About a year and a half ago I purchased a Pontiac Solstice convertible, silver. Now some would point out this the classic midlife crisis car. However, if this truly was a midlife crisis purchase, I would’ve gotten the one painted in bright red. Now in and of itself the design is very well done, and they essentially fly out of dealer showrooms as fast as they arrive. But it does something else that I find absolutely fascinating. On weekends when I’m driving around its common for me to have people (always men) walk up and ask questions about my car. I even had a fellow with a brand-new Porsche get out and ask me what kind of car it was. Most are very surprised it’s made by Pontiac.
Think about what this means: the design of this car actually prevents buyer remorse. A few times a week, total strangers walk up to me and tell me that I made the right choice. Think of another product that does that. When was the last time that someone, a total stranger leaned out the window at a stoplight to tell you your PC mouse looked really cool?
There are other products that do that, the iPod of course, is the most iconic currently. Maybe one of the signs of good design are the number of people that agree with you.
