Instead of selling fishermen in Odisha a basic $1 spectacle (cheap but unattractive), a nonprofit gave them stylish $10 glasses.
Why? Dignity matters.
❌ People don’t just want affordability.
✅ People want something they’re proud to wear.
Because…
“Inclusion is the ultimate business model.”
If you design for the most underserved users, you unlock opportunities others ignore.
These were one of the many lessons, I learnt from attending the fantastic session by Deepa Prahalad at the Coimbatore Design Community, organized by Pradeep Yuvaraj.
A few key takeaways that stuck with me:
🟡 Economists understand incentives. Designers aim for aspirations.
Most brands focus on discounts and affordability (incentives).
But what truly drives purchase decisions? Aspirations.
People don’t just buy products.
People buy what those products say about them.
🟡 Business success = Design (offering) + Narrative (story).
A great product without a compelling story gets ignored.
A great story without execution is just hype.
The best brands master both.
🟡 Design is not risky. It’s insurance.
A bad experience (confusing UI, cluttered website, unclear messaging) costs more than good design ever will.
If users hesitate or feel frustrated, they leave.
🟡 From Object → Experience.
Nobody is passionate about washing dishes, which is why dishwashers exist.
Good products solve pain points, but…
Best products create delight.
It was a power-packed session, and I’m still processing a lot of it.
What’s your take—have you seen brands get this right (or wrong)?
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