Leaning into learning to build products that customers enjoy

The concept of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) fundamentally changed how digital products were built. It enabled teams to move faster, reduce delivery risk, and validate assumptions early, without committing months of time and budget to unproven ideas.Over time, however, the concept has been diluted. Under pressure to demonstrate progress, "minimum viable" is often misinterpreted as "barely functional." Where MVPs fail today is focusing on speed without understanding.

In today’s digital landscape, product functionality is a baseline expectation. What differentiates successful products beyond whether they work is how well they resonate. Users gravitate toward products that feel intentional, intuitive, and human. This is where MVPs shine; where viability evolves into lovability.

In a recent article from the Norm, Coherent Solutions’ digital experience agency, experts explore the evolving role of MVPs in digital product development and the concept of a Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), introduced by Brian Haaff, CEO of Aha!.

 

What is an MVP for?

An MVP is not a reduced version of a final product. It is a structured experiment designed to answer a focused business question:

If we offer X to Y users, will they do Z?

Its purpose is learning — not scale and not polish. A well-designed MVP validates or disproves assumptions through real user behavior, enabling teams to decide whether to iterate, pivot, or invest further.

 

From viable to lovable: the role of an MLP

Compared to an MVP, an MLP asks a different, more human-centered question:

What is the smallest product we can build that users genuinely enjoy using?

In industries such as SaaS, fintech, and AI, users expect clear language, intuitive flows, thoughtful micro interactions, and a tone that respects their time and context.

With an MLP approach, companies can build human-centric products that create stronger engagement and long-term loyalty.

 

Knowing when to evolve from an MVP to an MLP

The transition from MVP to MLP is driven by signals, not timelines. An MLP approach can help companies strategically invest in clarity, accessibility, tone of voice, and interaction quality, building better products that connect with customers.

Read the entire piece from The Norm.