Curriculum
So, you’ve got a product idea, but what’s next? Before diving into the nitty-gritty of features and timelines, you need a product vision—your product’s North Star. It’s the big picture of what you’re trying to achieve, the ultimate goal your product is working towards. Think of it like the map to your destination—without it, you’ll be wandering around, hoping to get somewhere good. Spoiler: that usually doesn’t work.
Let’s break down what a product vision is, why it’s so important, and how you can write one that shines!
A product vision is a clear, inspiring statement that describes the future you’re trying to create with your product. It’s not about the details like what features to build (we’ll get to that later). Instead, it’s about the why behind your product—the problem you’re solving and the impact you want to make.
The product vision answers questions like:
Imagine you’re working on a health app. Your product vision could be:
"To empower people to take control of their health through personalized and accessible digital tools."
Simple, right? But it sets the stage for everything that comes next.
Think of your product vision as your guiding light—it helps everyone on the team stay focused on the bigger goal. It’s what gets everyone (developers, designers, marketers) excited about what they’re building. Without a clear vision, it’s easy to get lost in the details, build features that don’t really matter, or forget why you’re building the product in the first place.
A strong product vision:
Ready to craft your product vision? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Who are you building this product for? It’s important to be specific. Are they college students in India? Working parents in the U.S.? Small business owners in the U.K.? Knowing your audience helps you shape a vision that resonates with them.
What’s the big problem your product is addressing? You’re not just building a cool app for the sake of it—your product should solve a real pain point for your users. Ask yourself: What challenges do my users face that my product will fix?
What will the world (or your users’ world) look like when your product succeeds? Paint a picture of the ideal outcome. Maybe your product makes life easier, saves time, or even improves health. Your product vision should inspire people by showing them how much better things could be with your solution.
Your product vision isn’t the place for long-winded explanations. Aim for one or two sentences that are clear, concise, and easy to remember. It should be something everyone on your team can recite without looking it up!
A great product vision doesn’t just describe the product—it gets people excited about the impact it will make. You want your vision to give everyone involved a sense of purpose. Make it ambitious and forward-thinking!
Here’s a simple template you can follow to craft your own product vision:
“To [achieve X goal] for [target users] by [solving Y problem], resulting in [desired future outcome].”
Example:
Let’s say you’re building a study app for university students. Your product vision could be:
"To improve study efficiency for university students by providing an easy-to-use study app, resulting in better grades and enhanced learning."
This vision tells you who it’s for (university students), what problem it solves (inefficient study habits), and how it will help (by enabling better grades and enhanced learning
Your product vision is like the heart of your product—it keeps everything moving in the right direction. Without it, you risk getting caught up in the weeds and losing sight of what really matters. So, whether you’re building an app, a service, or a tool, take the time to write a product vision that truly captures the why behind your work. It’ll keep your team motivated, your product focused, and your users excited!
