User Centered Design Tip #2 • Learning curve

TIP #2 : The design (conception) must “solve” needs. The solution must not be worse than the problem.

Technical note on Tip #2

Basically Design is a process wherein solutions are created to solve problems in a specific field, whether for one person, one company or a large number of people.

You can change the term “problem” to “need” or “expectation” and the term “solution” to “answer”.

The term “Design” means a process and also means the adopted “solution” to answer to needs.

Following this process, we can also improve already defined/used solutions for efficiency. Improving already defined/used solutions can bring aim to achieve a large variety of results, from simple to very sophisticated:

• They could simply improve the technical way problems are solved
• They could handle difficult issues related to following targeted-user habits more closely.
• They could address more complex issues like sustainability, expense reduction, better availability, modernity, interoperability, etc.

Unless it’s a new problem that has never been encountered before, it’s very rare that a problem doesn’t have already existing solutions.

This means that the design of solutions for one or many problems is usually devoted to pre-existing solution improvement. It could also be adapting a solution for other kinds of end users.

Following the design process with the motivation to solve a given problem, we are often stuck with thinking that a “technical-solution” could fit the final users needs because their problem will be solved.

Often our knowledge level in the specific technical field that is involved in the solution tends to isolate us from the end users. We don’t imagine they won’t even understand the very basics of it.

As an example, many people struggle with their Bluetooth connections when they share a common device like a speaker. They know how to connect their smartphone the first time but when they try to connect again to the device shared with others, they can’t understand why it’s not possible in some cases. The fact is that they don’t understand the basics of Bluetooth technology.

User targets have different knowledge levels in the techno fields which will be used to solve their problems and offer solutions as final products.

To create something relevant, it’s necessary to verify that the solution will be accessible by end users and that it won’t be so complicated or long as to present a larger problem than the problem it is trying to solve.

The learning curve must be very mastered by the product designer.

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Luc-Olivier Lafeuille

linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucolivier/

Drawing of Julie Lafeuille
linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lafeuille/

All the tips on the Medium publication “Design Tips” or in French “Conseils de Conception”.

All the technical notes on de-risking innovative projects on the Medium publication “De-risk innovative projets” or in French “Dé-risquage des projets innovants”.