Product Design story using customer insights: A vertical mouse

In my previous article, I talked about the 3 biggest learning which I learned as a product manager :

1. Planning / Strategic Thinking

2. Building a compelling product pitch

3. To gather feedback & customer insights

Today, I want to share a product story that is focused on the 3rd learning that is gathering multiple feedback and customer insights to build a product. I thought this product story would be a perfect example to illustrate the importance of capturing customer insights & then meticulously implementing them during the product development phases.

Sculpted for Comfort – New Lenovo Go Wireless Vertical Mouse

Phase 1: Experimenting with vanishing bone lines.

Soft organic contour with optimal curvature to rest the palm with lines following the shape of the user’s hand

Phase 2: Optimize Bone Line contour

The silhouette should follow the shape of the user’s hand with bone-line/parting line contour

Customer Insight: Soften palm area

Keep bone line visible, but bring A and B surfaces closer to the tangent in the area that rests in the user’s palm

Customer Insight: Thumb Support

Integrate a thumb pocket to better support the user’s thumb. Add stability and comfort but keep it away from feeling too heavy or bulky

Phase 3: Explore button placement and sizes

Add side buttons and make models with varying sizes and shape for user testing

Phase 4: Iteration, optimize button clicks and cork coating

Ensure mouse buttons are easy to click with optimal click force

Optimize UV coating on the cork to balance reliability with a soft-to-touch feel.

Lenovo Go Wireless Vertical Mouse promotes a natural handshake position with a 45-degree vertical angle. Holding the mouse at this position helps reduce wrist strain.

Benefits :

1. Reduce pronation: Pronation is the muscle tension produced when the bone of the forearm and muscle crosses each other
2. Reduce carpal tunnel: The strain on the wrist area resulting from prolonging contact of the wrist with the surface
3. Reduce ulnar/radial deviation: Strain resulting from the movement of palm away from the neutral position

Unique and Comfortable Cork Material – Lenovo Go Wireless Vertical Mouse is the world’s 1st mouse that uses a Cork palm grip.

Cork not only makes the product stands out and looks good but also gives it a progressive feel. It makes the mouse feels comfortable and soft to touch. It provides a softer cushion, absorbs and disperses energy wider than plastic. Cork also has good thermal properties, maintaining a warm feeling to touch even in winter. 

Do share your thoughts if you like the story!

Take a Product tour in the video below: