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The Most Expensive feature is the one Nobody usually uses.
15+ years in the field, watching people asking for such features that were just there, EXISTING, as they were trending to showcase while people were using the same three core features.
A while ago, I was thinking about how often software projects grow. With a simple idea right? Then one comes with two pattern starts:
A client asks for:
1. AI integration
2. Real-time dashboards
3. Advanced analytics
4. Complex user roles
5. Gamification
Everything sounds exciting. The product launches...And 90% of users only use three core features.
They come for one reason. They complete one task. They leave.
Every extra feature costs something:
1. More development time
2. More bugs
3. More maintenance
4. More support
5. More user confusion
The irony? Many successful products became SUCESSFUL because they did LESS, NOT MORE.
The biggest mistake I see wasn't poor code.
It's building features that were never needed in the first place.
So from now on, before adding a feature, I always ask one question:
"What happens if we don't build this?"
Sometimes, the answer is... Nothing.
And that's when you know it shouldn't be built.
What's one feature you've seen in an app or product that almost nobody actually uses?
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
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the best time investment lately; building a reusable libraries & motion components.
sequences, effects, shaders.
built once, reused forever.
faster client work, higher quality; reusing refined pieces beats rebuilding from scratch every time.
most of it with ai's help. genuinely a fun era to be a designer :)
Most people only see the finished product. Designers see everything that came before it.
When someone picks up a handheld vacuum, they usually notice the color, the buttons, or how lightweight it feels.
As a product designer, I see something completely different.
I see the hundreds of decisions that shaped the final product.
Before a product ever reaches the rendering stage, it typically goes through a process like this:
1. Understanding the problem
Who will use it? What pain point does it solve? Where will it be used?
2. Exploring concepts
Multiple sketches and ideas are created before narrowing down the most practical direction.
3. CAD development
The product starts taking shape in 3D, where proportions, internal components, assembly, and manufacturability are carefully considered.
4. Engineering refinement
Every wall thickness, snap fit, screw boss, ventilation opening, and internal clearance is reviewed to ensure the product can actually be manufactured.
5. Visualization and validation
Only after the engineering work is complete do realistic renders bring the design to life.
By the time you see a polished render like this, most of the real design work has already happened.
The final image is simply the result of countless decisions made throughout the product development journey.
What's one consumer product you use every day that you think has exceptional design?
One thing I've learned over the years ..
A project doesn't usually go off track because people aren't good at what they do - it happens because everyone walked away from the same meeting with a different understanding! 😅
I've realised that the best project management isn't about fancy tools or endless task lists, it's about asking the right questions, writing things down, and making sure everyone knows what's happening next.
One tiny habit that's saved me countless follow-ups?
Before ending any meeting, I make sure I know:
✔️ What's the next step?
✔️ Who's responsible?
✔️ When are we checking in again?
It sounds simple ... because it is !
But it makes a huge difference compared to any productivity app ever.
That's probably my favourite part of operations - making work feel a little less chaotic and a lot more manageable🤍
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