UX PROCESS
When I’m starting out a new project,
here’s a standard approach I take to the UX workflow.
here’s a standard approach I take to the UX workflow.
IDEATION
Ideation is the creative process of generating, developing and communicating new ideas. Through the Ideation phase many new ideas are generated and refined.
USER PERSONAS
User Personas can be a very powerful tool.
When used correctly, they can provide for context during the UX process. Checking back against these User Personas can help to frame the context of use for the app or platform.
CARD SORTING
Card Sorting is the process of building a hierarchy of information within the app or platform.
Card sorting is very helpful in defining primary and secondary level navigation structures, as well as how content is featured and framed within the app or platform.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Building on from the Card sorting exercise, I like to begin defining an early-stage Front-end Information Architecture.
This will help to inform the design process and can often provide a starting point for developers to visualise the technology stack that may be needed for a given project.
LO-FI SKETCHING
Lo-Fi Sketching is a very quick and easy way to begin visualising what screens will be required before creating any digital artifacts.
It’s easy and fast to change things during the sketching process, and you can very quickly build up a picture of requirements.
LO-FI WIREFRAMING
Once Lo-Fi Sketches have been completed, Lo-Fi Wireframing gives us the next level of clarity and fidelity.
It’s at this point where the wireframes can begin to be finessed and groomed with more detailed content. This really helps to give a level of understanding about User needs, and other requirements for the project.
Preferred tools: Balsamiq, Omnigraffle, Axure, Sketch
LO-FI PROTOTYPING
Lo-Fi Prototyping is a fantastic way to quickly and easily identify weaknesses in the wireframes, potentially highlight dead-ends in the user flow and much more.
It’s also a great tool to demonstrate key features and achieve stakeholder buy-in.
Preferred tools include: Invisonapp, Pixate, Axure, UX Pin and Proto.io
EXPERIENCE MAPPING
Experience mapping helps to identify the User Touchpoints with an app or service, highlighting where focus should be concentrated. It’s no surprise that 20% of features generally represent 80% of usage of an app or piece of software for most Users.
HI-FI PROTOTYPING
Hi-Fi Prototyping is not always necessary but adds another level of fidelity to the UX process.
This can involve taking polished UI designs into a prototyping tool such as Axure, UX Pin or Pixate. Or it may involve adding another level of complexity and functionality to the prototyping process – including such things as login states, subscription states and more
USER RESEARCH
& TESTING
User Research and Testing is generally engaged in at numerous points in the UX design cycle. Often it is used initially to collect requirements and gauge the usefulness of features. The more User Testing the better. Once a product launches, it is critical to collate as much user data as possible, then refine and iterate the product.
User Research and Testing can include any of the following:
+ A/B Testing
+ Face-to-face interviews
+ Focus groups
+ Eyetracking workshops
+ Online surveys
+ Co-create sessions
+ Co-design sessions
and more…
