In today’s fast-moving world of product development, the challenge is to innovate quickly without breaking the bank. But how can you experiment with new ideas without the high costs and risks that come with traditional testing? Enter digital twins—virtual models of real-world systems that let you simulate and fine-tune designs in a risk-free environment.
In this article, we are sharing insights from Method's Data Design team, our UX & Product Design week speaker, on how they use digital twins in their product design process. Dive into some key takeaways below.
A digital twin is essentially a super-detailed, data-driven model of a physical object or system. It mirrors reality so closely that you can use it to test and tweak your designs without needing to build costly prototypes. Imagine being able to adjust product features, predict outcomes, and solve potential problems.
For example, Gemini Digital Twin Platform takes all the test results for a human body and generates a person's digital twin. The digital twin allows to simulate different scenarios and mitigate health risks. The same way a digital twin for an app, a building, or even an entire city lets you experiment and iterate in a safe, controlled environment without the risks.
Method’s team worked with a telecom client to create a digital twin of their app. They tested different user flows virtually, catching and fixing issues without disrupting the live app. By running simulations, you can see potential problems long before they show up in the final product.
Digital twins provide a data-rich way to test ideas. Digital twins provide a wealth of data that can guide your design decisions. When real data isn't available, instead of relying on guesswork, you can generate synthetic data and use insights from the digital twin to predict how changes will impact the overall system. Imagine being able to see how a tweak in your app’s structure might affect user behaviour before implementing it in the real world.
Example:
In the telecom app project, the team ran simulations of hundreds of thousands of user journeys. This helped them understand how different design choices would affect users, guiding decisions to align with the app’s goals.
One of the most powerful features of digital twins is their scalability. In traditional product development, testing and iteration can be time-consuming and costly. You can use digital twins to simulate thousands of user journeys to understand which parts of the app need improvement
Example:
By experimenting with different screen connections in the digital twin, the team was able to see which design choices added more fun and engagement to the app. These insights helped shape a more enjoyable user experience.
Digital twins aren’t just a new tech trend—they offer a fresh way to approach product design. They let you simulate real-world conditions, giving you insights and precision that can save time and money.
For more details, check out the full article on Method’s website.
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