My Design Process: A Holistic Approach to Product Development
Published on Friday, October 23, 2020
Last updated Monday, October 30, 2023
4 min read
In software design and development, one of the most crucial yet often overlooked aspects is the design process. It serves as the blueprint that guides teams through the labyrinth of ideation, development, testing, and delivery. As someone who has straddled the worlds of UX design and engineering, I've refined my design process to be inclusive, iterative, and focused on real-world challenges. Here's a deep dive into each stage of my design process.
Stage 1: Discover
The Discover stage is the foundation upon which every product is built. It's a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. We use a variety of tools to ensure that we're not just building things right but building the right things.
Goals
- Diverge on ideas and create choices
- Identify which ideas are worth building
- Assess the feasibility, complexity, and testability of new features
Team Players
- Product Managers
- UX Engineers
- Product Designers
- Lead Developers
- Strategic Stakeholders
- Business Partners
- Clients
Tools
- Product Discovery Methods
- Opportunity Assessment
- Business Model Canvas
- Competitive Analysis
- Contextual Interviews
- Proto-Personas
- Surveys
Stage 2: Simplify
The Simplify stage is where we distill our ideas into actionable plans. The focus is on efficiency and effectiveness, making sure that each feature or component we propose adds value without creating unnecessary complexity.
Goals
- Converge on ideas and make choices
- Reduce duplication of existing designs
- Ensure proposed ideas enhance existing solutions
- Determine the minimal viable product
Team Players
- Product Managers
- Lead Developers
- Product Designers
- UX Engineers
Tools
- Design Thinking Tools
- Journey Maps
- Service Blueprints
- Personas
- Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD)
- SWOT Analysis
Stage 3: Build
The Build stage is where ideas take a tangible form. We leverage our design system and component library to create prototypes that can be quickly tested and iterated upon.
Goals
- Determine scope and scale of the prototype
- Build a prototype suited for real-world evaluation
- Identify potential engineering challenges
Team Players
- UX Engineers
- Product Designers
- Developers, Lead and Senior
- Product Managers
Tools
- Wireframes
- Mockups
- Whiteboard Sketches
- Prototyping apps like Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch
- Code-based prototypes
Stage 4: Evaluate
The Evaluate stage is crucial for refining our prototypes based on real-world feedback. We use a variety of testing methods to ensure that our solutions are both usable and accessible.
Goals
- Gather real-world feedback
- Evaluate usability and accessibility
- Determine if the design is ready for production
- Establish metrics for future evaluation
Team Players
- UX Engineers
- Product Designers
- QA Engineers
- Clients
- End-Users
Tools
- UX Research Methods
- Focus Groups
- Usability Testing
- UX Metrics like HEART
- Design System
- Visual Testing Tools like Storybook
- Accessibility Testing (WCAG)
Stage 5: Deliver
The Deliver stage ensures that our design solutions are ready for production. We provide all the necessary documentation and assets to make the development process as smooth as possible.
Goals
- Ensure all players are on the same page
- Communicate shared context, timeframe, and responsibilities
- Hand off design deliverables
Team Players
- Development Team
- Product Designers
- UX Engineers
- Product Managers
Tools
- Project and Design Briefs
- Supporting UX Research
- Relevant Design Deliverables like Prototypes, Wireframes, and Mocks
Stage 6: Reflect
Reflection is the cornerstone of continuous improvement. It allows us to look back, learn from our experiences, and apply those lessons to future projects.
Goals
- Celebrate successes and learn from failures
- Share insights gained
- Uncover inefficiencies in the process
- Create actionable steps for improvement
Team Players
- Product Managers
- Internal Stakeholders
- Product Designers
- Development Team
- UX Engineers
Tools
- Retrospective Meetings
- Five Whys
- Lunch & Learns
The design process is not a one-size-fits-all model; it's a dynamic framework that adapts to the challenges and opportunities that come our way. By understanding and implementing each stage, we can create products that not only solve problems but also enrich lives. Feel free to adapt and iterate upon this process to fit your own unique needs and challenges. After all, the best processes are the ones that grow and evolve with you.