What other factors might be ‘designed’ into product innovations?

The original Apple iMac (G3), with its teardrop or gum-drop shape, was designed by Jonathan Ive, a bathroom designer who rose to become chief design officer at Apple. It was launched by Steve Jobs in 1998 less than a year after his return to Apple. It was the first Macintosh computer to have a USB port but no floppy disk, allowing other hardware manufacturers to make peripherals that were compatible with the Mac. More importantly, however, its friendly, translucent candy-colours and futuristic form made it stand out from other desk-top computers of the time with their pervading beige colours. It quickly became a design icon, more of a ‘futuristic home appliance’ than an office machine. It was something to be admired –
a bold statement and talking point that started to affect the things with which the home-owner surrounded it, things like lighting and furniture. It changed how people perceived computers and created demand because of its form rather than just its function. This was a classic instance of design driving innovation and creating a paradigm shift.