UX/UI Process
There is a truncated version of a UX design process referred to as the “Double Diamond.” It goes like this: 1. Discover insight into the problem. 2. Define the area to focus upon. 3. Develop potential solutions. and 4. Deliver solutions that work.
I rely on the above to quickly explain the process when asked… but it is not my full process. Below is a little closer to the mark for use with UX, but I also use variants of it for just about any professional project.
Discover
• Identify scope• Identify target platform(s)• Verify deliverable• Identify constraints in dollars, hours, colors, kb, pixels, accessibility, and platform• Discuss stakeholder review frequency
Research
• Design guideline analysis• Platform constraint analysis• Familial element analysis• Competitive analysis• Red route analysis (Heatmaps/thought process/flow)
Ideate
• Consider knowns from research and discover stages• Imagine solutions• Wireframe• Flowchart• Internal department check• Review/Refine/Repeat
Design
• Rapid Prototype• Verify Accessibility: optical, aural, physical• Verify full Platform compatibility• Verify Cultural suitability• Narrow candidates• Internal department check• Mockup for review• Review/Refine/Repeat• finalize for testing
Test
• Deploy to beta• Usability and A/B Testing• Explore feedback• Review/Refine/Repeat• Finalize for Deployment
Deploy
• Finalize/launch• Explore feedback• Review/Refine/Repeat
Other principles I live by:
– SMITI: “So My Initial Takeaway Is…” I confirm my understanding of the project with the project lead or stakeholders, to avoid wasting time.
– Confusion timer: I set a physical timer in front of me whenever I have a question for which I have no answer. If I can’t find it in the project notes, and that time has passed – I get in touch with somebody. This avoids wasting time.
– FEFO: The classic “Fail Early, Fail Often.” UX is all about testing and making decisions based on gathered data.
discover
• identify scope
• identify target platforms)
• verify deliverable
• identify constraints in dollars, hours, colors, kb, pixels, accessibility, and platform
• discuss stakeholder review frequency
research
• design guideline analysis
• platform constraint analysis
• familial element analysis
• competitive analysis
• red route analysis (heatmaps/thought process/flow)
ideate
• consider knowns from research and discover stages
• imagine solutions
• wireframe
• flowchart
• internal department check
• review/refine/repeat
design
• rapid prototype
• verify accessibility:
optical, aural, physical
• verify full platform compatibility
• verify cultural suitability
• narrow candidates
• internal department check
• mockup for review
• review/refine/repeat
• finalize for testing
test
• deploy to beta
• usability and a/b testing
• explore feedback
• review/refine/repeat
• finalize for deployment
deploy
• finalize/launch
• explore feedback
• review/refine/repeat