The Role of Technology in Product Development Innovation

Product development in 2024 - the old way: • Design low-fi wireframes to align on structure • Create pixel-perfect Figma mockups • Socialize designs with stakeholders • Wait weeks for engineering capacity to build • Build core functionality first • Push "nice-to-have" animations to v2 • Ship v1 without thoughtful interactions • Iterate based on limited feedback • Repeat the cycle for 3-6 months Product development in 2025: • Quickly prototype in code with AI tools like Bolt • Generate functional prototypes in hours, not days • Deploy to real URLs for immediate testing • Add analytics to track actual usage patterns • Test with users while still in development • Designers directly create interaction details • Engineers implement interaction details by copying working code • Ship v1 with thoughtful animations and transitions • Iterate rapidly based on both qualitative and quantitative data • Implement improvements within days Last week, we hosted William Newton from Amplitude to share how this shift is fundamentally changing their product development approach. "I made those interaction details myself. I made those components myself, and I sent them to my engineer and he copied and pasted them in." Features that would have been pushed to "future versions" are now included in initial releases. Loading animations, transition states, and micro-interactions that improve user confidence—all shipped in v1. This approach doesn't eliminate the need for thoughtful design and engineering. Instead, it changes the order of operations: - Traditional process: Perfect the design → Build the code → Ship → Learn - Emerging process: Prototype in code → Learn while building → Ship with polish → Continue learning The limiting factor is shifting from technical implementation to your taste and judgment about what makes a great experience. When designers and PMs can participate directly in the creation process using the actual medium (code), they make different—often better—decisions about what truly matters.

When I worked in #automotive, after many years the same ideas kept recurring. They reappeared like perennials (2-stroke engines, fuel cells, electrification, new ignition systems, novel engines, novel transmissions). Most of those ideas 'flamed out' after burning huge amounts of R&D and investor capital. After looking at it for a while, the only pattern I could see that could shed insight into success or failure (beyond the human team pushing it) was if the innovation was based on one or more of the following things changing. If these things were present, a concept could become viable enough to displace an existing solution. Once example is the addition of microprocessors and fuel injectors to replace carburetors on engines. Another was the recent success of battery electric vehicles after almost a century as a failed competitor to the gas engine. The four things that drive innovation, enable real progress, and make disruption possible are: 1) New #materials that improve things like strength, heat resistance, conductivity, cost, manufacturability, etc. ➡ For example, carbon fiber allow lighter and more fuel efficient aircraft.[1] 2) New #manufacturing capabilities that improve things like tolerances, production rates, scrap rates, etc. ➡ Additive manufacturing (#AM) is an example of this transforming entire industries. [2] 3) New #simulation and #analysis capability to be able to predict and optimize design performance in a virtual setting that make it possible to iterate a design much, much faster and see cause and effect that is impossible in the real world. Some things are practically impossible to develop without simulation because the improvements and learning from physical prototypes is too expensive and slow. ➡ I doubt an iPhone or most any other electronics could be engineered without simulation. [3] This also applies to many mechanical products like the substitution of plastics for metals in many applications. 4) Finally, new #control, #communication, and embedded #intelligence in products transforms their operation and performance in fundamental and often unseen ways. ➡ Virtual power plants [4] are an example of a service that could not exist without new control, communication, and embedded intelligence. Additionally sometimes the market, regulations, or commercial ecosystem changes, so none of the above are needed to make a system a better fit. Existing capabilities can be recombined to improve a product. Am I missing anything? #deeptech #hardtech #spacetech #design #manufacturing

🚀 As we continue to embrace the transformative power of AI at Chase, I'm excited to share how it's reshaping our approach to building backlogs and developing software. In the words of Marianne Lake, Chase Operations is at the tip of the spear, leading the charge in integrating AI into our processes. But remember: a flawed process paired with AI doesn’t become magically efficient. It remains flawed. It's essential that we take a critical lens to our workflows and optimize our discovery to find new ways of working with AI. AI is more than a tool; it's becoming a core part of our everyday work. By leveraging AI-driven insights, we can write backlogs with more specificity, ensuring that the most impactful features make it to the forefront in an easy to develop fashion. This shift allows our teams to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and our employees. Incorporating AI into our development process also streamlines collaboration across teams. By reducing menial tasks through automation, we’re getting our engineers back to engineering, empowering them to focus on tasks that require great attention and deep thinking. With AI facilitating real-time feedback and data-driven decision-making, we’re able to iterate faster and respond to changes more effectively. Imagine reducing the time it takes to move from ideation to deployment — that's the future we're working toward! As we march forward, it’s essential to remember that while AI enhances our capabilities, the human touch remains irreplaceable. Our diverse teams bring unique perspectives that drive innovation and creativity. Together, we can harness AI to elevate our work without losing sight of the collaborative spirit that defines Chase. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on how AI is changing your approach to product development. What innovations are you most excited about as we navigate this new landscape? For more insights on how AI is reshaping our legacy systems, check out this recent post on our Next at Chase blog. #AI #ProductDevelopment #Efficiency