Help me transition my habits

Daniele Catalanotto
Jan 17, 2023
A Service Design principle to help people update their habits when you make changes.

I'm going to the local "Migros" supermarket here in Lausanne, Switzerland. As I'm looking for yoghurt options, I notice a label on one of the yoghurt brands. It says something like this:

Soon your favourite "Greek Style Yoghurt" will change its name and be called SuperGreek(1). The quality of the product will stay exactly the same.

That's smart because, for most of us, when we go for grocery shopping, we are in habit mode. We pick what we pick the same cheese, yoghurt, bread, etc. And if one day we don't find the one we're used to, it forces us to find an alternative. And that sucks.

With the trick that the Migros Supermarket uses, customers aren't surprised when they don't find their old favourite yoghurt brand. And they know that it just changed its name.

Action question

How can you help your customer transition their habits and let them know far in advance?

(1) I don't remember the name of the old or new brand as I'm not a fan of that particular yoghurt style and didn't take a photo back then, so I invented these silly names. 

Daniele's notes

  • These are the very first rough notes for this principle.
  • One day, this principle might be part of a book in the series Service Design Principles.
  • Feel free to share opposing ideas, examples and feedback