Hello Uxers, Designers and Producers.

Today, I think it’s crucial to discuss the concept of the ‘product trio’, something I constantly emphasise when talking about the creation and development of digital products. This trio forms the basis for a product’s success.

What is a product trio?

The term ‘product trio’ refers to the core team involved in creating a digital product. This concept was explored by Teresa Torres in her book ‘Continuous Discovery Habits.’ Typically, this trio consists of a Product Manager, a Designer and a Developer.

Everyone’s responsibilities

Although I have great admiration for Teresa Torres, I partially disagree with the description of the trio she presents in her book ‘Continuous Discovery Habits.’ Torres suggests that the role of the designer in this trio is mainly focused on visual and system materialisation, facilitating the interaction of customers with the product. In my opinion, this view is limiting.

So my description of this trio aligns with the structure of the teams I’ve encountered and with what I believe is most valuable in design teams - being the advocate of value for the user.

Especially in companies with low design maturity. In other words:

Product Manager Responsible for conveying the value and vision for the business.

Developer/Programmer Responsible for validating the technical feasibility of what will be proposed.

Designer Responsible for being the voice of the user, showing what value looks like for the user.

The importance of a good trio

There is a direct relationship between a strong trio and the value of your product or service. In other words, we can also describe this trio as the well-known ‘sweet spot’ of innovation, which lies between business viability, technical viability and the desirability of the people who will use it.

It is therefore important for this trio to have a clear understanding of each member’s role and, more importantly, to adopt a human-centred approach. Using mainly qualitative research methods, they can discover users’ needs and bring the expected value to the discussion.

In short, a mentality based on the following points should be adopted:

• Focus on the impact (result) rather than just the output.

• Human-centred: Putting users’ needs and experiences at the forefront.

• Collaboration: Working together as a team and drawing on diverse perspectives.

• Visual communication: Using visual media to convey ideas and concepts effectively.

• Experimentation: Embracing a culture of exploration and learning through prototyping and testing.

• Iteration: Continuously refining and improving the product based on feedback and insights.

By adopting this mindset, the trio can improve their ability to create products that really meet users’ needs and deliver significant results.

Suggested reading

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58046715-continuous-discovery-habits