How Good Storytelling Can Help You Design Great Products

Good storytelling has to ability to evoke powerful emotions, which is why it is so useful in business. When your product design moves your audience emotionally, they become more eager to learn why your product is worth buying. Everyone loves a good story!

Storytelling brings in a new dimension by creating an interactive and engaging experience for the audience. You’ll be able to perform better product designs by learning what stories your audience responds to.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the importance and examples of good storytelling and how you can craft a compelling story to help you create great product designs! Try Simplified AI Story Generator Today!

5 Reasons Why Good Storytelling is Important

Check out these 5 reasons to know why product design storytelling is so important:

1. Creates an emotional connection

Have you ever noticed the way families and communities bond through storytelling? Why is that? The reason is plain and simple – it’s one of the easiest ways for people to emotionally connect! This also applies to how you market your brand to your target audience.

It’s a common misconception that users choose brands based on logic and data. As a matter of fact, consumers consider their feelings first before making any purchase. A product design that tells a story is more likely to get your audience’s attention.

2. Replicates the user experience

A design backed by good storytelling in a product design pushes your business to start thinking from the user’s perspective at every single stage of product development. This helps designers make decisions based on how the users will experience and enjoy the product.

One brand that has nailed the use of storytelling in its product design is Nike. Asides from shoes, accessories, and apparel, Nike also sells inspiration! This has helped Nike become one of the leading brands in the world today.

3. Allows you to spot problems sooner

Stories add a time dimension and allow you to rectify these mistakes in the earlier stages. So, stories are capable of highlighting any mistakes which are often missed while reviewing designs, just like a bunch of sheets.

Dead-ends can be detected quickly and corrected accordingly. This results in better product designs, as well as improved usability and customer experience.

4. Provides clarity on the design goals

Beginning the process of product design storytelling allows the entire team of designers to be on the same page and set goals on how the final design should be created.

When you create a design with good storytelling, you can review it based on the goals you’ve set. This makes it easier to identify and fix any problems or differences.

5. Speeds up the process of product creation

Stories are not only used in product design but also in the other stages of product creation. You can use the mocks of your stories to create a clickable prototype to study customer behavior. This’ll help you understand if your users can connect to your story or if you need to craft it differently.

The stories can also be used to create a funnel analysis which will help you understand if the users are interested in your product. If not, you can make the required changes and create a product that suits your consumers’ needs.

Bonus: 7 Best Free AI Story Generators You Can Use Right Now

What Makes a Good Story?

How do you spot a great story? Let’s find out.

1. Authentic: It’s authentic and genuine, reflecting the core values and purpose of the brand.
2. Simple: A good brand story is simple, clear, and easy to understand.
3. Stays Relevant: It withstands the test of time and is flexible enough to remain relevant even as trends and preferences change.
4. Consistent: It aligns with the overall brand messaging and is consistent across different platforms and touchpoints.
5. Organized: It follows a clear structure that helps convey the main message effectively and makes it easier for readers to understand and remember.
6. Relatable: It addresses the audience’s pain points, desires, and aspirations and allows them to form a personal connection with the brand.
7. Believable: A good story isn’t too far-fetched.
8. Engaging: An effective story captures attention and keeps the audience interested and eager to know what happens next.

How to Tell Good Stories

If you want to master the art of skillful storytelling, you can use this three-phase framework as a guide:

• In the Discover and Learn phase, respect your customers’ time and introduce them to your company and services. Understand their pain points and communicate in a way that resonates with them.
• During the Try and Buy phase, focus on building trust and credibility. Be transparent about your strengths and weaknesses as a company, and avoid making unreasonable promises
• Finally, in the Advocate phase, empower your customers to share their stories. Encourage positive word-of-mouth by providing opportunities for customers and partners to share their positive experiences.

When mapping your buyer’s journey, ask yourself if you’re being true to yourself and your customers. Instead of trying to prove you’re the best, focus on building authentic relationships and delivering value.

5 Best Examples of Storytelling from Successful Brands

Check out how these brands have effectively conveyed their stories.

1. Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is a Swiss luxury watch and clockmaker. The brand uses storytelling in its “Generations” series of advertisements, highlighting the bond between a father and his son to convey the idea of passing down a Patek Philippe watch as a tradition.

This type of storytelling brings its slogan to life: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation.”

2. Apple

Apple is known for its compelling storytelling approach that sets it apart from competitors. Its 1984 Super Bowl, for example, successfully conveyed Apple’s message of being different and set the pace for its 1997 “Think Different” slogan.

By using compelling storytelling, Apple has captivated viewers and established its brand as innovative and unique.

3. Patagonia

Patagonia, a popular outdoor apparel brand, promotes sustainability and encourages customers not to buy its products unless necessary. It encourages customers to use its products for as long as possible and only replace them when they are beyond repair.

The “Neighborhood Jacket” ad is a great example of this — it showcases the story of a community passing down used Patagonia coats instead of buying new ones when children outgrow them.

Bonus: Design Tips For Brand Advertisements To Make You Stand Out

4. Nike

Over the years, Nike has distinguished itself from competitors and demonstrated its commitment to innovative storytelling in advertising.

For instance, its Presto shoe advertisement breaks away from the conventional format. It features a man who angers a chicken, which (of course) follows a relentless pursuit by the chicken. Lucky for him, his Presto shoe helps him outsmart the chicken.

This unique narrative not only showcases the shoe’s functionality but also embodies Nike’s “just do it” philosophy.

5. Airbnb

Airbnb demonstrates effective storytelling through its “Host Stories” series, which showcases impactful narratives where Airbnb has made a difference in a host’s life.

With this approach, the brand emphasizes the customer’s perspective and shows how it has helped solve their problems. The stories highlight how Airbnb’s brand acted as a guide, helping to solve the problems faced by their hosts.

This type of storytelling allows readers to connect with the main characters and envision themselves in similar situations.

Simplified: The Ultimate Resource for Powerful Storytelling in Marketing

If you want to take your storytelling efforts to the next level, look no further than Simplified. This all-in-one marketing platform has everything you need to effortlessly craft compelling narratives that’ll captivate your audience and drive results.

With Simplified’s AI writer, you can generate persuasive copy that grabs your audience’s attention and sparks emotions. From captivating headlines and social media posts to enticing product descriptions, Simplified has got you covered.

But storytelling is not just about words; it’s also about visual appeal. That’s why Simplified goes beyond copywriting and offers a wide range of professionally designed templates. These templates will help you create visually stunning content that will bring your stories to life.

So, if you want to elevate your marketing campaigns and drive meaningful engagement, Simplified is your best bet. And guess what? It’s free forever!