Product Classification, Design, and Development

Product Classification at the United Nations

International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC)

The International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) is the international reference classification of productive activities. Its main purpose is to provide a set of activity categories that can be used for the collection and reporting of statistics according to such activities.

Central Product Classification (CPC)

The Central Product Classification (CPC) constitutes a complete product classification covering all goods and services. It serves as an international standard for assembling and tabulating all kinds of data.

Standards

A standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, delivery service, etc. Standards can cover a huge range of activities undertaken by organizations and used by their customers. They can be very specific, such as to a particular type of product, or general, such as management practices. Standards provide a reliable basis for people to share the same expectations about the product. This helps to:

  • Facilitate trade
  • Enhance consumer protection and confidence
  • Provide a framework for achieving economies and efficiencies

Standard International Trade Classification (SITC)

Classification of goods used to classify the exports and imports of a country to enable comparing different countries and years.

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS)

HS is an exhaustive nomenclature of internationally traded commodities (goods) classified according to:

  • Raw materials
  • Degree of processing
  • Function and economic activities

TARIC

TARIC, the integrated Tariff of the European Union, is a multilingual database in which all measures relating to EU customs tariff, commercial, and agricultural legislation are integrated.

Product Design

Design is the totality of features that affect how a product looks, feels, and functions for a consumer. Design offers functional and aesthetic benefits and appeals to both our rational and emotional sides.

Design Process

  1. Project briefing: What is needed and when.
  2. Initial concepts: Research and brainstorming.
  3. Design feedback: Feedback and review.
  4. Design finalized: Refine the design until complete.
  5. Final output: Designs are finalized.

How to Get Feedback?

  • Employees: Ask them about the products and services that customers ask for.
  • Comment cards: Provide a card where customers can share their opinions.
  • Competition: What are they selling?
  • Documentation and records: What are customers buying and not buying from you?
  • Focus groups or surveys.

UX Design

UX design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product.

Creating Experiences

  • How you look: It is what you see when you look in the mirror.
  • How you feel: It is how your outfit makes you feel.

Product Development

The stages involved in bringing a product from concept or idea, through market release and beyond:

  1. Identify a market need.
  2. Conceptualize and design the product.
  3. Build the product roadmap.
  4. Develop an MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
  5. Release the MVP to users and iterate based on user feedback.

UX Design

UX design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product.

Creating Experiences

  • How you look: It is what you see when you look in the mirror.
  • How you feel: It is how your outfit makes you feel.