The UX Design Process
The best teams communicate with each other. I have found this to be true working with my clients too. I like to inform my teammates because I've found it to be a key factor in a successful project. To generate an idea of my process, here's a quick breakdown:
UnderstandOne thing that I learned early on in my career is to listen first and allow the client to do the talking. This allows me to better understand the project and potential problems that I will be trying to address. During this stage of the process, I will be conducting interviews, sending out surveys, gathering data, and anything else required to get a solid grasp of the context of the project. This stage is a divergent thinking process where I am seeking to learn and inform.
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DefineAfter receiving the results from surveys, gathering information from interviews, and collecting data from websites, I take the time to organize and analyze it all. This can look like affinity maps, empathy maps, user journey flows, personas, and "how might we" statements. This stage is a convergent thinking process where I am trying to process and analyze what I have learned from the previous stage. Throughout the rest of the process, this information will be referenced to ensure that the solution that I come up with will satisfy the problem(s) on hand.
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IdeateNow that the problem has been understood and analyzed, it's time to start the ideation process. For this stage, I return to a divergent thinking process to quickly spit out possible solutions to user pain points, business needs, and respond to the findings from the previous phases. This can look like sketching, putting ideas on sticky notes, white boarding, or adjusting a pre-existing design.
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IterateTaking the ideas from the previous phase, I return to a convergent thought process to narrow down solutions to the best possible solutions ensuring that I am not including any unnecessary features or solutions. Then, I turn it into a testable prototype. I enjoy testing earlier rather than later in the process to reduce wasted time when designing a high-fidelity prototype. This can look like taking a paper prototype to guerilla test it at a nearby lunch spot or running the ideas past other team members in the company. Also, some situations will allow me to design a high-fidelity prototype, which will undergo the same process of testing with users. This process will be repeated to allow for any solutions to be refined or identify any new problems that may have been created with the new solution.
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From here, this part of the UX process is complete. The prototype can be translated into a finalized design and passed on to the appropriate team member to be shipped and launched if I do not do it myself. This doesn't mean that the job of the UX designer is done. I may want to do another round or two of user testing to ensure that the finished product is everything we hoped. Also, there may be minor aspects of the design that may need more specific attention. In the end, the value of the UX process results in quantifiable results proving greater user satisfaction and customer loyalty. Satisfy your users with user experience design.