
…es, constant vigilance against entropy, scope creep, and the accumulation of friction is necessary. Pausing for review after major releases, conducting retrospectives after updates or changes, critical analysis of product performance before and after a change, and ongoing quantitative and qualitative research can all provide information about and indicators of increasing and unintended complication.
Critically evaluate every new and existing feature for the value it provides weighed against the costs of including in a product or service. Does a feature introduce friction or ambiguity? Does adding something more make flows, paths, and choices harder to understand? What are the potential positive AND negative outcomes of adding something, and it is worth it?
Stay focused on the critical user journeys and key use cases. Research, metrics, and analytics help us understand the difference between essential and/or differentiating features from those that users and stakeholders think are ‘nice to have.’ You are not your user, so do not focus on designing for yourself. Be user-centric in research, design, development, and product strategy.