Whenever I talk about Minimum Viable Product, I always feel a bit conflicted. On one hand, it’s a powerful concept that reminds us we don’t need a finished product to validate an idea. On the other hand, the word “viable” often leads to misunderstandings: too many people interpret it as the crappiest thing you can launch. And that’s where things go wrong.
I’ve seen MVPs that were nothing more than a poorly made landing page with zero love behind them. And of course… users rejected them. Not because the idea was bad, but because the first impression was so poor that nobody wanted to come back.
That’s where two concepts I really like come in: the MLP (Minimum Lovable Product) and the MAP (Minimum Awesome Product).
What’s an MLP?
A Minimum Lovable Product isn’t just about being viable—it’s about making users fall in love from day one. I’m not talking about spending months polishing every detail, but rather building something simple, yet thoughtful enough to put a smile on people’s faces. Something that makes them say: “I want more of this.”
In my experience as a designer, that little bit of “love” in the first version can make all the difference. Viability matters, but emotional connection matters even more.
And a MAP?
The Minimum Awesome Product is an even bolder take: it’s not only viable or lovable—it’s meant to surprise. Something that clearly stands out from what’s already out there, even if it’s just in one small way. It could be a clever interaction, an unexpected piece of copy, or a feature that solves the problem in a unique way.
So, is the Minimum Viable Product dead?
Not at all. The MVP is still the foundation of any digital product that wants to grow. But I do think we need to stop using it as an excuse to ship mediocre stuff.
Personally, when I think about MVPs today, I’m aiming for balance:
- Fast enough to validate.
- Thoughtful enough not to scare users away.
- And ideally, with a small spark that makes it memorable.
In short: an MVP doesn’t have to be crappy. It can (and should) be lovable—or even awesome.