You Decide!

Design by committee has two problems.

1. I don't trust any of you to make good design decisions

2. I especially don't trust me to make good design decisions.

I respect brands that have a point of view and stick to it. I am much more likely to buy it if I know that a designer had a unified vision.

But you know....Seiko.

D. Depends TBH.

I would say personally it depends, mainly because if anyone listens to me they will have one heck of a niche tool watch and not much more. Maybe a few other enthusiasts (nerds) would buy it, leading to the company going out of business from lack of sales.

In the real world, a mix of A and B. Voted B.

I appreciate that new brands poll the community for their design.

I'm not sure it will affect my decision to purchase in the end because small brands don't have the economy of scale to compete in the value category.

I'd prefer the mad genius that has their vision and cares not how it is recieved. Too much vox populi leads to regurgitation (what do we want? more of the same!) because they only know what they know. The unreasonable man must innovate. The lumpenproletariat will not.

On the flip side are arrogant manufacturers that steadfastly ignore small requests by hoards of potential customers for years on end. I immediately think of Casio's refusal to make a ~40mm Duro.

I always talk of how General Motors benchmarked the competition, delivering checked boxes on what people wanted back when the car was in the concept phase. Competitors improved on their own and delivered "surprise and delight" features that people could not fathom because they did not previously exist. Need I say who fared better?

All the brands that come here already have their product designed but post here for free advertising. No one will toss out their plans from anything they read here. Same with the ones who ask which one should I buy

You know, Marc at LIW did a Help Me Build This watch where he had surveys and gathered votes; a design by committee watch that turned out pretty well. I see nothing wrong with watch brands seeking input here.

I don’t find it endearing when these companies ask for design input. I understand well enough, and I guess the intentions are fine but it just doesn’t get me excited. I want to see original designs from these brands and from their minds.

At this point I feel like Casio is SPECIFICALLY refusing like a child does.

My 2 cents, questions like @marcusmenescal asked today, regarding alternate metal make perfect sense. It doesn’t alter the vision but helps gauge an opinion.

I like to get opinions on my T shirts. Even if I know 100% you’re not a buyer, I’ll listen to your opinion. I’ve had a boat load of suggestions that are works in progress.

You have to stay true to your vision with absolute passion while catering to the masses.

Did someone say helium escape valve? 😂

Definitely a combination…companies need to be bold and unique (the car industry is a perfect example) but at the same time listen to the consumers or we’d never have some of the great products we have…Audi brought RS models to the states literally because people begged for them

I don't pay much attention. If I like what they're making I'll buy it. I don't think anyone from a watch brand really cares what I think.

I'm guessing that most brands that try to go "innovative" discover, people say they want original designs, but what they actually buy are designs that are similar to/copies of what is already popular.

Design by committee is a bad way to make a watch, but getting input from customers/potential customers is smart business. As an example, CW engaged with the CW forum and FB groups to get information about what people wanted, liked, and disliked. Two of the common things people asked for were smaller diameters, and thinner watches. CW is now delivering smaller and thinner watches, and selling more watches than they had before.

Let's talk cars. Enthusiasts want a two-door, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive car, with the perfect balance of comfort and sport. Car companies come up with original designs, spend a ton of money to bring such cars to market, and no one buys them. Okay, but let's make it a four-door sedan, RWD, plenty of passenger space, 500 HP and equally good on the track as it is cruising on the highway. Nope, still no buyers.

On the flip side; let's listen to what people are buying; SUVs that if you chop the first and last foot off look identical from every single mass manufacturer. Boring appliances that most people do not need the capacity of 90% of the time drive it.

Listening to customers may make money, but it will never create anything inspiring, fun, or innovative. Do not mind me, I am trying to figure out how many watches I need to fund the Alfa Romeo 33.

The answer is always Seiko.

The average design is s bland design, and that's what you get when you ask enough people.

So, it does require somebody with courage and vision to design something that is out of the ordinary in the right way.

Seems like watch nerds are pretty far down on the list of people to please amongst big name Swiss manufacturers. But Tudor has been producing enthusiast hits back to back and it kind of seems like the brand is on fire because of it. That and their mantra of limit the design increase the size options has helped them slang some watches for sure.

Listening to us and listening to ME could be different, so they don't really garner any favor by reaching out. I'm ambivalent.

I'd point to Longines here: For years I've really enjoyed their designs, probably more so than any other major, but found they tended to over-size everything. In the last year or so I see evidence of smaller cases becoming standard across their range which feels like a response to enthusiast preference. Everything about the design remains Longines but with some recognition of customer demand. I, for one, appreciate that and fear for the implications for my wallet.

Depends. Imo I prefer brands with a set vision for their watch design who can take criticism (regarding size, date, water resistance etc)

“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” — Henry T Ford

Personally it depends on how much is being asked; a little input is fine.

For the most part I’m not a fan of design-by-committee or crowd-sourcing — though I’ve seen it work out, that’s more the exception than the rule. I also see crowd-sourcing as lazy design. It’s always a good thing to keep an ear to the ground and not ignore your target demo’s needs, but that’s very different to crowd-sourcing. I’d prefer a designer (or group of designers) working with a unified vision with an understanding of — but not necessarily being led by — customer preferences.

It depends what is being asked and what they do with the answers. Questions that are phrased in too broad terms or in a leading way will most likely result with the design by committee that @Edge168n mentioned.

Questions asked for a very specific issue, such as the one asked by @Vergil about the selection of cities for the time zone on San Martin new world timer, are treated differently because it shows that those who asked it have an issue and wisely decided that maybe they'd better ask those who will be using the product for their input.

I choose...

Selection D...I am more likely to buy 😉

Design is just one of touchpoints every brand manages and is directly connected to brand strategy, who they are, their values and what they represent. If a company is asking the "clients" what they want it is a clear signal the brand is clueless about mentioned things above, hence not buying there. And here on WC it also could be free marketing as somebody above mentioned.

Bingo 🎯!

Feeling like the last guy to speak in the meeting. “I agree with all of you.”

Truly, I don’t mind brands polling us on WC. It shows that they’re connected to the community and care about their customers (or at least that they understand the value of appearing like they do). Either way, if I don’t like what you’re making I’m not buying it (or probably even taking a second look).

There have been a handful of polls on here where I think, “oh cool, they’re asking us what we think about xyz,” and then very quickly look at what’s being offered and think, “I’ll just let myself out.”

So true. If I knew anything about watch design I’d be in the industry.