Quick Mockup: Adobe XD Plugin to Enhance UX Design in Japan
Customizing the design tool experience to satisfy unmet needs in Japanese unique design processes.
Learning how Japanese do UX work
In February 2019, Adobe International Design team and Adobe Design Research & Strategy conducted field research in Japan to understand if there were any differences in the ways Japanese designers did UX design work. We did interviews at several agencies and enterprises in Tokyo and found in Japan there were unique workflows where non-designers were doing wireframes and even initial mockups. We realized there was an opportunity to help Japanese users do a better job with UX if they could take advantage of Adobe XD, but only if it could be adapted to accommodate limited design skills.
Since XD has robust extensibility, we began strategizing around a new wireframe and mockup plugin for XD that would better fit their needs. We used an iterative process of ethnographical research, design, prototyping and concept testing to focus on unmet needs in Japan. We called the plugin “Quick Mockup” and the public beta was debut at MAX Japan on December 3, 2019, to get more exposure in Japan.
The vision for the plugin
Quick Mockup is a new plugin for Adobe XD, focused on streamlining the design process through the early stages of UX design and concept ideation. This new plugin will allow you to quickly translate ideas into visual solutions and iterate as your project progresses.
Quick Mockup allows users to create wireframes, low fidelity mockups, and quick prototypes by providing access to common UI elements in XD projects. Users can take it to the next level by customizing styles, states, and content in just a few clicks.
Who did we make this plugin for?
Quick Mockup is a tool intended not only for professional designers but especially for people not used to design tools. For non-designers, Quick Mockup makes getting started with XD a snap! And for seasoned designers, the plugin speeds up their process by helping them rapidly visualize new UX design.
Users of all kinds can now focus on what really matters — fleshing out new ideas and creating exceptional user experiences.
Creating a Japan-first plugin
Quick Mockup is a Japan-first solution created by our International Design, Research, and Globalization Teams. The concept of the plugin is based on their ongoing research with Japanese Designers, Directors, and Planners that helped us shape this tool since day one. To stay authentic to the ideation process, we are releasing Quick Mockup as an early beta. We would like to invite you to download the beta plugin and give us feedback to help us improve it.
We’ve customized the Adobe XD experience to satisfy unmet needs in your unique design processes. Adobe cares deeply about Japan.
Key team members
Lance Shields — Design Director, International Design Team
Lorenzo Buosi — Product Design Lead, International Design Team
Mika Nakamura — Sr. Design Researcher, Design Research & Strategy
Lindsey Wallace —Sr. Design Researcher, Design Research & Strategy
Akulaa Agarwal — Sr. Product Manager, Globalization Team
Kshitij Gupta — Manager Software Development, Globalization Team
Rajat Budhiraja — Engineer, Globalization Team
