The Positive Product Design Guide

Book #7 (not really a book)
April 2024
The Positive Product Design Guide

I randomly came across www.positiveproductdesign.com mentioned in an interview. I was curious to learn what it was and how it aligns or overlaps with the work of the Center for Humane Technology. While on their site, I found a free downloadable guide that outlines their concept of Positive Product Design. Perfect material for my design reading challenge!

The Positive Product Design Guide proposes a framework for developing products that are built upon the current research in the field of positive psychology. Harvard Health defines positive psychology as “a branch of psychology focused on cultivating satisfaction and contentment on both an individual and community level.” So, while this framework strives to minimize harm, it is mostly focused on designing for positive impact—particularly in helping people realize their full potential. 

The guide proposes a process of designing a product that starts with setting goals based on the Human Potential Index (which is included in the guide). The goals are then followed by a pretty typical design process of research, iterations, testing in relation to meeting those goals. 

So, looping back to my initial curiosity about how this aligns to the Center for Humane Technology: my impression is that The Center for Humane Technology’s work is focused on reducing harm and creating policy that reduces harm. They do encourage creators to make choices that help users thrive. Positive Product Design steps in to expand upon what it means for people to thrive, shares research that explains what we know about how people can thrive and gives creators a framework for how to accomplish it. 

This framework is based on positive psychology. It’s a newer field that seems to be front and center in the media at the moment. I think it’s important to remember that scientific research will always be evolving. As a designer, we are always researching, synthesizing what we learn and communicating what we know visually. This is the latest and most recent information we have on helping people meet their potential, the design field is experimenting with how to apply this information and both the research and how it is applied will evolve over time.  

Many of the examples in the guide are tech products that from the outset were built upon helping people thrive. It’s great that there are people building digital products that help people grow. But, what about everything else—businesses, physical products, organizations—that have existed for many years already and didn’t start out with Human Potential Index goals? What about products and businesses who have caused harm? How does this positive psychology apply to them?

The Positive Product Design Guide is available for download, free of charge: https://www.positiveproductdesign.com/use-positive-product-design