Designing the Right Product
A Product Designer’s Perspective on Digital Product Development.
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Welcome aboard, fellow product designers! As you embark on your journey into the captivating world of product design within a multinational company, understanding the intricacies of the product development cycle becomes paramount. In this blog, I’ll guide you through the landscape from a designer’s perspective, shedding light on the collaborative efforts and strategic thinking that fuel successful product outcomes.
Overview of the Product Development Cycle
The product development cycle is a multifaceted journey comprising distinct stages. From the initial spark of ideation to the final deployment, each phase plays a crucial role in shaping the product. Remember, it’s not a linear path but a continuous loop of iteration and improvement.
But in todays Agile world the story is not the simple and linear
Collaboration Across Disciplines
In the realm of product design, collaboration is key. Forge strong partnerships with engineering and product management teams. Clear communication and understanding across disciplines lay the foundation for a harmonious and efficient development process.
Design will ask questions like:
What is the experience?
What is the user mental model and behaviour?
Product will ask questions like:
What is the problem?
Why should we solve it?
How do we measure it?
What is the priority?
Engg will ask questions like:
How is it built?
When does it ship?
Is it reliable?
Prod ops will ask questions like:
Is the built product functioning right?
Is it performing as it meant to be?
1. Building the Right Product
To build the right product, you must first understand the user’s needs. Empathy is your compass, guiding you to design solutions that resonate with your audience. Dive into market research, allowing insights to steer your design decisions and ensuring your product aligns seamlessly with market demands.
2. Building the Product Right
The dance between aesthetics and functionality is where the magic happens. Collaborate closely with engineering to strike the perfect balance. Embrace prototyping and user testing as your companions on the journey, refining and perfecting the user experience.
3. Delivering the Right Product
Scalability is not an afterthought; it’s woven into the very fabric of product design. Learn to design for growth and adaptability. As you transition from development to deployment, embrace the power of cross-functional teams to ensure a seamless handover.
Achieving Product Success
Success is measurable. Explore metrics and KPIs that gauge the impact of your design. Establish a feedback loop, an ongoing dialogue with users and stakeholders, propelling your product towards continuous improvement.
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Conclusion
In the ever-evolving landscape of product design, collaboration, understanding user needs, balancing aesthetics and functionality, and ensuring scalability are the cornerstones of success. Embrace the dynamic nature of the journey, and remember, the true beauty of a product lies in its ability to evolve and adapt.
PS. Its not always a well defined process and it doesn’t need to be.
Every artefact, ceremony and tool in the product process has the goal to bring harmony into chaos. Focus on what users are asking and ship it quickly, and see yourself needing less stuff to go from “today” to “happy customers”. — Andre Albuquerque
Closing Thoughts
As you navigate this intricate landscape, remember that your role as a product designer extends beyond pixels and wireframes. It’s about creating experiences that resonate and products that stand the test of time. Welcome to the world of product design, where every challenge is an opportunity to innovate, iterate, and ultimately, succeed.
Happy designing!
Please feel free to contact to chat more.
Email: mohnish_l@nid.edu
Portfolio: portfolio.mohnishlandge.com
