When considering design processes, it’s essential to tailor them to your company’s unique needs. Before diving into design implementations or interface updates, it’s crucial to understand the two primary approaches available.
The first approach is more agile and fast-paced. It involves adopting a straightforward, focused perspective, allowing for quick iterations and rapid deployment. This method is ideal for companies that need to move swiftly and are comfortable with a narrower focus in their design process.
On the other hand, a more cautious and holistic approach takes time but offers a deeper understanding of the broader context. By taking this slower route, you can better grasp the “how” and “why” behind user interactions, which can lead to more effective long-term outcomes.
Deciding whether to dive deeply into user experience design for your product depends largely on the product’s role in your company’s success. If your product is a secondary, “nice-to-have” feature, investing an additional 10% of effort may not yield significant results. However, for products where user engagement is critical—like Instagram—implementing new features without a comprehensive understanding of user experience can be detrimental.
For instance, in my own experience working with two different products at the same company—an internal tool (a complex core-banking platform) and a SaaS credit insight tool for the European market—the approach to UX and design varies significantly. The value of one product lies in its usability and the service it provides, while the other is tied to our internal productivity and processes.
As a result, our strategies for improving these two products and how we approach the design process differ greatly. While both products aim to follow design thinking principles and the triple diamond diagram, the way we implement these methodologies is distinct for each product, reflecting their specific needs and objectives.
