10 Step UX design process

“What’s your design process?”

When people ask me this, I’ll be honest, it’s not something I’d given a lot of thought to. I knew I had a process, I just hadn’t taken the time to write it down or acknowledge it as one. Until now.

I was reading Mike Monteiro’s book Design is a Job. Mike makes the point that there’s no magic design button in Photoshop and you can’t consistently pull a rabbit out of a hat for every project. There has to be a solid design process in the background, something you can rely on to produce the work and results you know you’re capable of, sometimes even surprising yourself.

You may need to tweak the process from time to time, but the fundamentals are there to guide you. Here’s what works best for me.

1. Start with a brief

A simple conversation with the person you’re working with to learn more about the project. By listening and asking the right questions you can get a feel for the style, tone and constraints. Great design in my experience is all about collaboration. When you and the client work together you build trust and produce far better results.

2. Establish a timeframe

Timeframes are a blessing. They give you a clear sense of what you can and can’t realistically deliver. During brainstorming you may need to set aside great ideas purely because of time, but if an idea is strong enough, hold onto it. It might be just what you need on a future project.

3. Initial sketching

I can output ideas quicker and at better quality using a pencil and sketchpad. It’s also a great excuse to step away from the screen. In my experience, every time I’ve opened Photoshop and started designing without a plan or rough sketch first, the results haven’t been as strong and the process has taken a lot longer. I really have to force myself to make time for this step before rushing in.

4. Collaborate with developers

I like to bring developers in early to share ideas and flesh out concepts. It’s a great opportunity to learn about technical constraints such as existing frameworks and limitations, and to agree on a plan as a team. This builds trust and helps break down the “us vs them” mentality between designers and developers.

5. Re-sketch initial ideas

Back to the drawing board. Based on what I’ve discovered during the research phase, I’ll revisit my sketches and flesh out ideas further, adding elements I may have overlooked or simply been unaware of.

6. Set up the document

Getting the canvas ready. This means establishing a grid, a baseline grid and a typographic scale. Once this framework is in place, the design process is much easier and more consistent.

7. Wireframes and rapid prototypes

Depending on the project, I’ll create wireframes or rapid prototypes to map out user flows and basic interactions. This is a great way to help people experience what the final product will look and feel like before too much time is invested in polished design.

8. Get feedback early

Share work early and often. Before heading too far in the wrong direction, I show rough sketches and ideas to get a sense of whether I’ve understood what the client is after.

It might feel uncomfortable showing unfinished work at first, but you waste less time and design with greater confidence when you know you’re on the right track.

9. Explain your decisions

Don’t reveal your work without explaining the thinking behind it.

Sell your designs: When people understand your process they’re more likely to get behind your work. It builds trust and makes it easier for them to see the value in what you’ve created.

Defend your work: You were hired to do a job someone else doesn’t have the skills to do. Be prepared to explain why a requested change could compromise the design and, more importantly, the message it’s trying to communicate.

10. Reiterate, polish, deliver

Take the client’s feedback on board and ask the right questions to make sure you understand what they actually mean.

Statements like “The logo needs to be bigger!” could actually mean “We feel like it’s not getting enough attention compared to the rest of the page” once you dig a little deeper.

Keep polishing and deliver on time. I want the work I produce to reflect the best I’m capable of. I love design and I want to keep growing.

Recommended reading

I picked up a copy of Design is a Job at Webstock. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Finding your own process

All the best finding a process that works for you.