Using real-life examples, a new book shows how ‘mirroring’ successful products can win over users

A great movie and a great product will both lead to the same outcome: a sequel.

In the Mirror Technique, we consider an existing product for a user and create its mirror image for another user. Let us start with an example.

Parents are often concerned about their kids’ nutrition. They try to provide foods rich in protein. Whatever it takes to put an ounce of health into their ungainly progeny, they’re game. But what about adults?

They’re so busy feeding kids that they hardly have time to take care of their own health. Can we make a similar product for adults who also need plenty of protein? Aprotein-rich namkeen? A protein-rich tea? Anything that puts an ounce of health into our ungainly progenitors – we’re game.

What did we do here? We started with a known or popular product. We looked at the user. We found another type of user who has a similar need. And we created a mirror of the same product. Take a moment and look around you. Almost every product that you see around you can have a mirror product.

In fact, almost every product will have a mirror product. A simple water bottle will have many mirror products: a small water bottle for...

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