UXpin's Blog, page 8

October 28, 2024

Product Designer vs Product Manager 鈥� Key Differences

Successful products aren鈥檛 just built鈥攖hey鈥檙e designed and managed with precision and collaboration. Two of the most crucial roles in this process are the product designer and the product manager. While both professionals work toward a common goal of delivering a product that meets user needs and drives business value, their roles, skill sets, and day-to-day responsibilities differ significantly.

Understanding these differences is essential for anyone involved in product development, from designers and developers to stakeholders. For designers looking to move into management or professionals who work closely with design teams, grasping the nuances of each role can enhance collaboration and ultimately contribute to more impactful product outcomes.

To bridge this collaboration gap, many teams turn to UXPin Merge, a technology that enables designers and developers to work seamlessly by using the same code components across the design and development process. With UXPin Merge, product designers and managers can create and test consistent, interactive designs that reflect the final product, simplifying communication and reducing handoff errors. By fostering a shared visual language, UXPin Merge empowers teams to work more efficiently and deliver user-centered products faster. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

.discover-merge { margin: 40px 8px;}.discover-merge__container { display: flex; max-width: 690px; height: 200px; padding: 20px; padding-left: 24px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: black; box-shadow: 10px 10px #9999ff; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between;}.discover-merge__left { width: 50%;}.discover-merge__left p { margin: 10px 0px !important; color: white !important; font-size: 18px !important;}.discover-merge__heading { font-weight: bold !important; color: white !important; font-size: 18px !important;}.discover-merge__text { margin: 0 !important; line-height: 22px !important;}.discover-merge__button { width: 174px; height: 44px; margin: 10px 0px; border: none; border-radius: 2px; background: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;}.discover-merge__button:hover { cursor: pointer;}.discover-merge__image { max-width: 320px !important; height: 200px; margin-right: -19px;}@media (max-width: 760px) { .discover-merge__container { height: auto; margin: 10px; align-items: left; }}@media (max-width: 500px) { .discover-merge__container { flex-direction: column; } .discover-merge__left { width: 100%; align-items: normal; }}What is a Product Designer?

A product designer plays a pivotal role in creating the look, feel, and functionality of digital products. They focus on crafting user-centered designs that are both visually engaging and functional, ensuring that every element of the product serves a purpose aligned with user needs and business objectives. Unlike specialized roles like UI or UX designers, a product designer typically wears multiple hats, blending skills across research, visual design, and prototyping to deliver cohesive, end-to-end product experiences.

Key Responsibilities of a Product Designer

The responsibilities of a product designer cover a broad spectrum of tasks, often extending beyond pure design to include strategic input and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Typical responsibilities include:

User Research: Conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing to understand user needs and pain points.Ideation and Prototyping: Developing early design concepts, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to test functionality and gather feedback.UI Design: Creating visually engaging interfaces that follow brand guidelines while focusing on usability and accessibility.Interaction Design: Defining how users will interact with various elements in the interface, ensuring smooth transitions, animations, and intuitive flows.Collaboration: Working closely with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to align design with product goals and technical constraints.

Ultimately, a product designer鈥檚 goal is to create a product that not only looks great but is intuitive and easy to use. This requires balancing user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility to deliver a product that adds value to both the user and the organization.

Key Skills of a Product Designer

To fulfill these responsibilities, product designers need a wide range of skills that enable them to design, test, and refine their work efficiently. Some of the most critical skills include:

UX/UI Design: Proficiency in user experience and user interface design, including principles of layout, color theory, typography, and accessibility.Prototyping: Ability to create interactive prototypes that demonstrate how users will navigate through the product.User Research: Skills in conducting and analyzing user research to inform design decisions.Communication: Strong communication skills to effectively present design concepts and collaborate with cross-functional teams.Problem-Solving: A strategic approach to solving design challenges that may arise from technical or business constraints.Tools Commonly Used by Product Designers

Product designers rely on a variety of design and collaboration tools to bring their ideas to life. Here are a few commonly used tools:

UXPin: Known for its end-to-end design capabilities, UXPin enables designers to create interactive prototypes, collaborate with stakeholders, and seamlessly hand off designs to developers. UXPin鈥檚 design system features are particularly valuable, as they allow designers to maintain consistency and scalability by using reusable components.Figma: A cloud-based design tool widely used for its real-time collaboration features, making it easy for teams to work together on the same design files.Sketch: A vector-based design tool known for its simplicity and ease of use, particularly for UI and UX design tasks.What is a Product Manager?

A product manager (PM) plays a central role in guiding the product鈥檚 direction, ensuring it meets both user needs and business objectives. Often referred to as the 鈥淐EO of the product,鈥� the product manager takes on a strategic role, overseeing everything from product vision and development to launch and continuous improvement. While product designers focus on the how of the user experience, the product manager focuses on the what and why, aligning the team around a shared vision and clear objectives.

Key Responsibilities of a Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for bridging the gap between business strategy and execution, which involves coordinating with design, development, marketing, and sales teams. Key responsibilities include:

Product Strategy and Vision: Defining the product鈥檚 purpose, setting long-term goals, and shaping a vision that aligns with company objectives and user needs.Prioritization and Roadmapping: Developing and maintaining the product roadmap, prioritizing features, and determining the sequence of work to maximize impact and value.Stakeholder Communication: Acting as the primary point of contact for cross-functional teams, gathering input, sharing updates, and managing expectations across departments.User and Market Research: Conducting research to understand user needs, market trends, and competitive landscapes, ensuring the product鈥檚 value and relevance.Metrics and Success Tracking: Defining and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate product success and inform future decisions.

The ultimate goal of a product manager is to create a product that aligns with the company鈥檚 goals while delivering real value to users. To do this effectively, a PM balances strategic priorities, development constraints, and user feedback.

Key Skills of a Product Manager

The diverse responsibilities of a product manager require a blend of strategic thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Essential skills for this role include:

Product Strategy: The ability to shape a product鈥檚 direction based on company goals, user insights, and market analysis.Prioritization and Decision-Making: A strategic approach to making choices about what goes into the product, often requiring tough calls on feature inclusion, timelines, and budget.User Empathy: A deep understanding of the target audience and their pain points, helping to make user-centered product decisions.Communication and Stakeholder Management: Strong interpersonal skills to align cross-functional teams, manage expectations, and advocate for the product.Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret data, measure success, and apply insights to inform product changes or future direction.Tools Commonly Used by Product Managers

Product managers rely on various tools to help them plan, prioritize, and communicate effectively with their teams. Some of the most popular tools include:

Jira: A project management tool favored for its ability to track progress, manage sprints, and organize tasks, helping PMs coordinate with development teams.Trello: A visual task management tool useful for maintaining high-level overviews of project status and prioritization.Asana: A collaborative tool that enables product managers to assign tasks, track project milestones, and align team members around a shared plan.Key Differences Between Product Designer and Product Manager

Product designers and product managers play distinct yet complementary roles in product development. While product designers focus on the usability and aesthetics of the product, product managers concentrate on the overall strategy, roadmap, and alignment with business goals. Understanding their differences in skill sets, tasks, goals, and success metrics can help create a more effective collaboration between the two roles.

Skill Set: Product designers focus heavily on design skills, such as UX/UI design and prototyping, to ensure the product is both visually pleasing and intuitive. Product managers, on the other hand, rely on skills in product strategy, prioritization, and communication to align the product with both business goals and user needs.Primary Focus: Product designers concentrate on the user experience, crafting interfaces and interactions that are easy to navigate and align with brand standards. Product managers focus on the larger product vision, ensuring the product meets company objectives and is developed within time and resource constraints.Day-to-Day Tasks: The day-to-day activities of a product designer typically involve wireframing, prototyping, and iterating based on user feedback, while product managers spend much of their time on strategic planning, coordinating with stakeholders, and prioritizing the development roadmap.Project Goals: For product designers, the primary goal is to create an effective, aesthetically pleasing product that resonates with users. Product managers aim to create a product that aligns with business strategies and delivers measurable outcomes, such as increased engagement or revenue.Success Metrics: Product designers measure success through metrics like usability, visual consistency, and overall user satisfaction. Product managers, however, are often evaluated based on key performance indicators (KPIs), user engagement, and the business impact of the product.Tools Used: Product designers use design tools like UXPin, Figma, and Adobe XD, whereas product managers rely on planning and analytics tools like Jira, Productboard, and Google Analytics to manage the product lifecycle and gather insights.Collaboration Points: Product designers and product managers frequently collaborate to align design with strategy, exchanging insights to refine the product based on user feedback and technical feasibility. This collaboration ensures that user-centered designs are also aligned with broader business objectives.

By understanding these distinctions, companies can better leverage the unique strengths of both roles, fostering a balanced approach to product development that combines strategic insight with thoughtful design.

Key Areas of CollaborationIdeation and Concept DevelopmentDuring the early stages of product development, product designers and product managers collaborate closely to define the product鈥檚 vision. The product manager brings insights about user needs, market trends, and business objectives, while the product designer contributes ideas for how the product should look and feel to achieve these goals.In brainstorming sessions, designers and PMs exchange ideas, mapping out potential features and user journeys. This collaboration ensures that both strategic and design perspectives shape the product from the outset.Prototyping and ValidationAs ideas solidify, product designers begin developing prototypes to bring the concepts to life. Product managers work alongside them to validate that the prototypes align with the roadmap and priorities, providing feedback based on user requirements and business objectives.Prototyping platforms like UXPin are particularly valuable here. With UXPin鈥檚 interactive prototyping capabilities, designers can create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes that PMs can easily review and test. This shared visual model reduces misunderstandings and allows both roles to spot potential issues early on.User Feedback and IterationOnce a prototype is ready, gathering user feedback becomes essential. Product managers and product designers work together to analyze user feedback, which informs iterations and improvements.Product managers interpret feedback through the lens of overall strategy, while designers focus on usability and user satisfaction. This collaborative analysis ensures the product remains user-centered while also meeting broader product goals.Design System Consistency and Development HandoffConsistency is key to delivering a polished, cohesive product experience. Designers use design systems to maintain uniformity across components, layouts, and interactions, which helps reduce inconsistencies during handoff to developers.UXPin Merge bridges this design-development gap by allowing designers to use code-based components directly within the design tool, meaning the components used in design are identical to those in the final product. This not only keeps the design consistent but also reduces friction in handoffs between product design and engineering, as both designers and developers work with the same source of truth.Roadmap Alignment and Continuous CollaborationThroughout the product lifecycle, designers and product managers engage in continuous collaboration to ensure alignment with the roadmap. Product managers keep designers informed about any changes in priorities or timelines, while designers communicate updates on progress and design decisions.Tools like UXPin facilitate ongoing collaboration by centralizing design assets and feedback, enabling both roles to stay in sync even as the product evolves.Challenges in the Product Designer and Product Manager Relationship

While collaboration between product designers and product managers is essential for building successful products, it鈥檚 not without its challenges.Here are some common pain points in the product designer and product manager relationship, along with tips to overcome them through effective communication and alignment.

Conflicting PrioritiesProduct designers often prioritize user experience, focusing on elements that make the product more intuitive, enjoyable, and visually appealing. Product managers, however, may prioritize features that fulfill business objectives or meet tight deadlines, even if it means making compromises on certain design elements.Example: A designer might push for a more detailed onboarding experience to improve user engagement, while a product manager may want to launch with a simpler flow to meet time constraints.Balancing User Needs with Business GoalsDesigners advocate for the user, striving to address their pain points and create seamless interactions. Meanwhile, product managers must ensure that the product supports business goals, such as revenue targets or cost efficiency. This can lead to tension when a design solution benefits users but doesn鈥檛 directly align with immediate business objectives.Example: A product manager may want to add a feature that drives sales, while a designer might feel this addition clutters the user interface, making the product less user-friendly.Communication GapsProduct designers and managers sometimes lack clarity on each other鈥檚 constraints and workflows. Designers may not fully understand business pressures, while product managers may be unaware of the time and effort needed to execute certain design elements.Example: A product manager requests a new feature without realizing that the design team needs extra time to ensure it鈥檚 consistent with the product鈥檚 visual language, leading to frustration on both sides.Scope Creep and Misalignment on Feature PrioritizationScope creep happens when product managers or stakeholders continuously add features or adjustments, often late in the design process. This disrupts designers鈥� workflow and can compromise the quality of the final product. Misalignment on feature prioritization also arises when designers and PMs have different views on which features should take precedence.Example: A product manager might push for last-minute feature changes to meet a client request, while a designer struggles to adapt the design without compromising usability.Tips for Effective Communication and AlignmentEstablish Clear Goals and Priorities Early OnDuring the planning phase, product designers and product managers should work together to define the project鈥檚 goals, priorities, and non-negotiables. Setting these guidelines from the start helps both roles stay focused on a shared vision, even when adjustments are needed later.Tip: Use collaborative project planning tools to create a shared document or roadmap, outlining key milestones, goals, and design expectations.Emphasize Empathy and Understanding for Each Role鈥檚 ConstraintsA mutual understanding of each other鈥檚 priorities and constraints can improve empathy and reduce friction. Designers should be encouraged to consider the business side of their decisions, while product managers benefit from understanding the design team鈥檚 creative process and challenges.Tip: Regular cross-functional meetings and open discussions can foster this understanding. Consider holding 鈥渞ole reversal鈥� sessions where designers and product managers explain the complexities of their roles to one another.Implement Regular Check-ins and Feedback LoopsFrequent check-ins allow both designers and product managers to stay aligned as the project progresses. These can be weekly or biweekly sessions where teams discuss updates, adjust priorities, and resolve any emerging conflicts. A structured feedback loop also ensures that both roles have input before significant changes are made.Tip: Use collaborative tools like UXPin, which allows product designers and managers to review interactive prototypes, making feedback more visual and immediate. UXPin Merge can also reduce back-and-forth by ensuring that design components reflect the latest codebase, minimizing misalignment.Create a Decision-Making Framework for PrioritizationA decision-making framework helps teams assess feature requests and prioritize effectively based on criteria like user impact, business value, and design feasibility. This framework empowers designers and PMs to evaluate requests objectively, minimizing conflicts around prioritization.Tip: Agree on a priority scoring system or criteria checklist that both roles can use to evaluate features, making it easier to reach a consensus on what goes into each release.Document and Communicate Changes PromptlyScope changes and new requirements are inevitable, but they can lead to frustration if not communicated promptly and transparently. Having a process for documenting and communicating changes ensures that designers and product managers are aligned on expectations.Tip: Use a shared tool or document to track changes, providing updates to the entire team so everyone is aware of the latest priorities and requirements.The Role of UXPin in Facilitating Collaboration

UXPin supports this collaborative relationship through design tools like UXPin Merge, which allow designers to work with actual code components. This helps maintain visual and functional consistency across designs, ensuring that what鈥檚 designed is what鈥檚 developed. Additionally, UXPin鈥檚 interactive prototypes offer a realistic preview of the product, helping product managers visualize the user experience early and align it with the strategic direction.

In short, the collaboration between product designers and product managers is vital to building products that resonate with users and fulfill business objectives. By blending strategy with user-centered design, and leveraging tools like UXPin to streamline workflows, designers and PMs can achieve a balance that brings their shared vision to life. .

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Published on October 28, 2024 03:24

October 23, 2024

The Future of Product Design 鈥� Top 2025 Predictions

We鈥檝e looked at various trends and technology to make predictions for the future of product design. Rather than put on a tinfoil hat and talk about flying cars, we鈥檝e focused on how current tech will evolve and identified some real opportunities for product designers and developers to innovate.

This article explores six key topics: AI, voice user interfaces, code-to-design innovation, humanity-centered design, and smart cities. The opportunities for product designers are immense, with fully interconnected cross-device and platform systems required for the next decade and beyond.

Code to design is the future of product development鈥�and it鈥檚 already here. Bridge the gap between design and development with a single source of truth from UXPin Merge. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

AI will become integral to design systems, allowing teams to automate processes, optimize user flows, and create smarter interfaces. By 2025, design systems will incorporate AI to facilitate dynamic component generation. UXPin鈥檚 , for example, already allows designers to generate custom UI components based on high-level design briefs or even user data, speeding up prototyping while maintaining accuracy and consistency with the system鈥檚 code.

AI will assist with generating and managing components, ensuring they adhere to brand guidelines and usability principles. Designers can focus on high-level strategy while AI fills in the details, making processes more efficient.

Multimodal and Voice Interfaces

By 2025, designers will need to focus on multimodal interfaces that seamlessly integrate voice, gestures, and touch. such as those in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa will become even more advanced, allowing for more complex interactions that go beyond simple commands.

Designers will have to blend traditional visual UIs with voice and gesture-based systems, ensuring smooth user experiences across multiple interaction modes.

VUIs will be particularly important in industries like healthcare and automotive, where hands-free interactions are becoming standard. AI-powered voice interfaces will also offer more personalized user experiences, adapting based on user habits and preferences.

AI-Assisted Prototyping and Testing

Prototyping and usability testing will benefit from AI-powered automation. Tools like UXPin Merge and Maze already leverage AI to streamline the design-to-development process, helping with theming, customization, and code-backed component generation.

In addition to automating prototyping, AI will also assist in usability testing. Tools like Maze, which use AI to analyze user interactions, will provide immediate insights and suggest design improvements. Designers will have access to real-time feedback, enabling faster iterations and more user-centered solutions.

Advanced Personalization with AI

Personalization will go beyond tailored content to offer more profound user-specific experiences. Designers will use AI to create custom UI components based on real-time data and user behavior. This will allow product teams to deliver personalized experiences at scale, where interfaces can adjust to individual preferences in real time.

This level of AI-driven personalization will ensure that products feel intuitive and engaging for diverse audiences. Design tools will harness AI to dynamically change layouts, navigation, and other key elements based on how users interact with the product, ensuring a seamless and adaptive experience.

Ethical and Sustainable Design Practices

By 2025, ethical design and sustainability will be non-negotiable components of product design. Tools like Adobe鈥檚 Sustainability Toolkit and platforms promoting ethical AI will guide designers in making responsible choices, from minimizing carbon footprints to ensuring inclusivity. AI tools can assist in flagging design decisions that may lead to ethical concerns, such as bias in algorithms or lack of accessibility in interfaces.

AI will also help teams make sustainability-driven decisions by optimizing design resources and reducing data-heavy interactions. Designers will have the tools to balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring their products contribute positively to both users and the environment.

Immersive Experiences with AR and VR

Augmented reality and virtual reality will continue to grow in importance by 2025. Tools like Unity and Blender will be essential for designers looking to create immersive 3D experiences for industries ranging from retail to healthcare. Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest are pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible, and designers will need to adapt by learning new skill sets for creating interactive, multi-dimensional experiences.

AR/VR interfaces will become more intuitive as AI enhances interaction design, making these experiences feel more seamless and natural. These technologies will be integrated into everyday products, from virtual shopping apps to immersive training platforms, creating new avenues for user engagement.

Future Product Design With UXPin uxpin merge component sync

Traditional UX design methods and workflows are slow and cumbersome. The design-to-code process is inefficient and doesn鈥檛 facilitate the speed and accuracy required to meet modern technologies and demands.

UXPin Merge and code-to-design are the future of product development. The streamlined design methodology enables anyone from inexperienced solopreneurs to multinational enterprises to prototype and test ideas with code-like fidelity and functionality.

Reasons why code to design enhances product development:

A single source of truth between designers and engineers from a centralized repo reduces the inefficiencies and challenges of design-to-code workflows.Realistic prototypes improve testing so product teams can identify better opportunities and solve more problems during the design process.Realistic, interactive prototypes mean stakeholders can accurately visualize the final product resulting in meaningful feedback and increased confidence in the design process.Code to design results in faster time-to-market with better quality and fewer usability issues, .

Take your product design process into the future with the world鈥檚 most advanced end-to-end design tool. .

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Published on October 23, 2024 05:54

AI Personas 鈥� How to Use ChatGPT to Create Personas

Using AI like ChatGPT to create AI personas for UX design is an emerging practice that can enhance the persona development process, making it faster, more data-driven, and adaptable. Here鈥檚 how it works and the potential benefits.

If you鈥檙e a fan of AI in design, Merge AI is sure to catch your attention. With UXPin鈥檚 design tool with AI features, you can combine the power of code-based design systems with AI-driven component generation for more consistent UI and faster design decisions. This innovative tool bridges the gap between designers and developers, ensuring that what you design is exactly what gets built. Test Merge AI for 14 days on trial. .

Build advanced prototypes

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AI personas are simulated user profiles . These personas are designed to represent different user segments based on data and insights. Traditionally, are crafted through , interviews, and surveys. With AI, personas can be generated or enriched by analyzing large sets of user data, behaviors, and , allowing for more dynamic and up-to-date user representations.

How to Create AI Personas with ChatGPT

AI personas can transform the traditional by offering dynamic, data-driven profiles that evolve with real user behaviors. can assist UX designers in creating, refining, and updating personas quickly and efficiently. Here鈥檚 a comprehensive guide on how to leverage ChatGPT for creating AI personas.

Step 1: Understand Your Target Audience and Gather Initial Data user search user centered

Before using ChatGPT to generate personas, it鈥檚 essential to collect or define the data sources that represent your users. AI personas should be grounded in real information to be truly effective. Some sources include:

User Surveys: Existing data from .Analytics: Data from Google Analytics, heatmaps, and other .Customer Feedback: Information from , support tickets, and feedback forms.Market Research: Industry reports and .

Once you鈥檝e gathered your , you can feed relevant details to ChatGPT to help generate more accurate personas.

Step 2: Start with Basic Prompts to Generate Persona Outlines

To create AI personas with ChatGPT, you鈥檒l need to start by defining the basic traits that make up a persona. You can use ChatGPT to generate these traits by . Here鈥檚 an example prompt to begin creating an outline:

Prompt Example: 鈥淗elp me create a UX persona for a young professional who uses mobile apps to manage personal finances. Include details like age, occupation, goals, pain points, and preferred technology.鈥�

ChatGPT will then generate a persona with a specific user profile based on the information provided. You can adjust this as needed by asking more detailed follow-up questions or refining the initial prompt.

Example Output:

Name: Emily JonesAge: 29Occupation: Marketing ManagerGoals: Track monthly spending, build savings, plan for retirement.Pain Points: Struggles with overly complex finance apps; concerned about data privacy.Technology: Uses mobile apps on iPhone, prefers clean, simple UIs, syncs with banking apps.Step 3: Expand Persona Details with Specific Prompts

Once you have a basic persona outline, you can use ChatGPT to enrich it with more specific details, such as motivations, behaviors, or even the type of content they prefer. Here are prompts to expand the persona:

Goals and Motivations: 鈥淲hat are the main motivations for Emily Jones to use a personal finance app?鈥�User Behavior: 鈥淒escribe how Emily typically interacts with personal finance apps on her mobile device.鈥�Pain Points: 鈥淲hat are the biggest pain points for users like Emily when it comes to managing personal finances through mobile apps?鈥�Daily Routine: 鈥淒escribe Emily鈥檚 daily routine and when she is most likely to interact with financial tools or apps.鈥�

This iterative process allows you to build detailed, well-rounded personas by continuously refining the responses ChatGPT provides.

Step 4: Create Multiple Personas for Different User Segments

UX projects often need multiple personas to represent different user segments. You can use ChatGPT to create additional personas by altering the input criteria. For example:

Prompt Example: 鈥淐reate a persona for an older adult who is less tech-savvy and needs an intuitive mobile app for tracking retirement savings.鈥�

This will generate a persona for a different demographic, and you can repeat the process to capture a variety of user segments (e.g., tech-savvy millennials, older users, or small business owners).

Example Output:

Name: Richard CooperAge: 62Occupation: RetiredGoals: Simplify budgeting for retirement savings.Pain Points: Finds most apps too complex, worried about making financial mistakes.Technology: Uses Android but prefers apps with large text and straightforward navigation.Step 5: Use Data to Refine and Validate Personas

After generating initial personas with ChatGPT, you should validate these personas with actual data and feedback. Here鈥檚 how you can do it:

Validate with Real User Feedback:Compare AI-generated personas with real user feedback from interviews or surveys to ensure they align with actual behaviors and needs.Refine Personas Using Additional Data:Use analytics data (such as app usage patterns, popular features, or common drop-off points) to refine personas, updating pain points, goals, or behaviors based on real-world insights.Iterate Based on Testing:During usability testing, gather more feedback on how users like 鈥淓mily鈥� or 鈥淩ichard鈥� interact with your product. Use this to fine-tune the personas further.Step 6: Create Scenarios and Journey Maps Using Personas

Once you鈥檝e created your AI personas, you can prompt ChatGPT to create specific or for each persona. This will help you visualize how each persona interacts with your product.

Scenario Prompt Example: 鈥淐reate a user scenario for Emily Jones using a new feature in a personal finance app that helps her track her spending habits.鈥�

Example Output:

Scenario: Emily opens the personal finance app at the end of the week to review her spending. She navigates to the 鈥淲eekly Summary鈥� feature, where she sees a breakdown of her spending by category. Emily uses the feature to spot an increase in dining out expenses and sets a goal to reduce that spending next month.

You can also generate full user journey maps for a persona by prompting ChatGPT to outline the during a specific interaction, such as signing up for the app or .

Step 7: Use Personas for Cross-Team Collaboration designops picking tools options

Share AI-generated personas with your team to ensure everyone is aligned. Personas can help:

Developers understand key features and .Marketers tailor communication and campaigns based on user motivations.Designers craft user-centered interfaces that address personas鈥� and goals.

By integrating AI personas into the workflow, have a common understanding of the target users, leading to more .

Step 8: Continuously Update and Improve Personas designops efficiency arrow

One of the key benefits of using AI-generated personas is their ability to evolve. As you gather more data, continue using ChatGPT to update the personas with new insights. This dynamic approach ensures that your personas stay relevant and reflective of real user needs over time.

Update Example: 鈥淏ased on recent feedback, Emily鈥檚 financial goals have changed. Update her persona to reflect a greater focus on long-term investment planning.鈥�

Best Practices for Using AI in Persona DevelopmentCombine AI with Qualitative Research: While AI like ChatGPT can speed up persona creation, always supplement personas with qualitative user research (interviews, surveys) to ensure depth and accuracy.Validate AI Personas with Real Data: Use analytics and real user interactions to refine and confirm the personas created by ChatGPT.Keep Personas Dynamic: Don鈥檛 treat personas as static. Continuously update them with new data and insights as user behavior evolves.Collaborate with the Entire Team: Share the personas across all teams鈥攄evelopment, marketing, and design鈥攕o everyone works from the same understanding of your target users.Advantages of Using AI PersonasSpeed 鈥� AI can dramatically speed up the persona creation process. Instead of weeks of research and manual creation, AI can help you generate personas in a matter of minutes by processing large datasets or using existing insights.Data-Driven Insights 鈥� AI personas can be based on actual user behavior and real-time data rather than relying solely on assumptions or limited qualitative research. This makes them more representative of current user needs and trends.Scalability 鈥揂I can generate personas for multiple user segments quickly, which is useful for large projects or products that target diverse audiences. You can also create dynamic personas that evolve as new data comes in.Consistency 鈥揂I ensures consistency across persona creation, reducing the subjective bias that can occur when different team members manually create personas. ChatGPT can be programmed to follow specific guidelines or criteria, maintaining uniformity.Adaptability 鈥� Unlike traditional personas that can become outdated over time, AI personas can be updated easily by feeding new data into the system. This adaptability allows designers to keep pace with changing user needs and market conditions.Challenges and ConsiderationsAccuracy and Depth 鈥� While AI like ChatGPT can analyze and generate personas based on available data, it may lack the depth of insights gained from direct user interactions. AI personas should be supplemented with qualitative research to ensure they capture the emotional and psychological nuances of users.Ethical Concerns 鈥� AI-generated personas rely on data, which raises ethical considerations about data privacy and bias. Care must be taken to ensure that data used is representative, unbiased, and complies with privacy regulations.Over-Reliance on AI 鈥� AI should not replace human intuition and empathy in the persona creation process. While AI can assist, it鈥檚 essential for designers to remain engaged with users through interviews and research to fully understand their needs.Are AI Personas Any Good?

AI like ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for creating or enhancing UX personas. It speeds up the persona development process, allows for dynamic updates, and provides more data-driven insights. However, it鈥檚 important to combine AI-generated personas with traditional user research to ensure depth, empathy, and ethical integrity in your design process. By using AI personas, UX designers can save time, focus on more strategic tasks, and create more accurate and adaptable user profiles.

UXPin鈥檚 Merge revolutionized how teams design by allowing them to create fully functional, code-based components directly in the design tool. Now, with the power of AI, UXPin takes your design process to an entirely new level. Imagine the seamless integration of design systems and AI component generation that fits your design system perfectly. Test Merge AI for 14 days on trial. .

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Published on October 23, 2024 01:24

October 21, 2024

UX Process Cheat Sheet for Busy Teams

A cheat sheet is a concise reference guide that provides quick, essential information about a particular topic or process. It鈥檚 designed to simplify complex information into easy-to-follow steps without having to sift through large amounts of content.

In the context of UX process, a cheat sheet might outline the steps in the design process It acts as a quick, structured tool to guide you through each step, ensuring that important tasks are not overlooked and that the design work remains organized and efficient.

If you鈥檙e working in a large team, use UXPin to streamline your entire UX process and improve collaboration across departments. UXPin offers an all-in-one design tool that allows designers, developers, and stakeholders to work seamlessly together. With UXPin, you can create high-fidelity prototypes with real, interactive components鈥攏o need for switching between multiple tools or handoffs that lose important details. Try UXPin for free.

Build advanced prototypes

Design better products with States, Variables, Auto Layout and more.

The cheat sheet transforms chaos into clarity, giving your the tools to succeed from day one. It not only helps you stay on track but also elevates your work, turning good designs into great user experiences. With it, you鈥檙e not just completing a 鈥攜ou鈥檙e crafting a product that truly solves , delights users, and exceeds expectations.

With this cheat sheet, you know exactly where to start: gathering insights from , mapping out , and conducting solid . As you move from ideation to prototyping and testing, the cheat sheet ensures no steps are overlooked. It keeps the team , helps you avoid mistakes, and provides a for each member to follow.

This cheatlist becomes handy when dealing with stakeholders. They can see the process is professional and methodical, and they trust the final product will meet user needs because you鈥檝e built it around research and continuous . Every decision you make is and user . Instead of feeling lost, you鈥檙e confidently delivering a product that鈥檚 been validated at every step.

UX Process Cheat Sheet

Here鈥檚 a UX Process Cheat Sheet that provides an overview of key steps in a typical . This cheat sheet can help teams streamline their and ensure a .

1. Discovery (Research Phase)Goal: Understand the problem space, users, and business objectives.Action Steps:Conduct stakeholder interviews to define business goals, project scope, and success metrics.Perform user research through interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries to understand , behaviors, and motivations.Analyze competitors by identifying market gaps and opportunities.Review user data and performance metrics to and identify areas for improvement.Conduct a SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the product.Document detailed user personas and user journey maps.Compile a report, highlighting key findings.Draft a preliminary PRD that outlines product goals, constraints, and user requirements.2. Product Definition (Define Phase)Goal: Establish a that aligns with .Action Steps:Organize a product kickoff meeting to align all stakeholders on the product vision, roles, and responsibilities.Define value propositions, customer segments, and goals.Conduct a to ensure the product concept is achievable.Perform a risk assessment to identify potential roadblocks and how to mitigate them.Create a product vision document that defines the long-term strategic vision.Create a detailed (FSD) to outline technical requirements such as supported platforms, input fields, error messages, and system behaviors.3. Ideation (Creative Phase)Goal: Generate that address user needs and business objectives.Action Steps:Facilitate brainstorming and to generate a range of possible solutions.Conduct to identify and validate key assumptions about users, the market, and technical constraints.Create to visualize the ecosystem and interactions users have with the product.Organize and prioritize features using card sorting exercises and a user task matrix.Develop rough sketches and to visualize key concepts.Prioritize the feature list based on technical feasibility, business impact, and user needs.4. Prototyping (Design Phase)Goal: Create to test ideas and validate user flows.Action Steps:Build low-fidelity prototypes using UXPin to quickly test concepts and user flows.Create prototypes focused on structure, user flow, and content hierarchy, without visual styling.Create a to plan how messaging, content structure, and hierarchy align with user needs.Implement accessibility guidelines to (e.g., color contrast, screen reader compatibility).Design microinteractions that .Develop high-fidelity prototypes that include branding, visual design, and detailed interaction elements.Establish a design system, if needed, to 5. Testing (Validation Phase)Goal: Validate through .Action Steps:Conduct usability testing sessions with real users to gather qualitative feedback on ease of use and .Implement A/B testing to and determine the most effective solution.Perform heuristic evaluations to and best practices.Validate frequent user tasks using the user task matrix to ensure the most critical functions are easy to use.Test for accessibility using to ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines.Monitor performance benchmarks to ensure the product runs efficiently across devices.Document usability findings and iterate on the design based on feedback.6. Build (Implementation Phase)Goal: Translate the validated design into a working product through .Action Steps:Prepare and deliver and assets to developers using tools.Plan development sprints using an , ensuring continuous feedback loops with stakeholders.Integrate automated testing tools for functionality, performance, and security to ensure code quality during development.Implement design QA processes to ensure the final build matches design specifications and functions as expected.Use bug tracking software (e.g., JIRA) to monitor, document, and resolve issues as they arise.Perform dogfooding (internal testing) by having your own team use the product to find bugs and usability issues.Document technical details for future reference and maintenance.7. Iteration & Continuous ImprovementGoal: Continuously refine and improve the product based on real-world data and user feedback.Action Steps:Set up feedback loops with customer support, sales, and other customer-facing teams to collect real-world issues and suggestions.Monitor analytics and performance metrics using tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to or areas for improvement.Conduct post-launch A/B testing and usability testing to further optimize the product experience.Use feature flagging to release new features incrementally and gather feedback from specific user segments.Update the product roadmap based on feedback, performance data, and business priorities.Iterate on key features based on insights from post-launch analysis.Supplemental Tools and Documentation:Action Steps:Create a Functional Specifications Document (FSD) with precise technical details, including data input fields, validation rules, and interaction behaviors.Develop a Design Specification Document that includes detailed typography, spacing, grids, colors, and reusable components.Draft a QA Test Plan outlining the steps and criteria for testing the product鈥檚 functionality, usability, and performance.Implement a Content Strategy Document to plan and manage content structure, governance, and updates.Maintain a Product Roadmap that outlines future features, updates, and iterations based on feedback and performance data.How to use UX Process Checklist?

To use this checklist effectively in your UX process, follow these steps:

Set Up at the Start of Your Project

Begin by reviewing the checklist before you start the project. Identify which phases of the UX process are most relevant to your current project and align them with your goals, team structure, and timeline.

Integrate into Your Workflow

Break your project into stages that mirror the checklist鈥檚 phases: Discovery, Product Definition, Ideation, Prototyping, Testing, Build, and Iteration. Assign team members to each phase and ensure they understand their responsibilities.

Track Progress

Use the checklist as a progress tracker. After each phase is completed, review the corresponding steps in the checklist to ensure nothing has been overlooked. Check off completed tasks and revisit areas where refinement or additional work may be required.

Collaborate with Your Team

Share the checklist with your team so everyone has a clear understanding of the process. Use it as a guide in meetings to set expectations, discuss progress, and resolve any blockers.

Adapt and Iterate

Not every project will follow the exact same path. Adapt the checklist as needed for specific projects鈥攁dd tasks for unique requirements or skip phases if they don鈥檛 apply. Remember to review and iterate on the checklist itself after each project to improve its relevance for future work.

Maintain Accountability

Use the checklist as a source of accountability. Keep it visible to track what has been done and what鈥檚 next, ensuring that the entire team stays aligned and responsible for delivering on time and meeting the project鈥檚 goals.

Use UX Process Checklist to Track Your Projects

By using checklists effectively, you can ensure a smooth, structured, and user-focused design process, leading to high-quality products delivered on time.

When it comes to delivering exceptional design and streamlining project workflows, UXPin stands out as the ultimate tool for UX designers and teams. UXPin brings everything you need鈥攄esign, prototyping, and collaboration鈥攊nto one platform, making it easy to manage the entire design process from start to finish.

UXPin is your all-in-one solution that saves time, reduces friction, and ensures that every design decision is validated and user-centered. If you鈥檙e looking for a tool that makes designing smarter, faster, and more collaborative in real time, UXPin is the best choice for any team. .

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Published on October 21, 2024 04:50

October 18, 2024

13 Best Design System Examples in 2024

Design system is a set of components, rules, style guides, and documentation used to build a coherent and on-brand interface of a product. Most brands create their own design system and we prepared a list of thirteen most popular design systems that you can learn a lot from. Those and other design system examples can be found in our design system repository called .

Boost design system adoption and governance with UXPin Merge. Bring all interactive components from your design system to the editor, build fully interactive prototypes, and keep your designs consistent. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

A is a collection of all design resources that a product team may use to build user interface of their app, website, eCommerce store or any other they need to develop.

Design systems aren鈥檛 only for designers. They are also for developers, as they contain all code snippets and development resources with necessary front-end code together with documentation as well as design guidelines, relevant plugins, design patterns, style guides, reusable components, rules plus guidelines, and all other building blocks useful for web design and development workflow.

These design systems are then hosted as websites online and can be publicly available (they are open-source design systems) or internal, whatever the brand decides.

We can think of a design system as a vast data library that acts as a valuable document with applicable instructions and examples, product design and coding guidelines, and a part of the UI kit all at the same time.

As you can see, there are many product design concepts related to design systems. If you want to learn to differentiate design systems from pattern libraries, component libraries, and UI kits, read our previous article on the topic: .

Why Are Companies Building Unique Design Systems?

Companies like Shopify, Google, AirBnB, and other are because they want:

Consistency 鈥� design systems act as a for design and development.Transparency 鈥� developers can use the directly, without needing to interpret design decisions.Scale 鈥� designers are able to build prototypes faster and streamline .Reusability 鈥� design systems facilitate the creation of prototypes with consistent components that can be shared within the organization.Clarity 鈥� design systems help ensure that design decisions are based on shared knowledge, making it easier for team members to understand and .What is There to Learn from Design Systems?

The majority of design systems follow rather general setup patterns.

The system often features its top navigation with the main categories: Design, Code, Language, Components, etc.

Each of these main categories has its subcategories that discuss things in more detail, making the most out of the . For instance, these subcategories could be something like Typography, Color, Forms, Banners, etc.

Following this intuitive navigation can get you valuable information about best practices in terms of design.

The Benefits of Creating a Design System

With a well-built design system in place, businesses can considerably improve their teamwork and streamline decision-making process, but that鈥檚 not all that you can get from creating a design system.

Such collection of guidelines, elements, and data minimizes communication issues between designers and developers and minimizes the room for potential UX design bugs or acquiring .

What鈥檚 more, having such a reference-rich library significantly reduces the necessary time to go from a to an actual product.

For example, uses together with Merge technology. This allows them to incorporate the interactive components to the UXPin library. That way, both designers and product team members alike can easily access these components and design with them over and over again.

Design systems are a great way to minimize the disconnect between designers and developers but are still not the ideal solution on their own. Thanks to the revolution, product team members can easily use the same tools and improve their workflow processes. This means that both developers and designers can access and use the same UI elements from one single source.听

Design System Challenges and Solution

Even when companies try to create their design system, specific issues and consistency disconnects can still happen, especially when maintaining all the elements, documentation and code.听

Learn more about design system challenges and solutions from one of the top design leaders 鈥� Johnson & Johnson. During our webinar, the J&J team shared all their best practices.听

Example 1: Porsche Design System Zrzut ekranu 2024 05 29 o 13.25.31

The is an exemplary model due to its comprehensive, well-documented, and high-standard approach to design and implementation, making it a valuable reference for anyone looking to create top-tier web applications.

The Porsche Design System stands out because it provides the essential design fundamentals and elements required for creating visually appealing and high-quality web applications. One of its key strengths lies in its , which streamline the design process for digital creators. Additionally, it includes coded Web Components and detailed usage guidelines, ensuring that the implementation is as smooth and consistent as the design.

What truly sets this system apart is its adherence to the rigorous Porsche quality standards and corporate design principles. Every component is meticulously built and tested, guaranteeing not only aesthetic excellence but also functional reliability. This holistic approach ensures that the final products are both beautiful and robust, reflecting the esteemed Porsche brand.

Example 2: Google Material Design System

Google Material Design System example from website

One of the most popular design system is Google鈥檚 Material Design. Google created and publicly shared their that goes into the tiniest details regarding everything there is to know about the design and design principles. Every UXPin user can easily use as they are one of the UXPin libraries.听

Thanks to this system, users can get valuable information that perfectly unifies UI and UX across .

Material Design allows other brands and individuals to have a strong foundation for building upon when it comes to their own , industry innovation and unique brand expression.

The main features of the Google Material Design System include:

Starter KitsDesign Source FilesMaterial ThemingLayoutTypographyColorComponentsMobile Guidelines

Google鈥檚 Material Design System looks very mature. It has a lot of design guidelines, but it also contains documentation about that are used in development. Did you know that such components can be used in design? Bring your developers鈥� components to design with UXPin鈥檚 Merge technology. .

Example 3: Apple Human Interface Guidelines Apple design system is called Human Interface guidelines and it is one of the best design systems

Apple has one of the top design system. It is called and it presents a vast and rather valuable design system resource for the web design essentials and pattern libraries but downloadable templates. The library is also available with a UXPin account.听

The system follows Steve Job鈥檚 design principles:

Craft with great precision and attention to detailEmphasize user experience and connection with the usersFocus on what鈥檚 truly important on a larger scaleGenerate wanted user reactions thanks to the specific design language and practicesUtilize the friendly aspect of high tech for both novice and advanced usersSimplify everythingFeatures of Apple Design System

Apple Human Interface Guidelines consist of practical resources, visual guidelines and style guides for both designers and developers for , macOS, vOS and watchOS.

Its includes about using:

MenusButtonsIcons and ImagesFields and LabelsWindow and ViewTouch BarIndicatorsSelectorsExtensionsVisual DesignVisual IndexApp ArchitectureSystem CapabilitiesUser InteractionThemesExample 4: Atlassian Design System

Atlassian Design System is one of the best out there. focuses on providing valuable assistance to teams from all over the world by making their collaboration seamless and easy. are also a part of UXPin鈥檚 library collection.听

Atlassian design philosophy is all about utilizing the digital experience to improve the productivity and overall potential of teams and individual team members, perfectly reflected in their globally used collaboration tools Trello and Jira.

That said, Atlassian Design System features agile practices and efficient tracking of every single step within a project that ultimately yields valuable results in terms of product delivery and development.

Features of Atlassian鈥檚 design system

Atlassian鈥檚 design system includes

brand valuesUI kitUI patternsillustration libraryExample 5: Uber Design System Uber design system is the best design system for automotive

According to Uber, movement ignites opportunity and that鈥檚 how they structured their design system.

After all, Uber service bases on movement with ride-hailing, peer-to-peer ridesharing, food delivery and micro-mobility involving scooters and electric bikes.

For this type of service to work impeccably, from sub-brands to internal ones and products to programs, Uber requires an effective design system that the company shares with the rest of the world.

Features of Uber Design System

Main features of to copy to your design system example:

Brand ArchitectureCompositionTone of VoiceMotionIllustrationPhotographyIconographyColorLogoTypographyExample 6: Shopify Design System Polaris Shopify is the best design system because it contains guides and components that create a wonderful user experience

Shopify is the best design system because it contains guides and components that create a wonderful user experience

Shopify is a global eCommerce platform that provides everything a brand may need to run and grow its business in one place.

It鈥檚 no wonder that their design principles focus on creating a better and more accessible commerce experience.

Shopify鈥檚 public design system called encompasses the company鈥檚 core values:

Be caring and considerate to the usersProvide people with the right tools to accomplish whatever they set out to doEnjoy the top level of craftsmanship that matches the brand imageMinimize the hustle by providing accurate and quick solutionsAlways build upon users鈥� trustMake the users feel comfortable with using the products

Polaris Design System provides an easy-to-follow and practical style guide for designing for the Shopify platform. It offers a vast knowledge base on utilizing UI components, visual elements, content, and design language for creating a better user experience and product in general.

Features of Shopify鈥檚 Design System

Shopify鈥檚 design system example includes main features that follow the practices mentioned above to a tee:

Data VisualizationAccessibilityInteraction StatesColorsTypographyIconsIllustrationsSpacingSoundsResourcesExample 7: Carbon IBM Design System IBM named their design system Carbon and here is its website screenshot

IBM named their design system Carbon and here is its website screenshot

IBM operates on a global scale by meeting large enterprise IT needs.

Their services range from business consulting and financing, software development and IT hosting/management to software-to-hardware products.

IBM鈥檚 core belief revolves around making constant progress, be that human condition, society or a brand, by utilizing science, reason and intelligence.

According to IBM, a good design is not only a mere requirement but an actual responsibility to the users.

Features of IBM鈥檚 Design System

This is where their shines with its main features, offering plenty of tools and visual resources for Adobe, Axure and Sketch designers as well as developers:

Data VisualizationPatternsComponentsGuidelinesTutorials

UXPin users can conveniently find everything they need from in their account as well.听

Example 8: Mailchimp Design System Mailchimp design system can teach us a lot about building long-lasting design systems

Mailchimp has come a long way from being a renowned email marketing leader to providing an all-in-one marketing platform that goes beyond email only.

Mailchimp has one clear goal: to help small businesses grow while remaining true to their brand identity and image.

Features of Mailchimpr鈥檚 Design System

That is also one of the many reasons behind creating the and its main features that focus on creative expression, better user experience and top quality:

Data VisualizationGrid SystemColorTypographyComponentsExample 9: Salesforce Lightning Design System Salesforce has a great design systems

Salesforce goes above and beyond to deliver a personalized experience to its users through the integrated cloud-based CRM software.

The purpose of the Salesforce CRM is to improve marketing, commerce, IT, service and sales efforts 鈥� and allows their users to do the same with their users.

Their design philosophy is reflected in the Hawaiian word for intentional family, Ohana, with four core values that drive their company actions and overall culture:

InnovationEqualityTrustCustomer SuccessFeatures of Salesforce Design System

Salesforce has put out their own that allows everyone working with content management systems to learn and benefit from its main features:

Design GuidelinesPlatformsAccessibilityComponents (and a lot of them)

are a part of the UXPin account libraries as well.听

Example 10: Pinterest Design System pinterest design system called gestalt

Pinterest created a design system that they named Gestalt. The company goes above and beyond to create a visually rich and personalized experience for its users, enabling them to discover, collect, and curate ideas from across the web. Through its intuitive platform, Pinterest empowers users to explore a vast array of topics, from home decor to recipes, and beyond, making it a leading destination for creative inspiration.

The purpose of Pinterest鈥檚 design system is to enhance every aspect of the user experience by promoting consistency, scalability, and accessibility across its platform. By leveraging the design system, Pinterest ensures that both internal teams and external partners can create cohesive, user-friendly interfaces that align with its core visual discovery mission.

Pinterest鈥檚 Design Philosophy: Pinners First

Pinterest鈥檚 design philosophy is driven by a commitment to empowering users (鈥淧inners鈥�) with a seamless and delightful experience, anchored by these core values:

Inspiration: Encouraging creativity and helping users discover ideas that fuel their passions.Simplicity: Delivering an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface that puts the user experience at the forefront.Empathy: Designing with the understanding of users鈥� diverse needs and backgrounds.Scalability: Creating a system that can grow and adapt as Pinterest evolves, while maintaining consistency across all platforms.Features of the Pinterest Design System

Pinterest has developed its own design system to ensure that designers and developers can create unified, visually consistent experiences.

Design GuidelinesResponsivenessAccessibilityReusabilityExample 11: Capital One Design System

Capital One goes above and beyond to deliver a user-centric and personalized experience across its digital financial services. Through its intuitive platform, Capital One empowers users to manage their banking, credit cards, and personal finance with ease, offering tools and resources that cater to diverse financial needs.

The purpose of Capital One鈥檚 design system is to ensure consistency, scalability, and accessibility across its products, enabling designers and developers to create seamless, secure, and engaging experiences for millions of customers. This system drives the creation of unified interfaces and interactions that align with Capital One鈥檚 mission to make banking smarter, faster, and easier.

Capital One鈥檚 Design Philosophy: Customers First

Capital One鈥檚 design philosophy is anchored in a commitment to providing customer-centric, intuitive digital experiences. It reflects the company鈥檚 dedication to putting customers at the heart of every design decision. The core values that guide their design efforts are:

Innovation: Constantly exploring new technologies and design patterns to stay ahead in the digital financial space.Simplicity: Prioritizing easy-to-use interfaces that streamline financial tasks for users.Trust: Building secure, reliable digital products that foster customer confidence in managing their finances.Accessibility: Ensuring inclusive designs that accommodate all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.Features of the Capital One Design System

Capital One鈥檚 design system offers a robust framework that enables designers and developers to create cohesive, scalable digital experiences. It is built with the flexibility to support a wide range of financial products while maintaining a consistent look and feel across platforms.

Through its thoughtfully crafted design system, Capital One ensures that its digital products provide a cohesive, intuitive, and accessible experience for its users. The system empowers teams to create financial tools that are not only functional but also user-friendly and secure, driving customer satisfaction and trust across every touchpoint.

Example 12: Intuit Design System best design system intuit

Intuit goes above and beyond to deliver intuitive, user-friendly experiences that simplify financial management for individuals and businesses alike. From TurboTax to QuickBooks, 滨苍迟耻颈迟鈥檚 suite of products is designed to make complex financial tasks easier, helping users manage their taxes, accounting, and personal finances with confidence.

The Intuit design system serves as the backbone for creating consistent, scalable, and efficient experiences across its wide range of financial products. By using a unified design framework, Intuit ensures that its customers can seamlessly navigate their financial journey, whether they鈥檙e filing taxes or managing business finances.

滨苍迟耻颈迟鈥檚 Design Philosophy: Design for Delight

滨苍迟耻颈迟鈥檚 design philosophy is centered around delivering delightful user experiences that simplify complex financial processes. The company is guided by key principles that ensure every interaction is crafted with care, empathy, and innovation. These principles include:

Empathy: Designing with a deep understanding of users鈥� financial challenges and needs.Craftsmanship: Striving for the highest quality in both design and functionality to make financial management easier.Speed: Ensuring that users can complete tasks quickly and efficiently, reducing the time spent on financial work.Trust: Building experiences that foster trust through transparency and reliability in financial data.Features of the Intuit Design System

滨苍迟耻颈迟鈥檚 design system provides a robust framework for designers and developers to create seamless, consistent, and scalable experiences across its products. It equips teams with the tools and guidelines needed to deliver intuitive and delightful user interfaces.

Example 13: Adobe Design System design system example adobe

Adobe has long been at the forefront of delivering innovative tools that empower creatives, designers, and businesses to bring their visions to life. From Photoshop to Illustrator and beyond, Adobe鈥檚 suite of products is known for its powerful functionality and user-centric design. To ensure a consistent and seamless user experience across its diverse portfolio, Adobe developed a robust design system that harmonizes its visual language, components, and interactions.

The Adobe design system, called Spectrum, acts as a foundational framework that enables designers and developers to build cohesive, scalable, and accessible experiences across Adobe鈥檚 extensive product lineup. This system helps unify the creative tools while allowing for flexibility and innovation in how products evolve.

Adobe鈥檚 Design Philosophy: Create for All

Adobe鈥檚 design philosophy is centered around empowering users to unlock their creativity, whether they are professionals, hobbyists, or businesses. The company is guided by core principles that inform every design decision, ensuring its products are accessible, powerful, and inspiring. These principles include:

Creativity: Enabling every user to express themselves through intuitive and powerful tools.Consistency: Providing a unified experience across Adobe鈥檚 products, so users can seamlessly switch between them.Inclusivity: Designing for all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, ensuring that creativity is accessible to everyone.Scalability: Building a design system that grows with Adobe鈥檚 expansive product suite, ensuring future-proofed design decisions.Features of the Adobe Design System

The Adobe design system is a comprehensive toolkit that supports designers and developers in creating consistent, scalable, and user-friendly experiences across all Adobe products. It combines design guidelines, reusable components, and accessibility features to create a seamless experience for users.

Make the Most of Design System: the UXPin Merge Way

Building and maintaining a design system can be challenging when there鈥檚 a communication gap between design and development teams. UXPin Merge eliminates these issues by enabling designers to work with the exact same components developers use in production. This means no more inconsistencies between your designs and the final product.

With UXPin Merge, your design system becomes more than just a static library of assets. It evolves into a dynamic, code-powered toolkit where each component is linked directly to the source code. Every UI element in your design matches production code perfectly, reducing the need for handoffs and extensive reviews.

Why UXPin Merge?

Create with Production-Ready Components: Drag-and-drop coded components directly into your designs. Forget about 鈥渇aking鈥� interactions or aligning to colors鈥攜our prototypes now use the exact same code components developers will use in the final build.Effortless Consistency: When your design system components are updated in the codebase, they鈥檙e automatically updated in UXPin. This ensures that every change is reflected across the entire design, reducing time spent on maintenance.Real-Time Collaboration: No more back-and-forth between teams. Designers can leverage Merge to build and test fully functional, high-fidelity prototypes without waiting on developers. This accelerates the design process and shortens project timelines.Scalable and Reliable: Easily manage complex design systems with Merge鈥檚 seamless integration with code repositories like Git or Storybook. As your design system scales, Merge helps maintain a single source of truth, ensuring all teams have access to the latest components and documentation.See Your Vision Come to Life鈥擡xactly as You Imagined

With UXPin Merge, you鈥檙e not just designing the look and feel鈥攜ou鈥檙e building the final product鈥檚 foundation. Avoid costly inconsistencies, improve collaboration, and watch as your design system evolves into a powerful bridge between design and development.

Ready to build the perfect design system with UXPin Merge? Start your journey today and experience the efficiency, consistency, and satisfaction of turning your design vision into reality. .

On the other end, developers get the prototype preview and continue to work with the available production-ready elements.

Which Design System Example is Your Favorite?

Design systems consist of tons of UI components and guidelines that are meant to optimize and improve the design efforts and promote consistency among the teams.

However, if the design system is poorly maintained and implemented, the said system can turn into nothing more than many clunky and confusing code snippets, libraries and components.

A design system can quickly help team members to promote consistency while also allowing designers to deal with more complex UX issues. And when you add revolutionary Merge tech to the mix, you can truly take your design system organization to the next level. .

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Published on October 18, 2024 05:32

Design System Checklist for 2024

Checklist what to do after launching a design system

A well-structured design system checklist guides your team through each essential step of creating a design system, ensuring that nothing gets overlooked鈥攆rom auditing current design patterns to standardizing elements like typography, color palettes, and spacing. It serves as a roadmap that helps you prioritize what鈥檚 most important, streamline collaboration between designers and developers, and ensure that the design system evolves as your product grows.

By following a checklist, you can avoid common pitfalls, maintain consistency across your UI, and create a system that is scalable and adaptable to new challenges. A design system checklist is not just a to-do list鈥攊t鈥檚 a strategic tool that helps you build a robust, sustainable design system that empowers your team to work more efficiently and deliver high-quality user experiences every time.

Manage your design system with UXPin鈥檚 code-to-design solution. Share your design system easily, document on the fly, and create advanced prototypes with interactive components. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

Here鈥檚 a structured 14-step checklist that ensures you build an efficient, consistent, and scalable design system.

1. Create the Patterns Inventory

A patterns inventory in a design system is essentially a collection of all the design patterns or used across a product or set of products. It鈥檚 like a catalog or checklist that helps teams identify, organize, and evaluate the consistency of the various components within the interface. These patterns can include things like buttons, form fields, navigation elements, typography, colors, icons, and more.

The goal of this process is to create a foundation for building or refining the design system, ensuring that every component is accounted for, standardized, and reusable. It also serves as a reference point for designers and developers to maintain consistency across the product as it evolves.

Here鈥檚 a design system checklist for running patterns inventory:

Collect Design Patterns: Take screenshots of design patterns or collect them directly from design project files.Organize Patterns: Categorize patterns based on your frontend architecture, if available. Common categories include elements, modules, and components.Consult Developers: Check if the frontend architecture is modular, and use it to organize patterns into categories.Categorize Without Modular Architecture: If there鈥檚 no modular architecture, manually categorize patterns (e.g., buttons, form fields, etc.) to identify inconsistencies.2. Create the Colors Inventory

A color inventory in a design system is a comprehensive audit of all the used across a product or . It involves identifying and cataloging every color used in the , including variations in shades, tints, tones, and any color variables defined in the code (like in CSS or ).

Here鈥檚 a design system checklist for color inventory:

List All Colors: Traverse code files and list all the color variables or colors used in CSS.Organize by Common Denominators: Group colors by hue, shades, tones, or similarity (e.g., grays, reds, greens).Identify Anomalies: Take note of anomalies, like too many shades of gray, and streamline the palette.3. Create the Typography Inventory

A typography inventory is an essential step in ensuring that your design system maintains a consistent, scalable approach to text styles across your product or projects.

Here鈥檚 a design system checklist for typography inventory:

Review Text Styles: Walk through the UI, checking all text styles through the browser console.Form a Typographic Scale: Organize text styles by their importance (e.g., from H1 to small text). Create multiple scales if necessary.Match Code with Styles: If CSS preprocessors (e.g., Sass) are used, note mixins and variables used to generate text styles.4. Create the Icons Inventory

An icons inventory in a design system is a comprehensive audit and cataloging of all the used across a product. It is designed to assess the consistency, quality, and relevance of the icons in the UI and to ensure that the icons adhere to the .

Here鈥檚 a design system checklist for icons inventory:

Inventory Icons: Identify all icon libraries used across the product.Mark Inconsistencies: Look for mismatches (e.g., different icons for the same action or mismatched icon families).Review Implementation Methods: Understand how icons are implemented (e.g., inline SVG, icon fonts) and note inconsistencies.5. Create the Space Inventory

A space inventory helps standardize and streamline how space is used in the UI, making designs more consistent, scalable, and easier to maintain. It creates a solid foundation for your design system鈥檚 layout, ensuring that spacing remains predictable and intentional throughout the product.

Here鈥檚 a design system checklist for space inventory:

Document Grid Systems: List and document grid systems used across the product portfolio.Check Padding and Spacing: Analyze container padding to spot inconsistencies.6. Get the Support of the OrganizationTeam Presentation: Explain the inventory process, highlight key inconsistencies, and present the design system as the solution.Stakeholder Presentation: Focus on how inconsistencies affect costs and development speed. Highlight measurable data (e.g., 62 shades of gray) to demonstrate the need for a design system.7. Build a Multidisciplinary Systems TeamList Skills Needed: Identify the necessary skills for fixing inconsistencies and managing the design system long-term.Allocate Time Realistically: Ensure that team members can allocate time to work on the design system, even if part-time.Clarify Roles and Sprints: Define roles, decision-making processes, and the length of sprints (e.g., one or two weeks).8. Make Key Decisions and Establish RulesDecide on System Foundation: Choose whether to build the system from scratch or use an existing product as the foundation.Technology Stack: Decide whether to use the existing tech stack or introduce new technology.Define KPIs: Set measurable goals for the design system, such as improving consistency or speed of implementation.Formulate Design Principles: Define shared values for the design system, such as consistency, craftsmanship, or accessibility.9. Build the Color PaletteUnify Colors: Use the color inventory to create a consistent color palette, ensuring no redundant or unused colors.Naming Conventions: Choose between abstract, actual, or functional names for colors (e.g., pigeon-gray, silver-base).Test the Palette: Ensure the palette works well across the UI and follows accessibility standards (WCAG).Implement and Present: Implement the palette in CSS, test the changes, and present it to designers for feedback.10. Build the Typographic ScaleCreate a Consistent Typescale: Build a typographic scale that includes font size, weight, line-height, etc.Test and Implement: Test the new scale across the UI, then implement it in CSS. Involve designers in the feedback process.Finalize and Document: Finalize the scale, document it, and make it available in design tools (e.g., UXPin, Sketch).11. Implement the Icons LibraryFinalize the Icons: Decide which icons to include and how they鈥檒l be implemented.Test and Review: Thoroughly test icons on a test server and ensure consistency across the product.Document and Deliver: Add icons to design system documentation and make them accessible in design tools.12. Standardize Other Style PropertiesStandardize Grid, Space, and Styles: Apply the same standardization process used for color, typography, and icons to grid systems, spacing, and other style properties.Test and Implement: Ensure everything is tested and reviewed before finalizing and communicating to the company.13. Build the First Design System PatternDecide on Pattern Architecture: Choose an architecture for your patterns (e.g., Atomic Design, modular components).Build and Test: Implement one pattern (e.g., buttons), test it with developers and designers, and iterate based on feedback.Finalize and Document: Add the pattern to the design system documentation and make it available in design tools.14. Run a Sprint Retrospective

In the context of a design system, the retrospective focuses on assessing how the team handled the specific tasks related to the system鈥檚 development, such as creating new components, documenting guidelines, testing implementations, or .

Review the Sprint: Summarize the outcomes and KPIs from the sprint and reflect on improvements for future sprints.What if You Need a Design System Fast?

If you need to and can鈥檛 afford to create a , here鈥檚 what you can do.

Take advantage of the pre-built component libraries in UXPin, like the . These libraries are integrated directly into UXPin and offer a great way to get started. They鈥檙e fully coded, so you can share them with your devs. They are well-documented, so you don鈥檛 need a design system documentation right away. And they鈥檙e fully customizable, so you can match them with your style guide.

Your team will be able to share the same components and they will be able to use components right away, and you can focus on making sure everything fits your brand鈥檚 style, like and . UXPin also allows you to apply themes to these components (), which means your designs can start looking like they belong to your product without a lot of heavy lifting.

If time鈥檚 a factor, you don鈥檛 have to redo everything at once. You can instruct developers to use existing components with specific properties, and since UXPin keeps everything dynamic, any changes you make later will automatically update across the system. This saves a ton of time down the line.

I鈥檇 also recommend focusing your energy on the 鈥攇etting your colors, typography, and visual feel in order. These are the foundations that will tie your system together. Plus, understanding how these libraries work will help you ensure everything fits nicely with how your product is built.

In the end, design systems can be tricky, but using UXPin鈥檚 pre-built libraries makes the whole process a lot more manageable. It鈥檒l give you more room to focus on the fun part鈥攁ctually designing great products.

Empower Your Team with a Robust Design System

Creating a design system might seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, it becomes a strategic investment that will enhance collaboration, ensure consistency, and improve scalability across your product. By following the checklist outlined above鈥攆rom building a patterns inventory to standardizing spacing, typography, and iconography鈥攜ou can ensure that your design system is well-organized, effective, and aligned with both design and development needs.

One of the key elements to making this process smoother is using a powerful tool like UXPin Merge. With UXPin鈥檚 built-in code libraries (MUI, Ant Design, React-Bootstrap or Tailwind kits), seamless integration with design and development workflows, and dynamic components, your team can create a design system that鈥檚 not only cohesive but also adaptable to future growth.

By taking incremental steps, focusing on key priorities like style guides and component libraries, and leveraging UXPin to align your design and development teams, you can build a system that ensures long-term success. So, don鈥檛 wait鈥攕tart building your design system with UXPin today, and empower your team to create scalable, efficient, and beautifully cohesive products! .

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Published on October 18, 2024 03:23

Product Design Guide 鈥� How to Create a Product Design?

Ever wondered why some digital products feel intuitive, while others leave you lost and frustrated? The key is effective digital product design.

In this comprehensive guide, we鈥檒l demystify the process of designing digital products, emphasizing the importance of user experience, prototyping, and iterative development. We鈥檒l also highlight common pitfalls to avoid in product design.

Key takeaways:

Product design is a process of creating an interactive interface of a digital product that aligns with user needs, business requirements, and technical constraints.Product designers are people in charge of creating the design of a product. To do this job, they can get a degree, attend courses and/or read books about product design.Product design has 5 distinctive steps, but it鈥檚 not a linear process; product designers may go back to certain steps if they uncover new insights.One of the step is prototyping 鈥� creating an interactive mockup of a product that shows behaviors and user journey prior to building the product in code.Successful product design puts emphasis on UX writing, manages errors, keep users in the center, and takes iterations seriously. An example of successful product design is Apple.

Our goal is to provide a definitive resource for anyone passionate about creating digital products that truly enhance people鈥檚 lives.

Design products 10x faster with our revolutionary Merge technology. Drag and drop interactive components to build a fully functional prototype that behaves like an end-product and follows your design system. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

Designing digital products is all about creating a solution that addresses a particular need or problem that people have. To do this, designers should follow this product design process:

Learn about target users 鈥� who are they? How do they behave? What do they like and dislike?Identify challenges that users face.Brainstorm potential solutions to these challenges.Figure out how your product might fit into the audiences鈥� lives., gathering feedback from people who might end up using it.听

To gain a deeper understanding of product design and discover the steps involved, read our dedicated article:

Product Designer vs UX Designer

Product designers and UX designers both have important roles in the development of a digital product, but while they share some common interests they鈥檙e quite separate functions.听

A UX designer is mainly focused on how the product feels to the user. In the early stages of a design project, they study users鈥� behavior and try to .听

A UX designer鈥檚 goal is to create a seamless and intuitive user journey, so they think carefully about how each step flows into the next. They want to ensure the user can accomplish their goals in the easiest way possible. They even incorporate into their designs to make digital products more usable.听

On the other hand, a product designer has a broader role that includes not only the user experience but also the business goals and technical constraints.

They are involved in all aspects of product development, from the initial idea to the final implementation. They look at the bigger picture, thinking about how all the pieces fit together to create a coherent whole. This includes how the product looks (), how it works (), and how it fits into the larger market.

In short, while UX designers focus on the and experience, product designers consider the entire product from a holistic perspective, including the . They both aim to create products that users love, but their approach and focus areas are slightly different.

To learn more, read our comparative piece on the . if you are interested in a role of product designer, check out .

How Do You Create a Product Design?

Here are five steps you can take to create your product design.

Step 1: Empathize with your users

This is arguably the most important step in product design. Understanding your users goes beyond knowing their demographics; it鈥檚 about empathizing with them. This means finding out about their needs, habits, , and desires as these all relate to your product.听

To do this, conduct in their natural environment. The more you know about your users, the better equipped you are to design a product that fits seamlessly into their lives.

Step 2: Identify the problem

Once you understand your users, the next step is to identify the problems they face, which your product could help solve.听

This is where you convert the insights you gained from empathizing with your users into a clear problem statement that captures the main issues your users are experiencing.听

While the statement needs to be clear and specific enough to provide guidance, it shouldn鈥檛 be overly prescriptive 鈥� it鈥檚 essential to allow room for flexibility and creative thought.听

Step 3: Ideation

This product design step is all about brainstorming as many ideas as possible. No idea is too wild or too mundane. Let your creativity flow, and try to think of every possible way to solve the problem you identified.听

Tools like can help visualize these ideas. And don鈥檛 worry about practicality or feasibility 鈥� the goal is quantity, not quality. The more ideas you have, the more raw material you have for the next step.

Step 4: Prototyping

Now it鈥檚 time to turn some of those ideas into tangible, testable, mini-versions of your product 鈥� also known as .听

Start with such as rough sketches. These let you quickly see how your product might work without investing too much time or resources.听

Once you鈥檙e satisfied with the basic function, you can . These are more detailed and , and they give a better representation of the final product.

Step 5: Testing

The final step is where you鈥檒l see if your product actually solves the problem it was designed for.听

Give your prototypes to actual users, watch them interact with your product, and listen to their feedback.听

Remember, this step is about learning and improving, not about proving that you鈥檙e right. Don鈥檛 be discouraged if there are issues; instead, see them as opportunities to refine your product.

Check out our 鈥溾€� article to learn more about this topic.

Best Tips on Product UX Design

These pointers should help to enhance the user experience of your product.

Don鈥檛 ignore UX writing

UX writing creates clear, useful text for digital products. It helps to reduce confusion and enhance navigation. Here are five essential UX writing tips:

Keep copy short and simple: the aim is to convey the necessary information in as few words as possible.Prioritize accessibility: make sure your text is easy to understand for all users 鈥� avoid jargon or colloquialisms.听Use visuals and formatting for clarity: If images can explain your ideas better than words, use them instead. Also, break up large chunks of copy into shorter and more scannable lists.听Use an active voice: it makes your writing easier to understand.听Play it straight: try not to be too clever or humorous.Test your designs 鈥� always

It鈥檚 essential to always test your designs. This ensures your product not only looks good but performs well and meets user expectations.听

You can use a variety of testing methods. Gather feedback from users representing your target audience, use online platforms to gain access to lots of remote users, or conduct in-person panels for detailed insights.听

Early testing catches issues when they鈥檙e still easy and cost-effective to fix. Just as importantly, it helps you stay laser-focused on delivering an excellent user experience, ultimately leading to a product that users will appreciate and love.

Regularly observe user behavior

As a designer, it can be tempting to assume users will intuitively understand your product. To avoid making this mistake, observe their behavior consistently. Monitoring users鈥� interactions can uncover unexpected behaviors or misunderstandings, which act as a reality check.

Tests don鈥檛 have to be extensive. You can . But ultimately, testing will improve your product鈥檚 intuitiveness and user-friendliness.

Deal with user errors

Product design involves two key steps in addressing user errors:

Helping users when they make a mistake.Analyzing these errors to fine-tune the user experience 鈥� For instance, if a user misses a required field when completing a form, a clear should guide them. But if many users can鈥檛 recover from a given mistake, the design needs revisiting.

Remember, users have varying tech skills and devices, so a minor hiccup for one might be a major obstacle for another. The designer鈥檚 role is to minimize these barriers, ensuring a seamless experience for everyone.

Introduce changes gradually

When you have several changes or improvements to make to a product, it鈥檚 best not to introduce them all at the same time.听

This is because if you make too many alterations at once, it can be hard to determine which changes are successful and which ones may need further tweaking.

To put it another way, if you adjust just one or two things, you can observe whether these changes fix the issues they were intended to resolve and if users understand and find them beneficial. This approach gives you a clear picture of each change鈥檚 effectiveness.

We鈥檙e discussing more tips on product UX design in our dedicated article. Give it a read: .

Best Tips on Prototyping for Product Design

A prototype is a simple model of your product that shows its basic functions and can help turn your product ideas into reality. Here are some tips to make the most of this important design stage.

Decide what to show with your prototype聽

Before you start designing your prototype, follow these important steps:

1. Agree on what features your prototype needs to have.

2. Get a clear understanding of what the from your prototype.听

3. Discuss the product features with developers and identify any potential technical issues.

4. Think about whether the prototype can realistically be made into a full product and if it could be a real .

Gathering this information upfront can give clarity to your prototype designs, saving time and resources.听

Turn to rapid collaborative prototyping if you鈥檙e under time pressure聽

If you鈥檙e working to tight deadlines, can help you get to the testing stage much quicker.听

The idea is to create a workable model of the product in as little as a day. While the resulting prototypes are usually simpler and less polished, the emphasis is very much on 鈥� the cycle of building, testing, refining, and repeating.听

It helps if team members work together using a digital whiteboard and a collaborative product design tool like UXPin with its Merge technology, which lets you prototype with reusable components. This makes it easier to bounce ideas off each other and come up with a workable design much quicker. .

Select your fidelity

When deciding how detailed and close to the final version your prototype should be 鈥� a characteristic known as 鈥樷€� 鈥� you need to consider who you鈥檙e showing the prototype to and what stage of the design process you鈥檙e at.

Low-fidelity prototypes, like simple sketches or basic wireframes, are sufficient for an internal design team review. They鈥檙e usually enough to help your colleagues visualize ideas and spark discussion.

High-fidelity prototypes are more polished 鈥� how they look and behave is closer to the final product. These are more suitable for gathering feedback from your target users.

Mid-level fidelity prototypes can be shown to stakeholders or team members who are neither part of your design team, nor target users. The level of detail these prototypes contain is somewhere between low and high fidelity.听

Test your prototypes with actual users

Testing functional designs with your colleagues can be helpful, but there鈥檚 a real chance they might miss issues that actual users would face.

That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 essential to test your prototypes with the people who鈥檒l end up using the finished product.听

As we mentioned in the previous section, before testing, you need to decide whether you鈥檙e using a basic, low-fidelity prototype or one that鈥檚 more detailed and closer to the final product. This decision influences what kind of feedback you鈥檙e looking for and what you want to learn from the test.

It鈥檚 also helpful to identify your end users鈥� and the scenarios in which they might use your product. This helps you understand the context of use and plan your tests accordingly.

You can test in person, which allows for more detailed feedback as you can observe users鈥� reactions and ask questions. Or you can use online platforms that allow you to reach a larger number of potential users.

To learn 5 more prototype product design tips, check out this article: .

Best Examples of Digital Product Design聽Apple

Apple stands out as a shining example of a company that designs with diverse user needs at heart, constantly refining its products for increased and usability.

For people who have vision problems, Apple provides features like voiceover, zoom, and Braille support. These help users understand what鈥檚 on the screen or in the environment around them.Subtitles are made available for those with hearing impairments, covering everything from videos to conversations. Apple also produces bespoke devices aimed at helping these users hear better.Apple has features like voice navigation and devices that can be controlled with eye movements to help individuals with limited mobility. This means users can navigate their devices without touching them.Cognitive challenges are met with thoughtful designs that help filter out distracting background noise and visuals.

Image source: Discord

The communication platform Discord was initially designed to make it easy for gamers to interact. It鈥檚 since expanded and now allows users to discuss a range of topics, helped by a design that鈥檚 simple enough to use without distraction, while also offering enough depth to cater to specific user needs. Features include:

The ability to join or create 鈥榮ervers鈥� or chat rooms. These can be large, public groups, or smaller, private ones.The creation of 鈥榗hannels鈥� within servers. This helps keep discussions on different topics separate and organized.Direct messaging and 鈥榩inging鈥� (notifying) individual users for quick, private communication.Users can choose to communicate via voice or text.The customizable user interface allows you to personalize text, emojis, usernames, and icons to reflect your preferences.TikTok

The hugely popular social media app has revolutionized the user experience with its unique design.听

This includes a full-screen feed for immersive viewing, clear interactive features, an endless stream of short, personalized content, and features that support diverse user needs.听

These design elements, combined with added accessibility options like auto-captions and photosensitivity warnings, have made TikTok a globally popular and user-friendly app. And its success underlines the importance of thoughtful product design.

We鈥檝e only discussed 3 out of 5 , you can find the remaining ones here.听

Reasons for Bad Product Design with ExamplesAggressive popups

Popups that appear immediately on a website can be a big turn-off for users. Before they鈥檝e even had a chance to explore what鈥檚 on offer, they鈥檙e being asked to sign up for a newsletter or download something, which can be disruptive and off-putting.

It鈥檚 important to remember that people visit your site seeking answers, often with limited time and attention. Being bombarded with popups can quickly ruin their experience and lead them to seek alternatives.听

Of course, that鈥檚 not to say all pop-ups are bad 鈥� just that timing is crucial. It鈥檚 better to let users engage with your content first before trying to persuade them to sign up for additional services or promotions.

An overly complex navigation

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a popular platform that provides a wide range of cloud computing services, but it鈥檚 really difficult to navigate.

When you click on their products tab, you鈥檙e hit with a ton of choices which can feel overwhelming, especially on a mobile where you have to keep scrolling. This can frustrate users, making it hard to find what they need.听

Even though AWS鈥檚 design is aesthetically pleasing, the tricky navigation could be improved to enhance the user experience. This would stop visitors from leaving the site in a huff because they can鈥檛 find what they鈥檙e looking for.

Source: Stigmatizing certain user groups

Product design can unintentionally stigmatize certain user groups, particularly older people.听

Take walking canes for example. Once upon a time, these were carefully crafted to look like fashionable accessories 鈥� as well as being sturdy and functional. But today, devices for seniors often look unattractive, signifying frailty. This can discourage people from using them.听聽

Large-button phones for visually impaired people feel similarly outdated. Rather than designing 鈥榮pecial鈥� products like these that make particular groups feel ostracized, we should make all products more inclusive, allowing for customizations like adjustable font sizes. That way, everyone will feel comfortable using them.听

We share more bad product design examples in a dedicated article: .听

Product Design Degrees that Help you Land a Job

There are three main avenues that lead to a career in design, including product and UX design roles:

Bachelor鈥檚 Degree at a University

Studying for a design degree at a university can give you an advantage over others in this competitive field.听

Universities offer comprehensive courses on all sorts of specialisms, including color, typography, layout, and idea communication. They also foster skills in giving and receiving feedback, which are highly valued in the professional world.听

You could also consider degrees in programming as they allow you to understand the technical constraints that could influence product design.

One of the main benefits of a design degree is that it can potentially lead to higher pay.

But it鈥檚 worth saying that to get on a course you鈥檒l need to have built a solid portfolio of work. Other potential obstacles include the fact that design degrees are expensive and take a long time to complete 鈥� often between two to four years.

Do-it-yourself

Self-learning can be a viable and flexible route 鈥� as long as you have plenty of discipline!聽

Books like Don Norman鈥檚鈥楾he Design of Everyday Things鈥� provide essential insights into human-centered design. But product design is complex, and involves more than just reading; learning from industry experts through mentorship, internships, or online courses can be invaluable.听

Networking is also key. Be sure to maintain connections with classmates and industry contacts, as they might prove helpful in the future.

Some helpful resources include:

Bootcamp Courses

Design bootcamps offer a fast-tracked learning experience in your chosen field.听

These programs can be undertaken in-person, online, or through blended learning, and some even offer scholarships or deferred payment options.听

Whether you鈥檙e a recent graduate or a professional seeking a career shift, bootcamp courses can effectively introduce you to the field and bridge knowledge gaps.

Here are some courses you can look into:

For more detailed guidance on product design careers, read our article on .

Top Books about Product Design

These four titles are essential reading for anyone interested in the field of product design.

鈥楬ooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products鈥� by Nir Eyal

Eyal鈥檚 book offers valuable insights into creating products that attract and retain users, focusing on his four-step used in many successful products.

鈥楲ean Startup鈥� by Eric Ries

Ries鈥� guide to creating value-driven products is a must-read for designers, teaching them to rapidly prototype, test, and iterate designs for optimal alignment with business strategy and user needs.

鈥楲aws of UX: Using Psychology to Design Better Products & Services鈥� by Jon Yablonski

Yablonski鈥檚 book stresses the role of human psychology in UX design, offering a practical guide on applying psychological principles to build intuitive products, illustrated with examples from popular apps.

鈥楥ontinuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products That Create Customer Value and Business鈥� by Teresa Torres

Torres鈥檚 book highlights the importance of ongoing innovation in design to ensure that products and services remain relevant and valuable to users.

Read detailed review of those books and others here: .

Master the Art of Designing Digital Products

Designing digital products balances functionality, aesthetics, and user needs, making it a diverse and complex field.听

In today鈥檚 digital era, the importance of designing intuitive, engaging products can鈥檛 be overstated. As a designer, every detail of your work could impact someone鈥檚 life.听

Hopefully, this guide has given you plenty of insight into digital product design, empowering you to create digital products that aren鈥檛 just useful and nice to look at, but lead to truly enriching experiences.听

Use UXPin with its Merge technology to build a realistic and clickable prototype of your product. UXPin Merge allows you to use a single source of truth for designers and devs, so it makes product design collaborative from the start. Release products faster with Merge. .

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Published on October 18, 2024 02:20

October 17, 2024

Retool vs Bubble vs UXPin Merge Comparison

Teams compare UXPin Merge, Retool vs Bubble because they all serve similar high-level goals: enabling teams or individuals to build functional, interactive applications or tools without the need for extensive front-end development. However, they approach this goal from different angles and are tailored to different types of users. Let鈥檚 explore that!

Build unique React interfaces with UXPin Merge. Pull UI components from Git repositories, npm packages or Storybook and use them to create production-ready prototypes. Increase alignment between designers and developers and launch products faster. .

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

Retool is a platform for , allowing developers to connect to databases and APIs to create dashboards, admin panels, and other internal applications with drag-and-drop ease.

Who uses Retool?

Developers and teams who need to build and maintain internal tools (e.g., dashboards, CRMs, admin panels) quickly and efficiently.

What is Retool best for?

Retool is best for building internal tools to manage data, track metrics, or run operations efficiently. That鈥檚 why startups, small businesses, or enterprise teams love it.

Key FeaturesPre-built Components: Retool offers a library of pre-built UI components like tables, buttons, and forms that can be dragged and dropped into apps.Integrations: Easily integrates with APIs, databases, and third-party services (Postgres, REST APIs, Firebase, etc.).Custom Scripting: Developers can add custom JavaScript to enhance logic, making Retool highly flexible for custom use cases.Data Management: Retool excels at building tools that need to interact with various data sources, pulling and pushing data to manage workflows.What are Pros and Cons?Pros:Quick prototyping of internal tools without needing a dedicated front-end team.Powerful integrations with third-party services.Flexible, developer-friendly environment that balances drag-and-drop ease with coding flexibility.Cons:Primarily focused on internal tools rather than public-facing applications.Limited in creating more complex or highly customized UIs compared to full development environments.Bubble

Bubble is a no-code platform that allows users to , from simple landing pages to complex SaaS platforms, without writing code.

Who uses Bubble?

Entrepreneurs, startups, and non-technical founders who want to build and launch web applications without needing a development team.

What is Bubble best for?

Bubble鈥檚 best for entrepreneurs or startups looking to quickly launch web applications without relying on a developer. It鈥檚 perfect for building MVPs, SaaS platforms, or customer-facing applications.

Key FeaturesVisual Development: Bubble allows users to build both the front-end and back-end of applications with a visual editor.Database Management: Bubble includes a built-in database, allowing users to manage data without external services.Workflows: Users can create complex logic and automate workflows without writing code.Plugin Marketplace: A robust plugin ecosystem provides additional functionality (e.g., payment gateways, social logins).What are Pros and Cons?Pros:True no-code solution鈥攑erfect for non-developers.Allows for building both front-end and back-end without writing a single line of code.Scalable for creating MVPs, launching products, or testing ideas.Cons:More limited in terms of performance and customization compared to fully coded solutions.Can become complex for advanced functionality, despite being no-code.Scaling a Bubble app for high performance in production environments can be challenging.UXPin Merge

UXPin Merge is a design and prototyping tool that allows teams to build fully interactive prototypes using real production components. With Merge, designers and developers collaborate more effectively by working with the same code components in both design and development environments.

Who uses UXPin Merge?

Primarily designers and developers working in close collaboration. Merge is ideal for teams using a design system who want to reduce handoff friction between design and development.

What is UXPin Merge best for?

The tool is ideal for product teams focusing on , or large enterprises wanting to leverage design systems for consistency across products.

Key FeaturesDesign with Code Components: Merge allows you to import React components directly into UXPin, enabling designers to create fully functional prototypes using production-ready elements.Real-Time Collaboration: Teams can work in sync using the same components, minimizing the gap between design and development.Scalability: Merge is perfect for large organizations with established design systems that need to maintain consistency across multiple products.Component Libraries: Seamlessly integrates with design systems like Material UI or custom React components.What are Pros and Cons?Pros:Ensures design consistency with production code.Reduces the gap between design and development, improving collaboration.Allows for highly interactive, realistic prototypes.Cons:Requires some knowledge of coding (React) to experience full features.Best suited for teams using React; may not be ideal for non-React projects.Are all those tools drag and drop?

Yes, all of those tools incorporate drag-and-drop functionality. When compared, UXPin Merge is more advanced in terms of integrating code components, Retool combines drag-and-drop with coding for internal tools, and Bubble focuses on enabling non-developers to build apps entirely visually.

UXPin MergeDrag-and-Drop: Yes, UXPin offers a drag-and-drop interface for designing prototypes. However, UXPin Merge goes beyond basic drag-and-drop functionality by allowing designers to use production-ready components (such as React components) within the design interface. So, while you can drag-and-drop components, setting up and managing these components may require some development knowledge, especially when importing code components from design systems.Advanced Features: The drag-and-drop interaction is enhanced by the integration of real code, making it more powerful for high-fidelity prototyping.RetoolDrag-and-Drop: Yes, Retool has a drag-and-drop interface for building internal tools. You can place pre-built UI components like buttons, forms, and tables on a canvas, and configure their properties via an interface.Advanced Features: Retool also requires some coding for more complex logic and data management. Developers can write custom JavaScript to handle workflows, but the core UI elements are easily manipulated through drag-and-drop.BubbleDrag-and-Drop: Yes, Bubble is a fully drag-and-drop no-code platform for building web applications. You can visually construct both the front-end and back-end of your application by placing elements like text, buttons, and forms on the page, then linking them to workflows.Advanced Features: Despite its drag-and-drop simplicity, Bubble allows for a lot of customization via its visual interface for creating workflows, data structures, and more advanced behaviors without coding.Summary of Drag-and-Drop Functionality:UXPin Merge: Drag-and-drop design with real code components for high-fidelity prototyping.Retool: Drag-and-drop internal tool building, with custom logic via JavaScript for advanced functionality.Bubble: Full drag-and-drop interface for building entire web applications, without any coding needed.Why Would You Compare UXPin Merge vs Retool vs Bubble?

UXPin Merge, Retool, and Bubble serve similar high-level goals: enabling teams or individuals to build functional, interactive applications or tools without the need for extensive front-end development. However, they approach this goal from different angles and are tailored to different types of users.听

No-Code/Low-Code Movement design system abstract

All three tools are part of the broader no-code/low-code movement, which aims to make application development more accessible by reducing or eliminating the need to write code. People comparing these tools are likely exploring solutions to reduce development time, improve collaboration, or empower non-developers to participate in building digital products.

Bubble is a pure no-code platform for building entire web applications.Retool allows teams to quickly build internal tools with minimal front-end development.UXPin Merge enables designers to prototype with actual code components, reducing the time spent on handoff between design and development.Rapid Prototyping and Development designops efficiency arrow

Users interested in quickly going from idea to functional product may compare these tools because each supports rapid prototyping and development in different ways.

UXPin Merge offers high-fidelity prototyping with real UI components, which can be quickly transformed into production-ready products.Retool helps teams quickly create functional internal tools, like dashboards, without needing to build everything from scratch.Bubble allows non-developers to build fully functioning web applications, making it ideal for rapid MVP development or testing ideas.Collaboration and Workflow Integration design and development collaboration process product

design and development collaboration process product

All three tools aim to improve collaboration and workflow efficiency, particularly for teams where design, development, and data management must come together:

UXPin Merge is great for design/development collaboration, as designers work with real components from the codebase.Retool makes it easy for developers to integrate with APIs, databases, and services for internal applications without needing a full front-end development effort.Bubble allows non-developers to collaborate on application creation, enabling teams with diverse skill sets to work together on building an application.Which is Best 鈥� Retool vs Bubble vs UXPin Merge?

While UXPin Merge, Retool, and Bubble serve different specific purposes, people compare them because they all enable faster, more accessible digital product development. They differ in their focus鈥擝ubble on fully no-code applications, Retool on internal tool creation, and UXPin Merge on bridging design and development workflows with production-ready code鈥攂ut all reduce the complexity of creating functional applications. This makes them relevant for product teams, startups, and organizations looking to streamline app or tool creation processes.

Bubble and Retool simplify app-building, but both lack the power to connect your designs directly to production code. UXPin Merge lets you import actual React components from your design system, meaning your prototypes are 100% production-ready from the start. .

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Published on October 17, 2024 03:51

October 16, 2024

What is a Design Problem? How to Avoid Bad Ones

鈥淭he first step in solving a problem is to recognize that it does exist.鈥� 聽鈥� Zig Ziglar

Product definition is the cornerstone of our entire product and sets the stage for the success of our product. Every solution we design builds upon the framework of this initial problem.

That means we need to start with a problem that we work to understand and define鈥揷arefully. Otherwise, we risk clinging to the first problem that feels right. And we all know how that ends.

UXPin Merge is an ideal solution for tackling design problems by bridging the gap between designers and developers. It allows teams to use live, code-based components from a design system to create fully interactive prototypes that look and function like the final product. This drastically reduces the discrepancies between design and development, eliminates handoff issues, and ensures design consistency across the project.

With UXPin Merge, you can test real-world scenarios early in the process, quickly iterate, and validate if the design solves the original problem, all within a single platform. Request access to UXPin Merge.

Reach a new level of prototyping

Design with interactive components coming from your team鈥檚 design system.

A design problem is an obstacle or challenge that arises during the creation of a product, service, or system that affects the user experience. It typically involves a mismatch between user needs or goals and the current design solution.

Design problems can range from usability issues (e.g., confusing navigation) to more complex challenges, like ensuring accessibility or aligning business objectives with user satisfaction. Identifying and solving these problems is at the heart of UX design, as it focuses on improving the experience for users and achieving desired outcomes.

Imagine you鈥檙e designing a website, and users are struggling to find the information they need. That鈥檚 a design problem. It happens when the design of a product or system doesn鈥檛 meet user needs or expectations. This could be anything from hard-to-use navigation, a confusing checkout process, or even a mismatch between the design and business goals.

In UX, solving design problems is all about understanding what users need, why they struggle, and creating solutions that make their experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable.

How to Design an App Around a Problem?

Let鈥檚 go through the process of designing an app around a problem. Since it鈥檚 always fun to be a designer on a project that deals with a problem you can relate to, I鈥檒l choose a problem experienced by myself and the majority of people I know.

The problem of having .

I did some quick and dirty research by calling up a dozen friends and asking if it was a problem they felt they also had. 9 out of the 12 people said they experience the same problem. I suspect 3 of those 12 people are super-secret Zen monks.

Of course, I didn鈥檛 have to call them up. I could鈥檝e just sent (which you can feel free to take too) to get a sense of the problem.

Now that we have perceived a problem to design an app around we can define it in a a statement that captures the scope of the problem we are trying to solve.

In this piece, I鈥檒l dive deep into how to write a well-crafted statement that communicates the right problem to the team. The next time you come up with a great product idea (or get feedback), follow the steps below to make sure your heart and mind are in the right place.

How to Identify a Design Problem

Adapted from: ,

As a designer fortunate enough to get to work with some incredible teams building mobile apps, I get to hear a lot about what other people think about the way many apps are designed and function. There are so many great examples of well designed apps available, it makes finding inspiration easy and enjoyable. Not every app is a pillar of stellar design though, every now and then I hear about one that got everything wrong.

Recently my wife was telling me about an app she was trying to use to assist her with some of the fun things associated with newborn humans, and said:

鈥淭his is a bad app.鈥�

My designer鈥檚 ears pricked up at the sound of a problem.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 that dear? You have a problem that needs solving?鈥�

鈥淣o, I鈥檓 trying to tell you a story. Can鈥檛 you just empathize with me and let me finish?鈥� she probably implored.

鈥淥f course I鈥檒l help you!鈥� I exclaimed. 鈥淔irst we need to understand your perceived problem at a deeper level.鈥�

An audible sigh came from somewhere in the room.

Many people don鈥檛 know how to begin solving their user鈥檚 problem because they don鈥檛 take the time to and really consider their problem. This is usually true not because the person is lazy, rather they just don鈥檛 know how to go about thinking about the problem on a deeper level in an effort to understand what is causing it. The design process has to start somewhere though, and that starting point is usually our perceived problem. The perceived problem my wife was having (apart from my listening and empathizing skills) was that the app she was trying to use was a bad app.

To recap, here is what we need to do when a problem is perceived:

Acknowledge the problem. First things first, we must understand that there is a problem. You can鈥檛 solve it without saying that it exists. Brushing it under the rug does nothing for you or for your users.Listen and consider. Don鈥檛 just jump to wanting to solve the problem. You have to listen to your users 鈥斅爐hink about my interaction with my wife 鈥斅爐o really understand what鈥檚 going on. Asking follow up questions is fine, but don鈥檛 just try to suggest a solution before you really understand what鈥檚 going on.

Let鈥檚 go back to our original problem as an example: I have too much stress.

Well, the problem of having too much stress is probably too general to design a solution around. As is the problem of an app being bad. This is where you need to probe deeper, asking more questions: How many ways can you fix a bad app? All the ways probably. How many different ways can you think of to manage stress? Are overall app design and amounts of stress our real problems, or are they symptoms of deeper problems?

Learn more:聽.听

What Are the Symptoms of Bad Design Problems?

A symptom is a subjective departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a user.

For example, the feeling (feelings are subjective, not objective) of being tired (departure from the normal of being awake during the day) is a symptom (a subjective departure from the norm) of not getting enough sleep.

Adapted from: ,

Our feeling of too much stress is a subjective departure from our normal function of not being too stressed. It also has many different ways we could deal with it, such as having a glass of wine at night, or a bottle, or listening to music, or watching TV.

Maybe you know someone who has huge and as a way of letting off steam.

Maybe you sit in a quiet place and breathe deeply and try to figure out what is causing you to feel stressed.

Many people don鈥檛 even recognize that they are stressed, which means it鈥檚 not easy to recognize what is causing it.

Is having too much stress really our problem? It seems like it is just a symptom of a much deeper problem. In order to solve the perceived problem of having too much stress, we need to think about the problem to determine if it is a root cause or merely a symptom of something deeper.

What is the Root Cause of the Design Problem?

Why is it important to find the root cause of the problem? It鈥檚 important because solving a symptom isn鈥檛 a permanent solution.

For example, if your leg hurts you could take aspirin to dull the pain, but you will not be fixing the root cause of the pain. You will continue to experience the pain which is a symptom of the real problem.

If you went to the doctor complaining about the pain and she determined that your leg hurt because you broke a bone, you could address the broken bone, which is the root cause of the pain problem.

So how do we determine the root cause of our perceived problem of too much stress? We can use something developed at Toyota during the design of its manufacturing methodologies known as the .

The Five Whys Technique

Adapted from: ,

The is an iterative question-asking technique we will use to explore the relationships underlying our perceived problems. This will enable us to find the root cause of our perceived problem. What was my wife confused about again? Something about an app she was trying to use, I think.

鈥淭his is a bad app. Also you could do a better job at listening to me when I鈥檓 trying to tal..鈥�

..oh yeah that鈥檚 right. She couldn鈥檛 figure out how to use a productivity app to help her manage some of the fun things that are associated with having a newborn. Things like the amount of poopy diapers, ounces of milk consumed, etc.

In an effort to identify the deeper problem with the app I suggested we go through the Five Whys process.

Why is it a bad app?
鈥ecause it doesn鈥檛 work the right way. (refined problem) Why doesn鈥檛 it work the right way?
鈥ecause I don鈥檛 understand where to go. (refined problem) Why don鈥檛 you understand where to go?
鈥ecause none of these icons make sense. (refined problem) Why don鈥檛 the icons make sense?
鈥ecause they don鈥檛 take me where I think they should. (refined problem) Why don鈥檛 they take you where you think they should?
鈥ecause some of them that I think are icons, actually aren鈥檛, and the ones that are icons aren鈥檛 ones I鈥檝e ever seen before. (alterable behaviors identified)

Created in

The root cause of my wife鈥檚 problem has been identified very quickly, which I can send to the app鈥檚 design team as actionable feedback.

How can we be sure we have identified a root cause? The key to understanding the root cause of the problem (it isn鈥檛 always answered with the 5th why) is in identifying a broken process or an alterable behavior. Sometimes there are more than one you will identify, like in the app we are going to design to help with the problem of too much stress.

Why do I have too much stress?
鈥ecause I have too many stressful thoughts. (refined problem) Why do I have so many stressful thoughts?
鈥ecause I can not calm my thoughts. (refined problem) Why am I unable to calm my mind?
鈥ecause I don鈥檛 practice calming my mind. (refined problem and alterable behavior) Why am I unable to practice calming my mind?
鈥ecause I don鈥檛 have a process to calm my mind. (broken process identified) Why do I not have a process to calm my mind?
鈥ecause I鈥檓 not of myself enough to know I need one. (deeper broken process identified)

Created in

The root cause of the perceived problem of too much stress is a lack of process to calming and focusing our mind. In this example, calming my thoughts would lead to less stress, which solves the original problem. We can evolve our problem definition now.

Learn more: .听

Redefining the Design Problem

New Problem Definition:
To enable users to calm their mind in an effort to reduce their stress.

What about the deeper problem of not being more aware of our true ? Sometimes a product will benefit from attempts to solve a deeper broken processes than may be necessary. By designing a solution with a deeper and more abstract problem definition we should still be solving the original symptom with the benefit of solving additional symptoms.

Throughout the design process we will continue to evolve the problem definition, so if we find we have gone too deep we can abstract back up one level. Let鈥檚 go ahead and redefine our problem definition:

Redefined Problem Definition:
to enable users to become more aware of themselves in an effort to reduce their stress.

Photo Credit: ,

Here are a couple of ways you can probe deeper into design problems with your team, as discussed in the e-book :

Brainstorm on the problem. Get your team together on the perceived problem, having everyone on the team 鈥� from designers to developers to marketers to business analysts to sales 鈥斅爌articipate. Now while it鈥檒l be up to the designer ultimately to solve the design problems, teammates from other departments can provide other insights that will help frame your work. After all, sales may be closer to users and have a deeper understanding of their problems while a business analyst聽may have insights into the market.Researching the problem. You can conduct a competitive marketing analysis to determine if this problem is being faced elsewhere. You can also conduct a customer survey (like the one we did earlier on stress). If it鈥檚 an existing product, dig through your analytics, heuristics, content, or conduct users tests.

Doing these things will go a long way to getting to what鈥檚 causing your problem, its root cause and how to solve it.

3 Examples of Design Problems1.听

According to Stav Tishler from , their mobile app鈥檚 problem definition is:

鈥淭o empower the mobile photographer with creative tools, that until now, were reserved only for professionals and only on desktop.鈥�

solves this problem through the careful design and technology. Lightricks鈥� proprietary image processing engine powers the tools that are tied together with a consistent UI that allow the users to transfer the knowledge they acquire by learning one tool, to other tools.

2.听

According to , CEO, their mobile app鈥檚 problem definition is:

鈥淭o enable small business owners who are on the move to be able to communicate with visitors on their websites.鈥�

Maintaining 4.5 stars on the and mobile app stores is a pretty good indicator that they have designed a great solution for the problem they set out to solve.

3.听

According to , CEO, their mobile app鈥檚 problem definition is:

鈥淭o enable users who have a voice to be heard in the conference, meeting or any live event in which they are attending.鈥�

Crowd Mics turns the users鈥� smartphones into wireless microphones for use in live events.

Conclusion

By dedicating some time to thinking about the problem your product aims to solve, you will define a strong foundation for all your future design decisions.

Start by making a list of the problems you perceive that you plan on solving with your product and combine them into a problem definition.Next take some time to think deeper about the problem definition with the 5 Whys.Finally discuss the problem with any of the product鈥檚 stakeholders and re-evaluate the problem, iterating on the problem definition if it needs further clarification.

Once you write a really strong problem statement, don鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e married to it.

As you go along the design process, you may have to redefine your problem. That鈥檚 because you鈥檒l discover things that weren鈥檛 apparent in the early discovery stage of the process.

For more UX advice, get the free guide .听

Let鈥檚 say you鈥檙e building a design, and developers need to turn it into a real product. Often, things get lost in translation. UXPin Merge solves this by allowing designers to work with actual, code-based components from a design system. This means the prototype isn鈥檛 just a mockup鈥攊t works like the real product.

UXPin Merge eliminates the usual back-and-forth between designers and developers, ensuring everything looks and behaves exactly as intended. Plus, you can test and iterate faster to fix problems before going live. .

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Published on October 16, 2024 03:22

Problem Statement 鈥� How to Write One?聽 [+Template]

A problem statement is a critical component of UX design that defines the user鈥檚 key challenges and helps guide the design process. Crafted early in the project, it ensures that the team is aligned and focused on solving the right problem. Without a clear problem statement, design solutions can become scattered or misaligned with user needs and business goals.

In this post, we鈥檒l explore what a problem statement is, when it should be formulated, and why it鈥檚 essential for successful user-centered design. Build interactive prototypes that help you inspect your problem statements and find the perfect solutions through user tests. .

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Design better products with States, Variables, Auto Layout and more.

A problem statement is a clear, concise description of the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed. It defines the .

In UX, a problem statement explains what鈥檚 preventing users from achieving their and highlights the significance of solving the problem for both users and the business. It serves as a foundation for the , ensuring the remains focused on addressing the .

When to Formulate a Problem Statement

Problem statements are typically formulated early in the design process, often after conducting initial . During this phase, UX designers gather insights from methods such as user interviews, surveys, or usability testing to understand .

Once the research reveals a clear challenge or unmet need, the problem statement is crafted to define this issue clearly. It serves as a guide throughout the design process, ensuring the team鈥檚 solutions are focused on solving a specific, well-defined user problem.

Why Do We Need Problem Statements in UX?

We need problem statements in UX design because they provide a clear and focused definition of the user鈥檚 challenges. They help:

Align the team: Ensures everyone on the project understands the core issue being addressed.Guide the design process: Keeps the team focused on solving the right .Support decision-making: Helps that directly address user needs.Measure success: Establishes a to evaluate whether the solution solves the problem effectively.

This clarity ensures efficient, user-centered design solutions.

What is a Good Problem Statement vs Bad One?

Here are good and bad problem statements side by side. Take a look at them before moving further:

Good Problem Statement: 鈥淯sers are abandoning the checkout process because it鈥檚 too complex, resulting in lost sales.鈥�Bad Problem Statement: 鈥淲e need a better website.鈥�

A good problem statement is clear, specific, and focused on the user鈥檚 challenge. It directly identifies the problem, its impact on users, and why solving it is important. It should guide the design process and align with business goals.

A bad problem statement is vague, lacks focus, and doesn鈥檛 address a clear user need or business outcome.

Problem Statement Examples

Here are problem statement examples based on popular products. Each statement in the 鈥淕ood鈥� examples is specific, user-focused, and highlights the problem鈥檚 impact on both users and the business:

AppleBad: 鈥淥ur operating system needs improvement.鈥�Good: 鈥淯sers find it difficult to navigate privacy settings on iOS, leading to confusion about data-sharing permissions.鈥漇potifyBad: 鈥淲e need better playlists.鈥�Good: 鈥淯sers struggle to discover new music aligned with their preferences, resulting in lower engagement with personalized playlists.鈥滱irbnbBad: 鈥淲e need more bookings.鈥�Good: 鈥淗osts find it challenging to communicate with guests effectively, leading to cancellations and reduced bookings.鈥滱mazonBad: 鈥淭he checkout process is too slow.鈥�Good: 鈥淐ustomers are abandoning their carts during checkout due to a lengthy and complex payment process, causing lost sales.鈥漌hat is the Structure of a Problem Statement?

The structure of a problem statement typically includes:

Current Situation: Describes the current state or context where the problem occurs.Problem: Clearly identifies the specific issue or challenge users face.Impact: Explains the consequences of the problem for users and the business.Goal/Desired Outcome: Defines what success looks like and what the ideal outcome would be after solving the problem.

This structure ensures the problem is well-defined, actionable, and aligned with user and business needs.

How to Write a Problem Statement

A well-crafted problem statement ensures your design process stays focused on solving the right problem. Here鈥檚 how to write one:

Step 1: Identify the Problem

The first step is to clearly define the issue that users are facing. Be specific about what鈥檚 preventing users from achieving their goals. This can come from various sources, such as user research, usability testing, or . Focus on what frustrates users and where they encounter obstacles in .

Example: 鈥淯sers are abandoning the product discovery process because the search function is not returning relevant results.鈥�

Here, you鈥檝e zeroed in on a specific problem鈥攊rrelevant search results. Avoid general or vague descriptions like 鈥淭he search function needs improvement.鈥�

Step 2: Explain the Impact

Next, describe how the problem is affecting users. How does this issue create frustration, inefficiency, or lost opportunities for the users? Explain the emotional or practical toll the problem takes on them. This helps illustrate the severity of the problem.

Example: 鈥淎s a result, users are spending excessive time filtering through unrelated products, causing frustration and a drop in conversion rates.鈥�

Explaining the problem鈥檚 impact on both users and the business highlights why the issue is important to resolve.

Step 3: Contextualize the Business Goal

Align the problem with the company鈥檚 goals or broader . It鈥檚 important to show why solving this problem is critical for both the user experience and the business. Whether it鈥檚 increasing , reducing churn, or improving , tying the problem to a tangible business metric strengthens its importance.

Example: 鈥淚mproving the relevance of search results could reduce abandonment rates and drive up sales, aligning with our business objective to boost product discovery efficiency.鈥�

This part of the statement highlights the potential business benefits of solving the problem, showing that it鈥檚 not just a user issue but also affects the company鈥檚 success.

Step 4: Keep it Concise and Actionable

A good problem statement is focused and concise, avoiding unnecessary details or jargon. Aim for a short, clear statement that captures the essence of the problem. You want it to be easy for everyone鈥攄esigners, developers, and stakeholders鈥攖o understand. Don鈥檛 overload it with . The purpose is to lay out the problem in a way that sets the stage for ideation and solution-finding.

Example: 鈥淯sers are abandoning the checkout process because it requires too many steps, leading to lost sales.鈥�

This statement is concise, specific, and actionable, giving a clear problem that the team can work to solve.

Tips on Writing Problem Statements

To improve a problem statement, follow these steps to go from a bad one to a good one:

Be Specific: Instead of vague goals like 鈥淲e need a better website,鈥� specify the actual issue. For example, identify a user pain point: 鈥淯sers struggle to find product details, leading to high drop-off rates.鈥�Focus on the User: Center the statement around the user鈥檚 challenges, not just the company鈥檚 goals.Clarify the Impact: Highlight the consequences of the problem for users and the business.Add Context: Include details from user research to support the problem statement.

By incorporating these elements, your problem statement will become clearer and more actionable.

Problem Statement Template to Copy

We鈥檙e giving you a template that ensures that problem statements are specific, user-focused, and aligned with business objectives.

Current Situation:
Describe the current state or context of the issue (e.g., a product, feature, or process).Problem:
Clearly define the specific issue users are facing. Be user-centric and focus on what鈥檚 preventing them from achieving their goals.Impact:
Explain how this problem affects users (e.g., frustration, inefficiency) and its business impact (e.g., drop in conversions, increased churn).Goal/Desired Outcome:
Describe the ideal solution or what success looks like after solving the problem.What Your Problem Statement Will Look Like with this Template?Current Situation: Mobile users have difficulty completing the checkout process.Problem: Users are abandoning their carts due to too many steps in the mobile checkout flow.Impact: This has resulted in a 15% drop in mobile conversions and increased frustration for users.Goal: Streamline the checkout process to reduce abandonment and improve conversion rates.Test your UX or UI Problems with UXPin

Problem statements are crucial because they define the issue that users face and give direction to the design process. By clarifying user challenges and their impact on the business, problem statements keep the team focused on solving the right problem. They are especially helpful in the early stages of a project, after user research, to ensure the solution is user-centered.

In the bigger picture of UX, problem statements are part of a larger effort to understand user needs. They allow designers to prioritize solutions that address real issues, leading to more effective and impactful designs.

UXPin prototypes allow you to test problem statements by creating interactive, high-fidelity prototypes that simulate real user interactions. This enables you to validate whether the design addresses the problem effectively. By testing prototypes with users, you can observe how they interact with the design, gather feedback on usability, and identify if the solution solves the stated problem. .

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Published on October 16, 2024 02:54

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