up to us as product thinkers to come up with innovative solutions.

Cody's design quality framework introduces the concept that the level of investment before a product reaches the customer is tied to our understanding of the problem and the viability of the solution. This means that for features and enhancements, we can take a more lightweight approach, building on top of an existing product. The goal of MVPs and Minimum Viable Features (MVF) is to prove that our ideas actually solve a problem. Once we've proven that, we can then invest more to reach the full potential of the product or feature idea.

In addition to reducing risk from a user perspective, releasing updates regularly also allows us to de-risk our vision technically. By incrementally scaling or breaking what we've built, we can identify and address any issues before they become overwhelming.

While reducing product risk is crucial, it's also important for modern brands to differentiate themselves and stand out in a crowded market. This is where the concept of curation comes into play. The role of a curator is to sort through culture and show us what we need to know and why. Originally, curators were caretakers of objects in museums, but curation has expanded to encompass a much larger role in society.

Curators have the ability to democratize art and culture, bringing it to different sections of society and building exhibitions that are accessible to all. This idea of "civic curation" links curation to generosity and a bigger social role. Modern brands have recognized the power of curation as a preferential strategy to differentiate themselves, gain relevance, build equity, and ensure longevity.

Curation goes beyond just aesthetics and visual identity. It creates a narrative and a world that is much harder to replicate than a brand's visual handwriting. When brands shifted from solely manufacturing products to manufacturing culture, curation became a driving force. By curating old things and connecting them with new things, brands can give renewed meaning and purpose to existing products. This not only adds value but also contextualizes the product within a specific time and point of view.

The role of curators is not just to repost images or content, but to do the research, write and edit, and find new angles on old things. By bridging different taste communities and introducing them to one another, curators can create something that is simultaneously new and familiar. This connection between people, products, and ideas is what sets curation apart and makes it a valuable strategy for brands.

To apply these concepts to your own product development and branding strategies, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace an iterative approach: Instead of aiming for a perfect product from the start, focus on providing value to users as soon as possible. Continuously iterate and release updates based on user feedback to ensure that your product meets their needs.

2. Think like a curator: Look beyond just manufacturing products and consider how you can curate a unique experience for your customers. Connect old and new, bridge different taste communities, and create a narrative that sets your brand apart.

3. Regularly assess and de-risk technically: Don't wait until the end to test the scalability and stability of your product. Release updates regularly to identify and address any technical issues incrementally, reducing the overall risk to your vision.

In conclusion, reducing product risk and embracing curation are two key strategies for successful product development and brand differentiation. By adopting an iterative mindset and focusing on providing value to users, we can de-risk our projects and ensure that our solutions are effective. Incorporating the principles of curation allows us to create a unique and compelling brand experience that sets us apart from the competition. By combining these approaches, we can navigate the challenges of product development and build products that resonate with our target audience.