My Design Philosophy
In this statement, I conveyed my current design process and tenets as a reflection of my learnings from four months of the Interaction Design Practices course. The lectures of Professor Lynn and the two major projects as a part of the course helped me develop my own UX design process and core tenets for my design rationale.
I) UX DESIGN PROCESS
Based on my previous internship experiences and the projects I completed over the semesters of Human-Computer Interaction at Indiana University- Purdue University, Indianapolis helped me develop my own design process. Adopting this methodology has been effective in guiding me through the process of problem identification, idea generation, and product development, ultimately resulting in the creation of high-quality, user-centric products. This is my preferred design process: Discover, Define, Ideation, Prototype, and Usability.
- Discover
The initial step in the design methodology involves identifying the prevalent issues that users face in their surroundings, whether it be in their daily routines or within a specific scenario. These concerns can range from something as simple as drinking water from a tumbler to more complex problems like inadequate access to skill training in a particular field. As designers, it is imperative that we adopt a user-centric approach when formulating solutions to these issues.
To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the problem space, qualitative research techniques such as user interviews and observation are employed to collect data. Quantitative data is crucial in corroborating the gathered data and further fortifying the problem-framing process. Additionally, reviewing secondary sources like research papers can be particularly useful for identifying trends, exploring best practices, and benchmarking against competitors. Additionally, it can help designers avoid reinventing the wheel by leveraging existing solutions and insights.
- Define
In order to refine the problem space in UX design, there are several methods available. Personally, I have found that the affinity diagram and empathy mapping techniques have been particularly useful in identifying and framing the problem statement. These methods are essential for the success of any solution that is developed to address the identified issue.
To arrive at an effective solution, it is imperative to create personas that represent the target audience and view the problem from user perspective. This process helps to gain a deeper understanding of the user’s needs, behaviours, and motivations, which is essential for developing user-centred design solutions. While creating personas, it is important to strike a balance between identifying the specific needs of the target audience and considering the needs of a broader audience. This ensures that the solution developed meets the needs of the target audience while still being applicable to a wider user base.
- Ideation
Next, the process of generating ideas and concepts begins, in which designers must generate a multitude of potential solutions to the identified problem. While traditional brainstorming techniques may result in the generation of a limited number of ideas, it is imperative to think outside the box and strive for at least 30+ potential solutions. This approach, as challenged by Professor Lynn, provided the opportunity to explore uncharted territories and push the boundaries of innovation.
Once a true potential solution has been identified, it is important to create storyboards to depict how it would address the problem statement in a real-life scenario. Storyboards are visual representations that help to clarify ideas and communicate solutions to stakeholders, users, and other members of the design team. By introducing concrete ideas for satisfying user requirements, storyboards facilitate a clear and concise understanding of the proposed solution.
- Design
Following ideation, the subsequent step in the product development process involves designing and prototyping. I find the task of developing an effective information architecture for the product, particularly exciting. Subsequently, a low-fidelity version of the product is constructed, which is crucial for assessing its usability before proceeding to the high-fidelity version. Low-fidelity prototypes may take the form of paper-based mockups or digital wireframes.
Furthermore, usability testing is conducted such as think-aloud sessions or cognitive walkthroughs, in the event that any usability issues are detected during the low-fidelity stage, we can easily return to the ideation phase to refine the product concept. This iterative approach serves to enhance the product’s usability for the end user prior to the creation of the final product.
While the creation of the high-fidelity version can be arduous, it is essential to consider all aspects, including typography, colour theory, and design, among others. Designers cannot simply rely on their personal preferences when selecting colours, fonts or layouts; instead, they must gain a deep understanding of the product’s target audience. In the creation of the high-fidelity version, everything must be carefully considered from the perspective of the end user.
- Usability Evaluation
The final stage of the product development process entails conducting a usability evaluation of the finished product. This involves utilizing techniques such as think-aloud sessions, cognitive walkthroughs, and heuristic evaluation to identify any potential usability issues. This stage typically involves multiple iterations to arrive at a polished final product. As a designer, I believe that the entire design process is inherently iterative. There is always room for improvement or modification to enhance the user experience of the product.
In my opinion, it is essential to adopt a mindset of continuous improvement and refinement throughout the design process, with the ultimate goal of delivering a high-quality, user-centric product.
II) CORE TENETS
Here are my seven design rationale beliefs, which I believe are the fundamental pillars for finding the right solution, designing a product and providing the best user experience for the user.
- Designers must adopt a user-centric approach.
The success of digital or physical product design is rooted in placing users at the centre of the process. Understanding the perspectives and needs of end-users is crucial when designing a product, as they are the ones who will interact with it and rely on it to meet their demands. Product design goes beyond creating a visually appealing product; it must be user-centered and cater to the needs of the target audience.
As designers, it is our responsibility to gain a comprehensive understanding of users’ behaviour, thoughts, actions, and motivations to develop empathetic solutions that effectively address the problem space. By empathizing with the end-user and taking a user-centered approach, we can create products that are functional, intuitive, and satisfy the needs of the user, ultimately leading to greater success and customer satisfaction.
Jon Kolko (2007), Thoughts on Interaction Design “At the heart of the interaction design process is a simple notion: that design should be user-centered and that the only way to truly understand what users want and or need to interact with them.”
2. Robust data collection for accurately defining and narrowing the problem statement.
The discovery phase is one of the most major considerations to perform before beginning the design process. It is essential to thoroughly gather information without limiting oneself, as this leads to a refined problem statement. Dive deeper into the pool of data. The more information gathered, the easier it is to refine the problem space and arrive at the design solution. Why am I stressing about this phase? It’s because, while working on the Interaction Design Practices projects, I discovered that, during later stages of the design implementation, several items were lacking. As a result, it is preferable to cover all parts of the problem space to make things easier and less stressful.
Jon Kolko (2007), Thoughts on Interaction Design “Discovery involves understanding wants and needs and accumulating artefacts related to the defined opportunity.”
3. Combination of qualitative and quantitative research gives precision.
Having a singular perspective on a problem is insufficient. Understanding the issue from multiple viewpoints is crucial, which involves collecting data in both quantitative and qualitative formats. There are several techniques available for gathering data, and while there is no single correct method, certain approaches may be more appropriate than others. Combining both quantitative and qualitative research results in a stronger problem space and provides precise and comprehensive information for narrowing down the problem statement. There are various qualitative and quantitative techniques to choose from and integrating both methodologies can have a significant impact.
Helen Sharp, Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers(2019) “Indeed, it is important not to focus on just one data gathering technique, if possible, but to use them in combination so as to avoid biases that are inherent in any one approach.”
4. Beneficial to have a target audience, but the right audience is necessary.
Targeting a specific audience is essential for effective product design. Focusing on the demographic for whom the product is intended or the problem is addressed is critical. Personas and empathy mapping are useful tools for identifying the audience. However, it is important to cover all aspects of people’s needs and preferences as it keeps on shifting. The selection of the right users for personas is crucial since the entire design process depends on it. Nevertheless, it is also important to consider a broader audience for future scalability rather than limiting oneself to certain users.
Shlomo Goltz (2014), A Closer Look at Personas: What They Are and How They Work “Like any other tool in the designer’s belt, personas are extremely powerful at the right time and place, while other times are simply not warranted; the trick is knowing when to use which tool and then using it effectively.”
5. Brainstorming a multitude of solutions beyond the necessary is helpful.
Yes! Brainstorming more than required really does the trick. I know it can be exhausting at times to bring multiple solutions to the problem but this is what I found incredibly helpful in finding an effective solution for the problem space. During the project, Professor Lynn actually pushed all the students to give at least 70 possible solutions for the problem statement which opened up new possibilities we had not even considered. This approach encourages creativity in a collaborative workspace. You always think of 2–3 solutions which I think is unsatisfactory but coming up with as many solutions helps in thinking out of the box.
6. Keep your prototype simple but eye-catchy.
During the course of a project, the prototyping phase is often regarded as one of the most creative and enjoyable steps. While it is natural to desire visually stunning and appealing prototypes, caution must be exercised when incorporating design elements into a website or application. Heavy graphics or elaborate designs should be avoided, as they can cause digital products to become cumbersome and slow to load, resulting in user frustration. Simplifying designs can make it easier and quicker for users to navigate through websites and apps. Utilizing color theory and design skills can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the product.
7. Be collaborative, open and iterative.
Collaboration is an essential quality for a designer. Interacting with others and seeking advice, feedback, and information from others can broaden one’s design vision. Although receiving design critiques can be challenging for a designer, being receptive to them can significantly enhance the design. Soliciting feedback from different sources can offer diverse perspectives and lead to a better implementation of the design. As designers, we may overlook certain aspects of our prototypes, but design critiques can help identify and improve these areas. Being open to feedback allows us to learn, teach, and helps us deal with uncertainties Therefore, continuous iteration of the product is crucial since designers are always striving to improve their work.
Cassie McDaniel (2011), Design Criticism and the Creative Process “Critiquing an unfinished design mitigates the risk of completely missing a project’s ultimate goals.”
References:
Jon Kolko (2007), Thoughts on Interaction Design
Helen Sharp, Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers(2019)
Shlomo Goltz (2014), A Closer Look at Personas: What They Are and How They Work
Cassie McDaniel (2011), Design Criticism and the Creative Process
