The UX Design Process and Then Some

“It takes more than just eye candy.” This is our usual response whenever we work on projects that generate profit, sale, positive audience or user feedback, and positive results. Most projects, if not all, need not to rely heavily on aesthetics, for sometimes they’re just fancy decorations, no use at all. If you want to win an audience, you need to create designs that work. Much of it can be achieved if you take into account a human-centered design philosophy.

When we design for user experience, we also introduce an approach that is geared towards successful development stage. The illustration below sums up this approach:

(click here to see larger version.)

Our goal is to come up with something efficient yet quickly done, something that will serve its purpose without taking too long being “imaginary.”  We believe that when all specifications are properly defined on UX design stage, we can proceed to development and implementation with little to zero visual design revisions. Thus, we get closer to the real thing. However, upon usability tests which shouldn’t be ignored, some information and navigation designs may be changed while going on. For that we introduce phases and iterations. Most of our clients , if not all, loves iterations  – for this is the way they know something is getting real and getting improved.

So, our approach to user centered design ensures that:

• The concepts we come up with meet the project requirements.
• From discovery to visual design stage, we tune the design until the needs are satisfied.
• There’s always a perfect combination of usability and aesthetics.
• A project does not stay too long being imaginary. We move on to the next phase when there’s enough reason to. We observe short cycle of iterations that quickly and efficiently deliver.
• We do not implement too detailed design too soon.
• Development stage flows smoothly such that there are minimized visual and information design revisions when this stage gets the “full force.”  We do changes only when necessary.
• If client work: We collaborate well with clients throughout all phases to make sure we are always on the same page with whatever we are working with.
• If internal project: We value teamwork so much that every voice is heard and evaluated and every contribution is recognized.
• We stay firm to what we believe: “Quality is indispensable.”