Navigating Complex UX Projects and the Power of Sketching Sessions

Over the past year, I have worked on multiple projects within the pharmaceutical industry. These projects have given me the opportunity to collaborate with highly skilled scientists engaged in groundbreaking work.

As UX designers, we consistently need to immerse ourselves within the industries of the projects that we are working on. This is crucial for deeply understanding and empathising with our users, it allows us to uncover the unique needs, challenges, and contexts of different user groups. This thorough insight helps us design products that not only meet user requirements but also align with business objectives. However, mastering this immersion in the pharmaceutical industry has proven to be the most challenging of my career to date.

Working as a UX Designer within the pharmaceutical industry has been an enlightening and transformative journey. The complexity of the projects, the depth of the client’s (scientists) knowledge, and the intricate requirements have all contributed to a rich learning experience. One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced is translating highly detailed and specific client requirements into actionable and manageable steps. However, this challenge has also provided the opportunity to develop and refine strategies that enhance collaboration and drive successful outcomes. Among these strategies, conducting sketching sessions has proven to be exceptionally beneficial.

In this article, I’ll share insights and strategies for swiftly grasping project requirements to accelerate the iteration, testing, and refinement of designs. I’ll also highlight how sketching sessions have been pivotal in kick-starting this process and driving successful outcomes.

Understanding the Complexity

Complex projects are often multifaceted, involving stakeholders from various departments, each with their own unique requirements, expectations and their own understanding of the user journey. These users possess deep expertise in their fields, which can make it challenging to distill their insights into clear, actionable tasks. The intricate nature of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry further complicates this process, necessitating meticulous attention to detail and adherence to strict regulations.

The Power of Sketching Sessions

One of the most effective strategies I have discovered for managing these complex requirements is conducting sketching sessions. Sketching serves as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between the client’s expert knowledge and the UX team’s need for clarity and direction. Here’s why sketching sessions have become an indispensable part of my UX design process:

1. Facilitating Conversations: Sketching sessions foster a collaborative environment where ideas can flow freely. They provide a visual platform that prompts discussion and encourages stakeholders to articulate their needs and preferences. By starting with simple sketches, we can quickly iterate and refine concepts based on immediate feedback. This iterative process is crucial for aligning everyone’s vision and ensuring that all voices are heard.
2. Clarifying Requirements: Often, clients know what they want but struggle to convey their ideas in a way that can be easily translated into design elements. Sketches act as tangible representations of abstract ideas, making it easier to pinpoint specific requirements. Seeing a UI concept, even in its rudimentary form, helps stakeholders recognise what works and what doesn’t, leading to more precise and actionable feedback.
3. Encouraging User-Centric Design: By involving users in sketching sessions, we gain invaluable insights into their preferences and pain points. Sketching allows us to explore various design options and gather real-time input from users, ensuring that the final product is tailored to their needs and enhances their experience.
4. Streamlining the Design Process: Sketching sessions can significantly reduce the time spent on revisions and rework. By addressing potential issues and incorporating feedback early in the design process, we can avoid costly changes later on. This proactive approach not only saves time but also ensures that the project stays on track and within budget.

Real-World Application

One notable example of the effectiveness of sketching sessions involved a project aimed at developing an internal tool for recording the way that scientists would perform an experiment. The initial meetings were filled with technical abbreviations and detailed requirements that were difficult to consolidate into a coherent design plan. By introducing sketching sessions, we were able to break down these complex requirements into visual components. Stakeholders could see and interact with the sketches, providing immediate feedback and suggesting improvements. This collaborative approach not only clarified the project’s direction but also fostered a sense of ownership and engagement among the stakeholders.

Conclusion

Working on complex UX projects has underscored the importance of clear communication, collaboration, and user-centric design. Sketching sessions have emerged as a key strategy in managing complexity and ensuring that client needs are effectively translated into practical design solutions. By facilitating conversations, clarifying requirements, encouraging user input, and streamlining the design process, sketching has become an invaluable tool in my UX design toolkit. As I have continued to navigate the challenges of complex projects, the lessons learned and the strategies developed have contributed to creating impactful and user-friendly solutions.

Embracing the power of sketching sessions has not only enhanced my ability to manage complex projects but also enriched my overall design process, ultimately leading to the design of better products.