Image: Image transfer of the Apollo Lunar Landeer
We began this journey through the first phase, Understand, and follow up that post with the second chapter, of three, as we look at the techniques and practices used within the product & user experience discipline. Today’s episode is looking at the Define phase.
Again, these steps are presented as an overview or high-level set of definitions for those interested in product design. There are layers of understanding underneath each and every item presented, but to begin with a journey, we must start with that first step. Outlining these key concepts is merely that first step for the reader.
Define
Vision and Strategy
A product vision is a statement that defines the long-term goals and aspirations for a product or product line. It serves as a guiding principle for product development and decision-making, and helps align the product team and stakeholders around a common purpose.
A product strategy, on the other hand, is a plan for how to achieve the product vision. It outlines the specific actions and tactics that will be taken to bring the product vision to life.
A product vision typically includes elements such as:
- The target customer or market
- The problem or opportunity the product will address
- The key features and capabilities of the product
- The desired impact or outcome for customers and the business
A product strategy typically includes elements such as:
- The target customer or market
- The problem or opportunity the product will address
- The key features and capabilities of the product
- The desired impact or outcome for customers and the business
- The go-to-market plan, including product positioning and messaging, distribution channels and sales strategy, and pricing and packaging
- The product development plan, including the product roadmap and development milestones, the product backlog and prioritization criteria, and the product development process and team structure
- The product launch plan and metrics for measuring success
Overall, a product vision provides direction, while a product strategy provides the plan to execute on that direction. It’s important to have both vision and strategy in order to be successful in creating a product.
Value Proposition
A value proposition is a statement that clearly communicates the unique benefit or value that a product offers to its target customers. It explains how the product addresses a specific need or problem and why it is better than alternative solutions.
To define a product’s value proposition, consider the following steps:
- Understand the target customer: Identify the specific customer segments that the product is designed to serve, and research their needs, pain points, and preferences.
- Identify the problem or opportunity: Understand the problem or opportunity that the product addresses, and how it helps customers achieve their goals or overcome their challenges.
- Define the unique benefit: Determine the unique benefit that the product offers, such as a specific feature, capability, or outcome. This should be something that differentiates the product from alternatives and provides real value to customers.
- Communicate the value proposition: Create a clear and compelling statement that communicates the value proposition in a way that is easy for customers to understand and remember.
- Test and refine the value proposition: Test the value proposition with potential customers to gather feedback and ensure that it effectively communicates the product’s unique benefit. Refine the value proposition as needed based on customer feedback.
A well-defined value proposition can be a powerful tool for differentiating a product, providing guidance for product development, and effectively communicating the product’s value to potential customers.
SWOT
A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps organizations identify their internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities and threats. The acronym stands for:
- Strengths: internal characteristics that give an organization an advantage over its competitors
- Weaknesses: internal characteristics that put an organization at a disadvantage
- Opportunities: external factors that present potential benefits to the organization
- Threats: external factors that present potential risks to the organization
A SWOT analysis is useful in product design because it helps identify the key factors that will influence the success of a new product. By considering the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and the opportunities and threats in the market, the product team can make more informed decisions about the product’s features, pricing, and go-to-market strategy.
For example, if a company is developing a new product, a SWOT analysis may reveal that the organization has a strong reputation for innovation, but a weak distribution network. It may also show that there is a growing demand for products that are eco-friendly, and a new technology is available that can be utilized to make the product more sustainable. The team can use this information to make the product eco-friendly, and focus on building a strong distribution network for it.
SWOT analysis can be helpful in product design process to:
- Identify key opportunities and threats in the market
- Align the product’s features and capabilities with customer needs and market trends
- Assess the feasibility of different go-to-market strategies
- Identify potential risks and challenges that need to be addressed
- Set realistic goals and objectives for the product’s performance
Overall, a SWOT analysis is a valuable tool for product teams as it helps them to understand the internal and external factors that will impact the product’s success, and make data-driven decisions that increase the chances of success.
Roadmap
A product roadmap is a visual representation of a product’s strategy and plans over a certain period of time. It outlines the key milestones and deliverables that the product team will work on, and serves as a guide for prioritizing and coordinating the product development efforts.
A product roadmap typically includes the following elements:
- Timeline: The roadmap should cover a specific period of time, such as a quarter or a year, and should show the planned milestones and deliverables for each period.
- Objectives: The roadmap should include the high-level goals and objectives for the product, such as increasing market share or improving customer satisfaction.
- Initiatives: The roadmap should outline the key initiatives or themes that the product team will work on, such as developing new features, improving performance, or entering new markets.
- Milestones: The roadmap should show the major milestones or deliverables that the product team will achieve, such as the launch of a new version, the completion of a key feature, or the launch of a new product.
- Dependencies: The roadmap should show any dependencies between different initiatives or milestones, such as the completion of one feature being a prerequisite for another feature.
- Status: The roadmap should include the current status of each initiative or milestone, such as planned, in progress, or completed.
- Stakeholders: The roadmap should identify the key stakeholders, such as customers, internal teams, or partners, who will be impacted by the product’s development.
A product roadmap is a living document that can be updated as the product development progresses. It is a useful tool for product team, as it provides a clear overview of what needs to be done and when, and helps the team to stay aligned and focused on the most important work. Additionally, It helps them to communicate the product vision and strategy to stakeholders and other teams within the organization, and provides a way to track progress and measure success.
Stakeholder Management
Workshops
Managing stakeholders during a product design workshop can be challenging, but there are several strategies that can be used to ensure a successful outcome:
- Clearly define the objectives and agenda of the workshop in advance, and communicate this to all stakeholders. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the workshop stays focused on the key issues.
- Encourage active participation from all stakeholders, and create an environment that is open and inclusive. This can be achieved through techniques such as brainstorming, group discussion, and problem-solving exercises.
- Identify and manage any potential conflicts or disagreements that may arise during the workshop. Encourage open communication, and work to find common ground and compromise where necessary.
- Assign a facilitator to lead the workshop, who can keep the discussion on track, ensure that all stakeholders have a chance to voice their opinions, and manage any issues that arise.
- Define the decision-making process in advance, and make sure that all stakeholders understand how decisions will be made. This can help to avoid confusion and ensure that the workshop stays on schedule.
- Assign an action item list and follow up after the workshop, to ensure that any decisions made or action items identified during the workshop are tracked and followed through.
- Continuously communicate with stakeholders during the workshop and after it, to keep them informed about the progress and outcome of the workshop, and to get their feedback and input.
By following these strategies, you can help to manage stakeholders effectively during a product design workshop, and ensure that the workshop is productive and successful.
Meetings
- IBID
User Needs
Personas
- User personas are fictional characters that represent a product’s target user group. They are used in product design to help designers and product teams understand the needs, goals, and behaviors of the people who will be using the product. Personas are important because they help designers to empathize with their users, which in turn leads to better design decisions.
- Creating user personas typically involves conducting user research, such as interviews or surveys, to gather information about the target user group. This information is then used to develop fictional characters that embody the common characteristics and behaviors of the user group. Personas are typically given a name, demographic information, a brief biography, and a description of their goals, pain points, and behaviors.
- The user personas are then used throughout the design process to inform design decisions, such as what features to include, how to structure the user interface, and what type of content to provide. They can also be used to test design ideas with actual users and to evaluate the effectiveness of the design. Additionally, personas can also be used to communicate with stakeholders and to ensure that everyone on the team understands the target user group.
- User personas are an important tool in product design because they help to create a shared understanding of the target user group among the product team and to ensure that the design is focused on meeting the needs of the users, which leads to a more successful product.
Task Analysis
- User task analysis is a method used in product design to understand how users interact with a product and what tasks they need to perform. It is a process of observing and analyzing user behavior in order to understand their needs, goals, and pain points. The goal of user task analysis is to identify ways to improve the product’s usability, efficiency, and effectiveness.
- User task analysis typically involves observing users as they perform tasks related to the product, such as navigating a website or using a mobile app. The observations can be qualitative, such as through user interviews, or quantitative, such as through click tracking or eye-tracking. The data collected is then analyzed in order to identify patterns and common behaviors among users.
- Based on the results of the analysis, a user task analysis can inform the design of the product by providing insights into the user’s needs and goals, and by identifying areas for improvement. Some of the key elements of user task analysis include:
- Identifying the tasks users need to perform: This includes understanding what users are trying to accomplish with the product and what actions they need to take to do so.
- Understanding user behavior: This includes observing how users interact with the product, such as what buttons they click or where they look, in order to understand their behavior and identify potential pain points.
- Identifying user needs and goals: This includes understanding what users want to achieve and what motivates them to use the product.
- Identifying areas for improvement: This includes identifying areas where the product can be improved in order to better meet the needs and goals of users.
- Overall, user task analysis is a valuable tool in product design as it allows designers to better understand the needs and behaviors of their users, which leads to more effective and user-centered design decisions.
Affinity Mapping
- Affinity mapping is a method used in product design to organize and analyze large amounts of qualitative data, such as user research findings, customer feedback, or brainstorming ideas. The goal of affinity mapping is to identify patterns and connections within the data in order to gain insights and inform design decisions.
- The process of affinity mapping typically involves grouping similar data points together and organizing them into categories. This is done by creating physical or digital post-it notes or cards and writing or typing the data points on them. Then the post-its or cards are grouped by similarity, such as by theme or category, based on the data points written on them.
- The resulting groups of data points can then be analyzed to identify patterns, themes, and commonalities among them. This can help product designers to understand user needs, identify areas for improvement, or generate new ideas for a product.
- Affinity mapping is particularly useful in product design because it allows teams to quickly and easily organize and analyze large amounts of qualitative data. By identifying patterns and connections within the data, product designers can gain insights that would be difficult to see by simply reading through the data.
- Additionally, Affinity mapping is a collaborative process, which can bring different perspectives and ideas together, creating a shared understanding among team members, stakeholders, and even users themselves.
- Overall, affinity mapping is a useful tool in product design as it helps teams to quickly and easily organize and analyze qualitative data, and gain insights that inform design decisions.
Expectation and Reality Gap
- In product design, the “expectations and reality gap” refers to the difference between what users expect a product to do or be, and what the product actually delivers in reality. This gap can occur when the product fails to meet users’ expectations or when users have misunderstood what the product is capable of.
- The “expectations and reality gap” can manifest in a number of ways, such as:
- Users expecting a certain feature or functionality, but it not being present in the final product.
- Users expecting a certain level of performance or quality, but the product falling short of those expectations.
- Users expecting a certain level of ease of use, but the product being difficult to use.
- Users expecting a certain level of aesthetics, but the product not being aesthetically pleasing.
- Closing this gap is crucial in product design since it helps to ensure that the final product meets the needs and expectations of the target users. This can be done by conducting user research, testing, and user feedback, which can help to identify the expectations of users and ensure that the product meets those expectations.
- Additionally, having a clear understanding of the user’s needs, goals, and pain points, a product design team can ensure that the product is tailored to the needs of its users. This can be done by creating user personas and defining user stories, which can help to identify the specific needs and requirements of users.
- Closing the “expectations and reality gap” is important for the product’s success. When users’ expectations are met, they tend to be more satisfied with the product and more likely to continue using it. This, in turn, can lead to increased customer retention, higher user satisfaction, and ultimately, better business outcomes.
Pain Points
- “Pain points” in product design refer to the specific challenges or frustrations that users face in their experience with a product or service. They are the areas where the current solution is not meeting user needs and expectations, causing inconvenience, inefficiency, or other negative outcomes.
- Identifying pain points is a crucial step in the product design process as it provides insight into what is not working well and what needs to be improved. By understanding the pain points that users experience, product designers can develop solutions that address these issues and create a better user experience.
- Pain points can be identified through user research methods such as surveys, interviews, and observations. Once identified, they can serve as a starting point for defining the problem statement and developing a product that better meets user needs and expectations. By focusing on resolving user pain points, product designers can create products that are not only functional but also intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
Contextual Analysis
- In product design, “contextual analysis” refers to the process of studying the context in which the product will be used. This includes understanding the physical and social environment in which the product will be used, as well as the users’ goals, behaviors, and habits.
- Contextual analysis can be conducted through a variety of methods, including:
- Field research: Observing users in their natural environment to understand how they currently interact with similar products or solve similar problems.
- Interviews: Talking to users to understand their goals, habits, and pain points.
- Surveys: Gathering information from a larger group of users about their goals, habits, and pain points.
- The goal of contextual analysis is to gain a deep understanding of the users, their needs, and the context in which the product will be used. This information can then be used to inform the product design, ensuring that the final product will be tailored to the specific needs and context of the users.
- Contextual analysis can also help to identify any constraints or opportunities in the environment, such as physical limitations, cultural norms, or existing technology, that may impact the design of the product.
- Additionally, by understanding the context in which the product will be used, a product design team can identify potential usability issues early in the design process and take steps to mitigate them. This can help to ensure that the final product is usable and accessible to the target users.
- Contextual analysis is an important aspect of product design that can help to ensure that the final product is tailored to the specific needs and context of the users, and is usable and accessible to the target users.
Mental Models
- In product design, “mental models” refer to the internal representation that users have in their mind of how a product or system works. These mental models are based on the user’s prior experiences, knowledge, and understanding of the world, and they shape the way that users interact with and understand new products and systems.
- Mental models can play a crucial role in product design, as they can influence how users expect a product to work, how they interpret feedback and error messages, and how they make decisions about how to use the product.
- Designers can use mental models to inform their design decisions by understanding how users are likely to think about and interact with a product. By taking into account users’ mental models, designers can create products that are easy to understand and use.
- For example, if a designer is aware that users have a mental model of a web page as a single, scrollable document, they can design a web page that aligns with this mental model by using a single scrolling page instead of multiple pages or sections.
- Additionally, designers can use methods such as user research, interviews, and user testing to gain insights into users’ mental models, and then use these insights to inform the design of the product.
- Mental models are the internal representation that users have in their mind of how a product or system works. They play a crucial role in product design as they can influence how users expect a product to work, how they interpret feedback and error messages, and how they make decisions about how to use the product. Designers can use mental models to inform their design decisions by understanding how users are likely to think about and interact with a product.
Problem Analysis
5 Why’s
5W2H (5 why’s, 2 How/howmuch)
- The “5 Why’s” is a problem-solving technique that is often used in product design to help identify the root cause of a problem. The technique involves asking “why” a problem is happening and repeating this question five times to drill down to the underlying cause of the problem.
- The 5 Why’s technique is important in product design because it helps to:
- Identify the root cause of a problem: By asking “why” a problem is happening multiple times, it helps to identify the underlying cause of the problem rather than just addressing the symptoms. This allows the product team to address the problem at its source, which can help to prevent it from recurring in the future.
- Understand the impact of the problem: By identifying the root cause of a problem, the product team can also understand the impact that the problem is having on the product, on the users and on the business. This understanding can help the team to prioritize the problem and to develop an effective solution.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively: The 5 Why’s technique is often used as a team exercise, which can help to facilitate collaboration and communication among different members of the product team. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
- Improve problem-solving skills: The 5 Why’s technique can help to improve the problem-solving skills of the product team members. It helps to develop a habit of asking questions and to think critically about problems. This can help the team to tackle new and more complex problems in the future.
- Avoid “quick-fix” solutions: By identifying the root cause of a problem, the product team can avoid implementing “quick-fix” solutions that address only the symptoms of the problem, rather than the underlying cause. This can help to ensure that the problem is truly solved and does not recur in the future.
- Overall, the 5 Why’s technique is an important tool for problem analysis in product design. It helps the product team to identify the root cause of a problem, understand its impact, and develop effective and sustainable solutions.
Intent (customers) vs. Impact (business)
“Intent versus impact” in product design refers to the distinction between the intended effects of a product and its actual effects on users and other stakeholders. Intent refers to the goals and objectives that the product is intended to achieve, while impact refers to the real-world consequences of using the product.
In product design, it is important to consider both intent and impact to ensure that the product is not only achieving its intended goals, but also having a positive impact on users and society as a whole. For example, a product may be intended to increase efficiency and productivity, but if it has negative effects on work-life balance or mental health, this is an impact that must also be considered.
By considering both intent and impact, product designers can create products that are not only effective in meeting their intended goals, but also have a positive impact on users and society. This helps to ensure that products are not only functional but also responsible and ethical.
Ideal State and Goals
- The ideal state in product design refers to the final form or outcome that the product should take in order to meet its intended purpose and user needs. This ideal state is typically defined by a set of specific design goals or objectives that the product should achieve. These goals may include things like functionality, usability, aesthetic appeal, and overall user satisfaction. Additionally, the ideal state and goals in product design may also take into account factors such as cost, production feasibility, and environmental impact. Ultimately, the goal of product design is to create a product that effectively and efficiently meets the needs of its intended users while also achieving the goals of the designer or manufacturer.
Define Success
- KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are both used to measure the performance of a product or organization, but they are used for different purposes and at different levels.
- KPIs are specific, measurable, and time-bound metrics that help evaluate the success of a product or organization in achieving its goals. They are often used to track progress over time and identify areas for improvement. Examples of KPIs in product design might include user engagement, conversion rates, or customer satisfaction.
- OKRs, on the other hand, are a framework for setting and achieving specific, measurable, and time-bound goals. They are used to align the efforts of different teams and individuals within an organization towards a common objective. In product design, OKRs might be used to set goals for product development, market research, or user testing.
- When choosing which metrics to use, it’s important to consider the goals of the product or organization, the stage of development, and the resources available to track and measure progress. It’s also important to consider which metrics will be most useful in informing decisions and driving action.
OKRs
- OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is a framework for setting and tracking goals and objectives. In product design, OKRs are used to align the product team’s efforts with the overall strategy and goals of the company.
- The OKRs framework is based on setting clear, measurable, and specific objectives, and then tracking progress against these objectives using key results.
- In product design, OKRs can be used to set goals for product development, such as increasing user engagement or improving the user experience. The key results for these objectives can include metrics such as user retention, conversion rates, or customer satisfaction.
- One of the key benefits of using OKRs in product design is that they help to ensure that the product team is working towards the same goals as the rest of the company. This can help to increase alignment and collaboration between different teams and departments, and ensure that the product is aligned with the overall strategy of the company.
- Another benefit of OKRs is that they provide a clear framework for tracking progress and measuring success. This can help to ensure that the product team is making meaningful progress towards their goals, and can make it easier to identify areas where the product team needs to make adjustments or improvements.
KPIs
- KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are metrics used to measure the performance of a product or product team. In product design, KPIs are used to track progress towards specific goals and objectives, and to measure the success of a product.
- KPIs can vary depending on the goals of the product and the industry, but some common examples of KPIs in product design include:
- User engagement: This could include metrics such as the number of active users, frequency of use, or time spent on the product.
- Conversion rates: This metric measures the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.
- Customer satisfaction: This could include metrics such as Net Promoter Score (NPS) or customer satisfaction survey results.
- Retention: This metric measures the percentage of users who continue to use the product over time.
- Revenue: This metric measures the financial performance of the product, such as total revenue or revenue per user.
- It’s important to note that in product design, KPIs should be aligned with the overall goals of the product and company, and should be chosen based on their ability to accurately measure progress towards those goals.
- KPIs are important in product design because they provide a clear and measurable way to track progress and success. By setting and tracking KPIs, the product team can identify areas where the product is performing well and areas where improvements are needed. This can help to ensure that the product team is making meaningful progress towards their goals, and can make it easier to identify areas where the product team needs to make adjustments or improvements.
Metrics
- Some other metrics that can be used in product design include:
- User engagement: measures how actively users interact with the product and how much time they spend using it.
- Conversion rates: tracks the number of users who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.
- Customer satisfaction: measures how satisfied customers are with the product, usually through surveys or feedback mechanisms.
- Retention rates: tracks the number of customers who continue to use the product over time.
- User acquisition cost: calculates the cost of acquiring a new user, including marketing and advertising expenses.
- Net promoter score (NPS): measures customer loyalty and the likelihood of recommending the product to others.
- Error rate: tracks the number of errors or bugs in the product and helps to identify areas for improvement.
- User testing results: measures how well the product meets user needs and expectations, through user testing or focus groups.
Problem Statement
A problem statement in product design is a concise and clear description of a problem or need that a product is intended to solve. It defines the scope and purpose of the product design project and helps to ensure that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of what the product is intended to accomplish. The problem statement serves as a guiding principle for the entire product design process, providing direction and focus to the team as they work to create a solution. By clearly articulating the problem the product aims to solve, the problem statement helps to ensure that the end result meets the needs and expectations of the target audience.
Why, what, and how
- “Why, what, and how” in crafting a problem statement refers to a framework for clearly and concisely articulating the problem being addressed. The framework includes the following elements:
- Why: this addresses the underlying need or problem that the product is intended to solve.
- What: this defines the specific problem or challenge being addressed, including details on who is affected and what impact it has.
- How: this outlines the approach that the product will take to solve the problem, including any constraints or limitations.
- This framework helps to ensure that the problem statement is complete and clearly communicates the problem, its impact, and the proposed solution. By answering the “why, what, and how” questions, the problem statement provides a clear and comprehensive guide for the entire product design process, helping to keep the team focused and aligned on the project’s goals and objectives.
How might we…?
- “How might we” is a powerful framing device used in crafting a problem statement. It helps to reframe the problem as a challenge or opportunity and shifts the focus from what is wrong to what can be done. By starting with “How might we,” the problem statement becomes a question that invites creative solutions and encourages exploration of different possibilities.
- For example, instead of stating the problem as “The current product does not meet customer needs,” the problem statement could be framed as “How might we design a product that better meets the needs of our customers?” This framing sets the stage for a collaborative, solution-focused approach to product design and helps to engage stakeholders in the process.
How to prove…?
- “How to prove” in crafting a problem statement refers to identifying the metrics or measures that will be used to demonstrate the success of the product in addressing the problem. It helps to ensure that the problem statement is actionable and can be tested and validated.
- For example, instead of stating the problem as “Our product needs to be more user-friendly,” the problem statement could be framed as “How to prove that our product is more user-friendly than the current solution in terms of increased user engagement and reduced error rates?” This framing helps to clarify what success looks like and provides a clear target for the product design team to work towards. By answering the “how to prove” question, the problem statement becomes more concrete and measurable, making it easier to track progress and evaluate the success of the product.
Business Opportunity
Competitive Audit
- A competitive audit is a process used to gather and analyze information about a company’s competitors in order to identify opportunities for growth and improvement. The following are some steps that can be taken to perform a competitive audit:
- Identify the competitors: Identify the companies that are directly or indirectly competing with your business. This can include both established companies as well as newer startups.
- Gather information: Collect information about each competitor, including their products or services, pricing, marketing strategies, target market, and distribution channels. This information can be gathered from the companies’ websites, press releases, industry reports, and other sources.
- Analyze the information: Look for patterns and trends in the information that you have gathered. This can include identifying areas where your competitors are weak, or areas where they are excelling.
- Identify opportunities: Use the information that you have gathered to identify opportunities for your business to improve, such as by offering new or improved products or services, targeting new or underserved markets, or improving your marketing and distribution strategies.
- Create a plan: Create a plan to take advantage of the opportunities that you have identified, and to address any weaknesses or gaps in your business.
- It’s important to note that the competitive audit should be a continuous process, as the market and the competitors can change frequently.
Product Goals
- Defining product goals on a product design team is an important step in the product design process and involves setting clear and measurable objectives for the product. The following are some steps that can be taken to define product goals:
- Understand the problem: Start by understanding the problem that the product is trying to solve. This includes identifying the needs and wants of the target user and understanding any constraints or requirements that the product must meet.
- Gather input: Gather input from stakeholders such as the design team, product managers, customers and target users. This helps to ensure that the goals are aligned with the needs of the target audience and the business objectives.
- Define SMART goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) goals. These goals should be specific and clearly defined, measurable so that progress can be tracked, achievable within the constraints of the project, relevant to the problem being solved, and have a specific time frame for completion.
- Prioritize: Prioritize the goals based on their importance and feasibility. This helps to ensure that the team is focusing on the most important objectives and that the goals are realistic and achievable within the given timeframe.
- Communicate: Communicate the goals to the entire team, including designers, engineers, and stakeholders. This helps to ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives and that the goals are clearly understood by all team members.
- It’s also important to note that goals should be reviewed and modified as needed throughout the product process. This is because as the product development progresses, the understanding of the problem and the user needs might change, and the goals should reflect those changes.
Ideate
Brainstorming
Hopes and Fears
- A “hopes and fears” exercise is a brainstorming technique used to generate ideas and identify potential challenges or obstacles related to a specific project or problem. The exercise is typically conducted at the beginning of a project and involves breaking the team or group into smaller groups or pairs. The exercise usually has the following steps:
- Define the problem or project: Clearly define the problem or project that the team will be working on.
- Identify hopes and fears: Each group or pair should take some time to identify their hopes and fears related to the problem or project. Hopes are the positive outcomes or goals that they hope to achieve, while fears are potential challenges or obstacles that they anticipate facing.
- Share and discuss: After each group or pair has identified their hopes and fears, they should share them with the larger group and discuss any similarities or differences in perspective.
- Identify potential solutions: Based on the hopes and fears identified, the group should work together to identify potential solutions or strategies to address the challenges and achieve the desired outcomes.
- Prioritize and plan: Prioritize the potential solutions and strategies and create a plan of action to address the challenges and achieve the desired outcomes.
- The “hopes and fears” exercise is a useful tool for brainstorming because it allows the team to identify both the positive and negative aspects of a project or problem, and can help to generate ideas and solutions that may not have been considered otherwise. Additionally, it helps to identify potential challenges or obstacles early in the process, so that the team can develop strategies to address them.
Big Ideas
- “Big ideas” in a brainstorming session refer to the most ambitious and innovative ideas that are generated during the brainstorming process. These ideas are typically bold, ambitious and have a big impact, and may require significant resources or a significant shift in thinking in order to be implemented.
- Big ideas are usually generated by breaking the mold and thinking out of the box, and are not limited by the current constraints or limitations. They are often the result of a combination of several smaller ideas and can be the result of connecting seemingly unrelated concepts.
- During a brainstorming session, it’s important to encourage everyone to share their big ideas, even if they seem unrealistic or difficult to achieve. These big ideas can serve as a source of inspiration and can lead to breakthroughs in the design process.
- It’s also important to note that not all big ideas will be feasible or practical to implement, but they can serve as a starting point for further exploration and development. It’s important to evaluate big ideas based on their potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with the project goals and objectives.
Dot Voting
- “Dot voting” is a technique used in brainstorming sessions to prioritize and select the most promising ideas generated during the brainstorming process. The technique is simple, and it involves each participant being given a set number of “dots” or “votes” that they can use to “vote” for their favorite ideas.
- Here is how it works:
- The facilitator presents the problem or challenge, and the group begins brainstorming ideas.
- After a set period of time or when the group feels that they have generated a sufficient number of ideas, the facilitator will ask the group to review the ideas and select their favorite ones.
- Each participant is given a set number of dots or votes (e.g. 3 or 5) and is asked to place their dots next to the ideas that they think are the most promising.
- Once all of the dots have been placed, the facilitator will tally the results and the ideas with the most dots will be considered the most promising.
- The facilitator and the group can then discuss the top-voted ideas and decide on a course of action.
- Dot voting is a simple, yet effective way to prioritize ideas during brainstorming sessions. It allows every participant to have a voice, and it helps to identify the most promising ideas quickly and efficiently. It also helps to avoid groupthink and allows the group to consider a larger number of ideas.
- It’s important to note that Dot voting should be used in conjunction with other brainstorming techniques such as “hopes and fears” or “big ideas” to generate a diverse set of ideas and then prioritize them.
Blue Sky
- “Blue sky” in a brainstorming session refers to a type of thinking that is unconstrained by practical considerations, limitations or current realities. It is the opposite of “grounded” or “realistic” thinking and encourages participants to think big, bold, and without limits.
- In a brainstorming session, a “blue sky” approach means generating ideas that are not limited by current technology, resources, or constraints. It encourages participants to think creatively and come up with ideas that might seem impossible or unrealistic at first glance.
- Blue sky thinking is useful in brainstorming sessions because it allows the group to explore a wide range of possibilities and consider ideas that may not have been considered otherwise. This can lead to breakthroughs in the design process and can help to inspire new and innovative solutions.
- A facilitator might use phrases such as “think big” or “there are no bad ideas” to set the tone and encourage a blue sky approach to the brainstorming session. It is important to note that while blue sky thinking is a valuable tool, it should be balanced with more grounded thinking and consideration of feasibility and practicality.
Sketch
Design Sprint
- A Design Sprint is a time-constrained, five-phase process for answering critical business questions through design, prototyping, and user testing. The Design Sprint was developed at Google Ventures, and it’s designed to be a fast and efficient way to test ideas, validate assumptions, and make decisions about a product or service.
- The five phases of a Design Sprint are:
- Understand: Define the problem and gather background information.
- Diverge: Generate a wide range of ideas and solutions to the problem.
- Converge: Select the most promising ideas and begin to develop them.
- Prototype: Create a low-fidelity prototype of the selected solution.
- Test: Gather feedback from users and iterate on the design.
- The Design Sprint is a compressed process, typically taking place over the course of a week. The process is highly collaborative and involves a diverse group of stakeholders, including designers, developers, product managers, and business leaders.
- The Design Sprint is a highly efficient way to validate ideas and make decisions about a product or service, and it is widely used in startups and established companies. The process allows teams to quickly test and validate their design assumptions, which helps them to avoid building unnecessary features and to create products that are more likely to meet the needs of users.
Competitive Analysis
- “Competitive analysis” in a brainstorming session refers to the process of researching and analyzing the products, services, and strategies of a company’s competitors. The goal of competitive analysis is to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of the competition, and to use that information to inform the development of a new product or service.
- During a brainstorming session, a competitive analysis can be used to identify gaps in the market, or areas where the competition is falling short. This information can be used to inform the development of new products or services that meet unfulfilled customer needs or provide a competitive advantage.
- A competitive analysis typically includes researching and analyzing the following information about a company’s competitors:
- Product or service offerings
- Pricing strategies
- Marketing and advertising efforts
- Distribution channels
- Target market segments
- Competitive strengths and weaknesses
- The information gathered during a competitive analysis can be used to inform the development of a new product or service, including features, pricing, marketing and distribution strategies.
- It is important to note that competitive analysis should be conducted before a brainstorming session to get a good understanding of the current market and the competition. This information can then be used during the brainstorming session to inform the team on the feasibility and potential impact of the ideas generated.
Define Themes
- Defining themes in a brainstorming session involves grouping similar ideas together in order to make them more manageable and easier to understand. Themes help to organize the ideas generated during a brainstorming session and can be used to identify patterns or commonalities among the ideas.
- Here is how themes can be defined in a brainstorming session:
- After the brainstorming session has ended, the facilitator or a designated person will review the ideas generated and begin to group them into similar categories or themes.
- The facilitator can use a variety of methods to group the ideas, such as grouping them by product feature, customer need, or business goal.
- Once the ideas have been grouped into themes, the facilitator can name each theme, for example, “Product features”, “Customer needs”, “Business goals”
- The facilitator can then present the themes to the group and ask for feedback and input.
- Once the themes are finalized, the group can focus on the ideas within each theme and begin to further analyze and prioritize them.
- Defining themes in a brainstorming session can help to organize and make sense of the ideas generated, and can also provide a way for the team to focus on specific areas of interest. It also allows the team to identify patterns and commonalities among the ideas that might not have been obvious before. It is important to note that themes can be defined and grouped in different ways depending on the goals and objectives of the brainstorming session.
Prioritization
Effort and Impact
- When prioritizing items in product design, it is important to consider both the effort required to implement an item, as well as the potential impact it will have on the product and business goals. Here are a few methods that can be used to prioritize items based on effort versus impact:
- Impact/Effort Matrix: One common method is to use an impact/effort matrix, which involves plotting each item on a graph with impact on one axis and effort on the other. Items that fall in the top-right quadrant (high impact, low effort) should be given the highest priority, while items in the bottom-left quadrant (low impact, high effort) should be given the lowest priority.
- MoSCoW Method: Another method is the MoSCoW method, which stands for Must have, Should have, Could have, and Would like to have. It is a way to prioritize items based on their importance and feasibility.
- Kano Model: The Kano Model is a way to prioritize features based on customer needs and satisfaction. It evaluates features in 3 categories: Must-haves, Performance Attributes and Delighters.
- User Stories Mapping: User Stories Mapping is a way to prioritize items based on their impact on the user. It is a visual representation of the user journey and it helps to prioritize features and functionalities based on their relevance to the users’ goals and pain points.
- Pareto Analysis: Pareto Analysis is a tool that helps to prioritize items based on their impact and feasibility. It is a way to identify the most important items that will have the biggest impact on the business or product goals.
- It is important to note that different methods may work better for different teams or projects, and that a combination of methods may be used. Additionally, it is important to involve all the stakeholders in the prioritization process to get a more accurate representation of the impact and effort of each item.
KANO Model
- The Kano model is a customer satisfaction research method used to prioritize features in product development. It was first introduced by Japanese researcher Noriaki Kano in the 1980s. The Kano model suggests that customer satisfaction is not solely a function of product features, but also depends on how well those features meet customer needs and expectations.
- The Kano model is based on three types of product features:
- Basic features: These are the minimum requirements that customers expect from a product. They are the “must haves” and not having them results in customer dissatisfaction.
- Performance features: These are features that directly impact customer satisfaction. The more a product has of these features, the more satisfied customers will be.
- Excitement features: These are features that customers may not know they want until they see them. They can create a significant increase in customer satisfaction when present, but their absence does not result in dissatisfaction.
- By identifying and prioritizing these different types of features, the Kano model helps companies to understand which features are most important to their customers and to prioritize their product development efforts accordingly.
BCG Matrix
- The Boston Consulting Group’s growth share matrix was built on the logic that market leadership results in sustainable superior returns. Ultimately, the market leader obtains a self-reinforcing cost advantage that competitors find difficult to replicate. These high growth rates then signal which markets have the most growth potential.
- The matrix reveals two factors that companies should consider when deciding where to invest—company competitiveness, and market attractiveness—with relative market share and growth rate as the underlying drivers of these factors.
- Each of the four quadrants represents a specific combination of relative market share, and growth:
- Low Growth, High Share. Companies should milk these “cash cows” for cash to reinvest.
- High Growth, High Share. Companies should significantly invest in these “stars” as they have high future potential.
- High Growth, Low Share. Companies should invest in or discard these “question marks,” depending on their chances of becoming stars.
- Low Share, Low Growth. Companies should liquidate, divest, or reposition these “pets.”
- As can be seen, product value depends entirely on whether or not a company is able to obtain a leading share of its market before growth slows. All products will eventually become either cash cows or pets. Pets are unnecessary; they are evidence of failure to either obtain a leadership position or to get out and cut the losses.
ROI
- Return on investment (ROI) in product design is a metric that measures the financial return generated by a product compared to the cost of developing and launching it. It is a way to determine the financial viability of a product and assess whether the investment made in its development and launch was worth it.
- In product design, ROI is an important metric as it helps to ensure that the resources invested in the product are being used effectively and are generating a positive return. By tracking ROI, product designers can make informed decisions about where to focus their efforts and resources, and can adjust their strategy accordingly to ensure that they are maximizing the financial impact of their work.
- The formula for calculating ROI in product design is:
- ROI = (Revenue generated by the product – Cost of product development and launch) / Cost of product development and launch
- To accurately calculate the ROI in product design, it is important to consider all of the costs associated with the product, including the cost of development, launch, and marketing, as well as any ongoing costs such as maintenance and support.
- Once the ROI has been calculated, it can be used to assess the success of the product and make decisions about future investments. A high ROI indicates that the product is generating significant returns and is likely to be a financially viable investment. A low ROI, on the other hand, suggests that the product is not generating sufficient returns to justify the investment, and may need to be reevaluated or redesigned.
Team Management
- Managing a team during a brainstorm session is an important aspect of the process as it helps to ensure that the session is productive and effective. Here are a few tips on how to manage a team during a brainstorm session:
- Establish clear goals and objectives: Clearly communicate the goals and objectives of the brainstorm session to the team before it begins. This will help to focus the team’s thinking and ensure that they are all working towards the same end goal.
- Encourage participation: Encourage everyone to participate in the brainstorm session, regardless of their role or level of experience. This will ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are considered.
- Set ground rules: Clearly establish ground rules for the brainstorm session, such as no criticism or negative feedback of any kind. This will help to create a safe environment for the team to share their ideas.
- Appoint a facilitator: Appoint a facilitator to lead the brainstorm session and ensure that it runs smoothly. The facilitator can help to keep the team on track and focused on the goals and objectives of the session.
- Encourage creativity: Encourage the team to think creatively and think outside of the box. The goal of a brainstorm session is to generate new and innovative ideas, and this can be difficult if the team is too focused on existing constraints.
- Keep the session focused: Keep the session focused on the goals and objectives, and avoid allowing the team to get sidetracked by unrelated issues.
- Summarize and follow-up: Summarize the ideas generated during the brainstorm session and follow-up with the team to ensure that the ideas are being properly implemented.
- By following these tips, you can help to ensure that the brainstorm session is productive and effective. It is also important to be adaptable and flexible to the team’s needs and be willing to adjust the process to make it work best for the team. Execute
Principles
The Ten Principles of Interaction Design
- The Ten Principles of Interaction Design are a set of guidelines for designing user interfaces that are easy to use and understand. They were first proposed by Alan Cooper, a pioneer in the field of interaction design, in his book “About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design.” The principles are:
- Strive for consistency: Use consistent language, layout, and behaviors to reduce confusion and make it easier for users to learn and use the interface.
- Enable frequent users to use shortcuts: Allow advanced users to perform actions more quickly by providing keyboard shortcuts or other methods of direct manipulation.
- Offer informative feedback: Let users know what’s happening, what’s been accomplished and what went wrong.
- Design dialog to yield closure: Inform users what actions have been taken, what actions are going to take place, and what actions are available.
- Offer simple error handling: Provide clear, concise and constructive messages and provide the user with a clear path to recovery.
- Permit easy reversal of actions: Allow users to undo and redo actions, to correct mistakes and change their minds.
- Support internal locus of control: Empower users by allowing them to take control of the system, rather than feeling controlled by it.
- Reduce short-term memory load: Minimize the amount of information users need to remember by providing clear, visible cues and by breaking complex tasks into manageable steps.
- Provide clear and simple visual communication: Use simple, clear, and consistent visual design to help users understand and use the interface.
- Make the interface consistent with the real world: Use familiar, real-world concepts and models to help users understand and use the interface.
- These principles are designed to help create user interfaces that are easy to use, understand, and remember, and to make the interactions between users and technology as seamless as possible.
Don’t Make Me Think
- “Don’t Make Me Think” is a phrase that is often used in the context of user-centered product design. It is the title of a book written by Steve Krug and it is considered a classic in the field of web design and user experience. The book’s main focus is on usability and user-centered design, and it advocates for making products that are easy to use and understand.
- The phrase “Don’t Make Me Think” refers to the idea that users should be able to understand how to use a product or website without having to spend a lot of time thinking about it. The goal is to make the product as self-explanatory as possible, so that users can quickly and easily accomplish their goals without getting frustrated or confused.
- In practice, this means designing products that are intuitive and easy to use, with a clear and consistent layout, user interface, and visual design. Navigation should be easy to understand, and it should be obvious where users need to go to find the information or features they are looking for. The product should also be designed to minimize the number of clicks or steps needed to complete a task.
- The “Don’t Make Me Think” approach is considered to be a key principle of user-centered product design and it is often used as a litmus test to evaluate the usability of a product or website. The idea is that if a user can easily understand how to use a product or website without having to spend a lot of time thinking about it, then it is likely that the product or website has been designed well.
- Overall, the “Don’t Make Me Think” principle is centered around creating products and website that are easy to use and understand, it’s a way to increase user satisfaction, reduce frustration and increase the chances that users will return to the product or website in the future.
Design Consistency
- Design consistency refers to the degree to which elements of a product, such as its layout, user interface, and visual design, are consistent across different pages, screens, or sections of the product. Consistency in design helps to create a sense of familiarity and predictability for users, making the product easier to use and understand.
- In product design, consistency can be applied to various elements, such as:
- Navigation: Consistency in navigation ensures that users can easily find their way around the product and access the features and information they need.
- User interface: Consistency in the user interface ensures that users can easily understand how to interact with the product and what to expect from it.
- Visual design: Consistency in visual design ensures that users can easily identify the product and its brand, and that the product presents a polished and professional image.
- Interaction design: Consistency in interaction design ensures that users can easily understand how to interact with the product and what to expect from it.
- Consistency in design is important for several reasons:
- Usability: Consistency makes the product more usable by reducing the cognitive load on users and making it easier for them to understand how the product works.
- Branding: Consistency helps to reinforce the product’s branding and create a strong visual identity, which can help to build trust and loyalty among users.
- Accessibility: Consistency in design can help to make the product more accessible to users with disabilities, as well as users with different cultural backgrounds or levels of experience with technology.
- Scalability: Consistency in design helps to make the product more scalable, as it allows the product team to add new features or sections without disrupting the overall user experience.
- Overall, consistency in design is a key principle of user-centered product design, and it helps to create a more polished and professional product that is easier to use, understand, and interact with.
Gestalt Psychology
- Gestalt psychology is a school of psychology that focuses on how people perceive and understand the world around them. The word “gestalt” is German for “shape” or “form,” and this approach to psychology emphasizes the importance of understanding how the mind organizes information into meaningful patterns and wholes, rather than focusing on individual elements.
- Gestalt psychology was founded by German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler in the early 20th century. They believed that the mind organizes sensory information into patterns, structures, and wholes, which are perceived as complete and meaningful entities rather than as isolated elements.
- Gestalt psychology has influenced many areas of psychology, including perception, problem-solving, memory, and personality. It also had an influence on art, architecture and design.
- Some of the key principles of Gestalt psychology include the idea that the mind organizes sensory information into patterns and wholes, that perception is active and constructive, that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and that the mind tends to organize information in a way that is most meaningful and efficient.
Framework
Information Architecture
- Information architecture (IA) is the process of organizing, structuring, and labeling content in a way that makes it easy for users to find and understand. It is a key aspect of product design and it is particularly important for digital products like websites and mobile apps.
- IA is important in product design because it helps to:
- Improve findability: By organizing and structuring content in a logical and intuitive way, IA makes it easier for users to find the information they need. This can help to improve the user experience and increase satisfaction.
- Facilitate navigation: IA helps to design an intuitive navigation structure that makes it easy for users to find their way around a website or app. This can help to reduce frustration and improve the overall user experience.
- Enhance usability: By making it easy for users to find and understand information, IA can enhance the overall usability of a product. This can help to increase user satisfaction and retention.
- Support scalability: A well-designed IA can help to support scalability as the product grows and evolves over time. It can make it easier to add new features and content without compromising the overall user experience.
- Increase accessibility: IA can also help to increase accessibility for users with disabilities by making it easy for them to navigate and find the information they need.
- Information architecture is a key aspect of product design, it’s a process that helps to organize and structure information in a logical and intuitive way, making it easier for users to find and understand. By improving the findability, facilitating navigation, enhancing usability, supporting scalability, and increasing accessibility, IA can help to improve the overall user experience and increase satisfaction.
Happy/Sad Flow
- In product design, the “happy flow” and “sad flow” refer to the different user journeys that a product can take.
- The “happy flow” is the ideal user journey, in which the user successfully completes a task or achieves their desired outcome. This flow is characterized by a positive experience, with minimal friction or obstacles. It’s the experience that product team wants the users to have and it’s the one that they optimize for.
- The “sad flow” on the other hand, is the user journey that occurs when something goes wrong. It’s the experience that the user has when they encounter an error, a bug, or when they can’t complete a task. This flow is characterized by a negative experience, with increased friction and obstacles.
- It’s important for product team to design for both the happy and sad flows. While the focus is on creating the best possible experience for the happy flow, it’s important to also consider how the user will experience the sad flow, and to design for it in a way that minimizes the negative impact. This can help to ensure that even when things go wrong, the user experience remains as positive as possible.
- For example, when designing a checkout process, the happy flow would be the user successfully completing a purchase, while the sad flow would be the user encountering an error or getting stuck in the process. The product team should design the checkout process to make it as easy as possible for the user to complete the purchase, but also design error messages and recovery options that help the user get back on track, if something goes wrong.
- Overall, the happy and sad flows are important to consider in product design because they help to ensure that the product is designed to provide the best possible user experience, regardless of whether everything goes according to plan or not.
All Edge Cases
- An “edge case” in product design refers to a scenario or use case that falls outside of the norm or the expected behavior of the product. These are often rare or unusual situations that may not have been considered during the initial design process, but can still have a significant impact on the user experience.
- Edge cases can include a wide range of scenarios, such as:
- Extreme usage conditions: For example, using a product in extreme temperatures, or in an environment with poor connectivity.
- Unusual user behavior: For example, a user who frequently navigates to a specific page in an unusual way, or who uses the product in a way that was not anticipated by the design team.
- Accessibility concerns: For example, designing a product that is accessible to users with disabilities.
- Security or privacy concerns: For example, handling sensitive user data, or designing a product that can withstand malicious attacks.
- Integration with other systems or devices: For example, designing a product that can integrate with other systems or devices in a seamless way.
- It’s important to consider edge cases in product design because they can have a significant impact on the user experience. By identifying and designing for edge cases, product team can ensure that the product can handle unusual or unexpected scenarios in a way that provides the best possible user experience.
- For example, when designing an e-commerce website, an edge case would be a user with a slow internet connection trying to complete a purchase. The product team can design the website to handle this edge case by providing a clear loading indicator, or by allowing the user to save their cart for later, so they can complete the purchase when they have a better connection.
- Overall, Edge cases are important to consider in product design because they help to ensure that the product can handle a wide range of scenarios and user behaviors, providing the best possible user experience and making the product more robust.
Limitations
- There are several limitations of the web frameworks currently used in modern product design:
- Complexity: Some web frameworks can be complex to use, especially for beginners or developers with limited experience. This can make it difficult for teams to quickly and efficiently develop and maintain web-based products.
- Scalability: Some web frameworks may not be suitable for large-scale, high-traffic web applications, which can make it difficult to handle large numbers of users or large amounts of data.
- Performance: Some web frameworks may not perform as well as others, which can lead to slow page load times and a poor user experience.
- Limited Customization: Some web frameworks may have limited customization options, which can make it difficult to create a unique look and feel for a web-based product.
- Security: Some web frameworks may have known vulnerabilities or lack built-in security features, which can make it easier for hackers to attack a web-based product.
- Browser compatibility: Some web frameworks may not be compatible with all web browsers, which can limit the reach of a web-based product.
- Accessibility: Some web frameworks may not be fully accessible for users with disabilities, which can limit the reach of a web-based product.
- Resource-intensive: Some web frameworks may require a lot of resources to run, which can lead to increased costs for hosting and maintaining a web-based product.
- These limitations can be overcome by selecting the appropriate framework for the specific needs of the project, and by keeping up with the updates, best practices, and new technologies.
Design Specifications for Developers
- Creating design specifications for handoff to developers is an important step in the product design process, as it helps to ensure that the design is accurately implemented and that the final product meets the needs of the users. There are a few methods that can be used to create design specifications for handoff to developers, including:
- Wireframes and mockups: Wireframes and mockups are visual representations of the design that show the layout, navigation, and overall structure of the product. They can be created using tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma etc. These tools allow creating detailed specifications that can be shared with developers.
- Design systems: A design system is a set of design guidelines and components that can be used to create a consistent design across different platforms and devices. They can be created using tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma etc. These tools allow creating design systems that can be shared with developers.
- Annotated screenshots: Annotated screenshots are images of the design that have comments and notes added to them. These notes can include information about the design elements, such as the font size, color, and spacing, as well as information about the user experience, such as the user flow and interactions.
- Design documentation: Design documentation is a written document that describes the design in detail, including information about the user experience, the design elements, and the interactions. It can include information such as user stories, user scenarios, and flow diagrams.
- Design meetings and walkthroughs: Design meetings and walkthroughs are a way for the design team and the development team to work together, to review the design and to ensure that the developers understand the design and the user experience. This can be done by using video conferencing tools, where the design team can share their screens and explain the design in detail.
- Ultimately, the best method for creating design specifications will depend on the project and the team, but it’s important to choose a method that is clear, detailed, and easy to understand for the developers. It’s also important to ensure that the design specifications are kept up-to-date as the design evolves, to ensure that the final product meets the needs of the users and the design team’s expectations.
Guidelines
Design Systems
- A design system is a collection of design standards, guidelines, and reusable components that are used to create a consistent and cohesive user experience across a product or brand. It can include things like visual design elements, typography, color palettes, UI components, and patterns for user interactions. A design system is often accompanied by documentation and tooling that helps to ensure consistency and efficiency in the design process.
- A style guide, on the other hand, is a document or set of documents that outlines the specific design elements and guidelines for a product or brand. It typically includes things like typography, color palettes, UI components, and other visual elements. While a style guide is a component of a design system, it is focused more on the visual aspect of the product, while a design system is broader in scope and encompasses all aspects of the product design including user experience, interaction, and accessibility.
- A design system is a collection of design standards, guidelines, and reusable components that are used to create a consistent and cohesive user experience across a product or brand, it is broader in scope than a style guide which is focused more on the visual aspect of the product.
Design Language
- A design language, also known as a visual language or style guide, is a set of guidelines that are used to create a consistent look and feel across a product or brand. A design language typically includes elements such as typography, color palette, iconography, and layout, as well as principles for how these elements should be used in combination.
- The main goal of a design language is to create a sense of visual consistency across a product or brand. This consistency helps to create a recognizable and cohesive brand identity, and can make it easier for users to navigate and understand a product. A design language also helps to ensure that different parts of a product or brand, such as a website or mobile app, feel like they belong together and are part of the same whole.
- Design languages are typically developed by a product design team and they are often based on research and testing. They are also reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
Accessibility Analysis
- Accessibility analysis is an important aspect of product design, as it helps to ensure that the product can be used by as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. Here are a few guidelines for accessibility analysis in product design:
- Understand the laws and regulations: Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws and regulations for accessibility, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- Conduct user research: Conduct user research with individuals who have disabilities to understand their needs and requirements. This can include conducting usability testing and gathering feedback from focus groups.
- Use accessible design principles: Use accessible design principles, such as providing text alternatives for images and using clear, simple language, to ensure that the product is usable by as many people as possible.
- Consider assistive technology: Consider the needs of users who rely on assistive technology, such as screen readers or magnification software, and ensure that the product is compatible with these technologies.
- Test the product: Test the product with individuals who have disabilities to ensure that it is usable and accessible. This can include usability testing, user testing, and automated accessibility testing.
- Continuously improve: Continuously review and improve the product to ensure that it remains accessible over time.
- By following these guidelines, you can help to ensure that the product is usable and accessible to as many people as possible, including those with disabilities. It is important to note that accessibility is a continuous effort, and that products and technologies are constantly evolving, therefore it is important to stay up to date with the latest accessibility guidelines and standards.
Toolkit and Library
- A toolkit and library in product design refers to a collection of pre-designed elements and components that can be used to quickly and efficiently create new designs and user interfaces.
- A toolkit is a set of design elements that can be used to create a consistent look and feel across a product or brand. These elements can include typography, color palette, icons, buttons, forms, and other UI elements.
- A library is a collection of pre-designed and pre-coded components that can be used to quickly assemble new designs and user interfaces. These components can include navigation menus, forms, buttons, and other UI elements.
- The main goal of a toolkit and library is to create consistency and efficiency in the design process. By providing a set of pre-designed elements and components, the design team can focus on creating new designs and user interfaces, rather than spending time recreating existing elements.
- A toolkit and library in product design is a collection of pre-designed elements and components that can be used to quickly and efficiently create new designs and user interfaces. It helps to create consistency and efficiency in the design process and can also help to ensure that the product is accessible and inclusive.
Branding
- Branding can have a significant impact on product design, as it helps to define the visual identity and overall look and feel of the product. Here are a few ways in which branding can impact product design:
- Visual identity: A product’s visual identity is typically defined by its branding, which includes elements such as typography, color palette, and iconography. These elements help to create a consistent look and feel across the product and establish a recognizable and cohesive brand identity.
- User experience: The branding of a product can also impact the user experience, as it helps to establish the tone and personality of the product. A consistent and well-executed branding can make the product more approachable and help to build trust with users.
- Differentiation: Branding can also help to differentiate a product from its competitors, by creating a unique and memorable visual identity that sets it apart.
- Brand consistency: Branding also helps to ensure consistency across all touchpoints and platforms, where the product is presented such as website, social media, packaging, and physical stores.
- Brand strategy: Branding also informs the product strategy, by providing a clear direction and goals for the product design team.
- Branding can have a significant impact on product design, as it helps to define the visual identity and overall look and feel of the product. It also impacts the user experience, helps to differentiate a product from its competitors, ensures consistency across all touchpoints, and informs the product strategy.
UI Components
- In product design, UI components are pre-designed and pre-coded elements that are used to quickly assemble new user interfaces (UI) and designs. They are also known as “UI building blocks” or “UI elements.”
- UI components can include:
- Navigation menus
- Buttons
- Forms
- Input fields
- Labels
- Headings
- Links
- Icons
- Dropdown menus
- Tabs
- Modals
- Tooltips
- Loaders
- Notifications
- and many more.
- UI components are typically designed to be reusable, meaning that they can be used across multiple pages and screens in a product. This allows for consistency in the UI and a more efficient design process.
- The main goal of UI components is to create consistency and efficiency in the design process. By providing a set of pre-designed and pre-coded components, the design team can focus on creating new designs and user interfaces, rather than spending time recreating existing elements.
- UI Components in product design are pre-designed and pre-coded elements that are used to quickly assemble new user interfaces and designs. They are reusable and help to create consistency and efficiency in the design process.
Visual Design
Gestalt Physiology
- Gestalt physiology is a psychological theory that focuses on how people perceive and organize visual information. It is based on the idea that the human brain organizes visual information into patterns and shapes that are perceived as whole objects, rather than as a collection of individual parts.
- In product design, Gestalt principles can be used to create visually appealing and user-friendly designs. These principles include:
- Proximity: Objects that are close together are perceived as being related
- Similarity: Objects that are similar are perceived as being related
- Continuation: The eye is drawn to follow lines or shapes that lead in a certain direction
- Closure: The brain will fill in missing information to create a complete shape
- Symmetry: Symmetrical designs are often perceived as more stable and balanced
- Figure-ground: The brain separates the foreground (the main focus) from the background
- By applying these principles, designers can create designs that are easy for users to understand and navigate, and that are visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing.
- Gestalt Physiology is a psychological theory that focuses on how people perceive and organize visual information, it can be applied in product design to create visually appealing and user-friendly designs by using principles like proximity, similarity, continuation, closure, symmetry and figure-ground.
Platform Standards
- Platform standards in product design refer to the guidelines and conventions that are specific to a particular platform or operating system. These standards can include things like user interface elements, layout, typography, and other design elements. By following these standards, designers can ensure that their products are consistent with the look and feel of the platform, and that they are easy for users to navigate and use.
- For example, when designing for iOS, one needs to follow the Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) which provides guidance on how to design and develop apps that look and feel like they belong on iOS. Similarly, for Android, the Material Design Guidelines, which provide a comprehensive set of guidelines for creating visually pleasing, intuitive and responsive designs, are used.
- Platform standards can also include accessibility guidelines, which ensure that products are usable by people with disabilities. For example, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide guidelines for creating web content that is accessible to users with disabilities.
Technology
Versioning
- In product design, versioning refers to the process of assigning unique version numbers or labels to different iterations or releases of a product. This process helps to keep track of the changes that have been made to a product over time, and to identify the specific version of the product that a user has.
- For example, when a product design team creates a new design for a website, they might assign it version 1.0. As they make changes and improvements, they might release new versions, such as 1.1, 1.2, and so on. This allows them to easily track the changes that have been made, and to communicate to users or other stakeholders which version of the design they are currently using.
- Versioning can also be used to track different versions of a product’s code, design assets, or other documents. For example, a product design team might use version control software like Git to track the changes that are made to the codebase. This allows them to easily revert to an earlier version if needed and collaborate with other team members.
- Versioning in product design refers to the process of assigning unique version numbers or labels to different iterations or releases of a product, this process helps to keep track of the changes that have been made to a product over time, and to identify the specific version of the product that a user has. It also allows teams to easily revert to an earlier version if needed and collaborate with other team members.
Web Frameworks
- There are many modern frameworks available for web application development. Some popular ones include:
- React.js – Developed by Facebook, React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It allows developers to build reusable UI components and manage the state of the application efficiently.
- Angular.js – Angular is a JavaScript framework developed by Google. It is a complete solution for building web applications and provides a powerful set of tools for building dynamic, interactive user interfaces.
- Vue.js – Vue is a progressive JavaScript framework that is similar to React and Angular. It is lightweight and easy to learn, making it a popular choice for building web applications.
- Ember.js – Ember is a JavaScript framework that emphasizes convention over configuration. It provides a set of conventions and best practices that make it easy to build web applications quickly and efficiently.
- Express.js – Express is a minimal web application framework for Node.js, it’s a flexible and lightweight framework for building web applications and APIs.
- Next.js – Next.js is a React-based framework for building server-rendered React applications. It provides a set of features that make it easy to build scalable and performant web applications.
- Svelte – Svelte is a new JavaScript framework that aims to make building web applications faster and more efficient. It uses a unique approach to building web applications that eliminates some of the performance issues associated with traditional frameworks.
- These are just a few examples of the many frameworks available for web application development, there are many other frameworks available, and each one has its own set of features and advantages. The best framework for a particular project depends on the specific requirements of the project and the preferences of the development team.
Native Application Platforms
- “Native application platforms” refer to the specific operating systems or devices that a mobile application is developed for. The most common native application platforms today are:
- iOS – The native application platform for Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Applications for iOS are developed using the Swift or Objective-C programming languages and the iOS SDK.
- Android – The native application platform for devices that run on the Android operating system, including smartphones and tablets from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, and Google. Applications for Android are developed using the Java or Kotlin programming languages and the Android SDK.
- Windows – The native application platform for devices that run on the Windows operating system, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Applications for Windows are developed using C# or C++ programming languages and the Windows SDK.
- macOS – The native application platform for Mac computers. Applications for macOS are developed using Swift or Objective-C programming languages and the macOS SDK.
- tvOS – The native application platform for the Apple TV. Applications for tvOS are developed using the Swift or Objective-C programming languages and the tvOS SDK.
- watchOS – The native application platform for the Apple Watch. Applications for watchOS are developed using the Swift or Objective-C programming languages and the watchOS SDK.
- Each of these platforms has its own set of guidelines, tools, and best practices for developing applications. Developers must understand the specific requirements of each platform in order to create high-quality, native applications that perform well and provide a great user experience.
Content
Content Strategy
- Content strategy refers to the process of planning, developing, and managing content in a consistent and effective manner. It involves identifying the goals and objectives of the content, understanding the target audience, and determining the appropriate channels and formats for delivering the content. The goal of a content strategy is to create and deliver content that is valuable, relevant, and useful to the target audience.
- In product design, content strategy plays a crucial role in the user experience. It helps to ensure that the content presented to users is clear, consistent, and easy to understand. It also helps to ensure that the content is accessible to users with different abilities and needs.
- A good content strategy can help to improve the overall usability and accessibility of a product, increase engagement and conversion rates, and build trust and credibility with users. It can also help to ensure that the product adheres to legal and regulatory requirements, such as accessibility guidelines.
- Some key aspects of a content strategy in product design include:
- Defining the goals and objectives of the content
- Identifying the target audience and their needs
- Conducting a content audit to assess the current state of the content
- Developing a content plan that includes a content calendar and a list of topics and formats
- Creating and editing content
- Optimizing the content for search engines
- Managing the content over time, including updating and archiving as necessary
- Measuring the performance of the content and making data-driven improvements
- It’s important to note that content strategy should be considered throughout the entire product design process, from research and planning, to development and testing, to launch and ongoing maintenance.
Copywriting/UX Writing
- Copywriting plays a crucial role in successful product design by communicating the benefits and unique features of the product to potential customers, establishing brand identity and creating emotional connections with target audience. Effective copywriting can differentiate the product from competitors, increase brand recognition, and ultimately drive sales.
Imagery
- Photographic imagery plays a significant role in successful product design by visually communicating the product’s features and benefits, creating a strong emotional connection with the target audience, and establishing a consistent brand image. Good product photography can help customers understand and appreciate the product, increase engagement and drive sales. It also helps build credibility and trust in the product and brand.
Rich Media
- Rich media is a type of multimedia content that includes features such as audio, video, animations, and interactive elements. In product design, rich media plays a key role in creating engaging, interactive experiences for customers, helping to communicate product features and benefits in a more dynamic and memorable way. Rich media can help to build brand recognition and increase customer engagement, leading to increased sales and customer loyalty.
Means
- Sketches
- Wireframes
- Prototypes
- Alpha, Beta, etc.
Articulate
- Elevator Pitch
- Multiple Solutions Visualizations
- Public Speaking
- Storytelling
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