"Intentional design is not just about making things look pretty, it is about making them work well." - Don Norman
My design process is guided by four key principles: empathy, mindfulness, experimentation, and aesthetics. Each step in the process builds upon the previous one and is informed by these principles, which help to ensure that the final product meets the needs and goals of the user and is aesthetically pleasing.
Design Principles
01
Empathy
By understanding users perspective and needs, I can create solutions that truly meet their requirements. Empathy plays a key role in this process, as it allows me to effectively advocate for solutions that will be beneficial for users.
02
Mindfulness
I believe that mindfulness and intentionality are closely related. I remain mindful of the problem I am trying to solve and make sure that every design decision I make is carefully thought out and deliberate.
03
Experimentation
Testing designs and soliciting feedback are the most exciting and meaningful aspects of the design process. Seeing the results of usability tests or receiving feedback gives me a sense of validation and helps me to improve my work.
04
Aesthetics
Visual design brings me great joy and satisfaction. I enjoy creating high fidelity prototypes and designs, and find happiness in building design systems. It's my passion.
Design Process
"The design process is iterative, meaning that it involves repeating cycles of research, ideation, prototyping, and testing in order to refine and improve upon ideas" - Tim Brown
The design process is often non-linear, with steps being repeated multiple times before the final product is delivered.
Some projects may require card sorting, while others may already have well-defined information architecture. The specific methods used may vary, but I generally follow a set process for every project.
01
Define the Requirements
The first step is to define the business needs, requirements, and expectations for the project. It's important to clearly understand the deliverables and timeline and to keep all team members informed. At this stage, I like to formulate my own hypothesis about the potential problems that may arise.
02
Identify the problems
During the discovery phase, I gather information and explore the problem space by talking to people and reviewing user reports. If user research is not feasible, I may conduct ad hoc interviews to avoid designing blindly.
03
Interpret the Results
The interpretation phase allows me to define the users, their needs and pain points. Personas, journey maps, storyboards, and problem statements may be created or revised. At this stage, I also set goals and determine the metrics for success.
04
Ideate the solution
The ideation phase is a time for creativity and exploration. I bring in developers, other designers, stakeholders, and customer support to brainstorm a range of potential solutions. I aim for quantity over quality at this stage.
05
Prototype
The prototype phase involves creating an interactive prototype, which may be a high-fidelity Figma prototype or an interactive website. The level of detail and fidelity depends on the stage of the process and what I want to test.
06
Test, iterate and repeat
Finally, I test the prototype with users, sometimes through quick guerilla testing or more in-depth usability test sessions. The results of these tests help me identify any changes or improvements that need to be made.