Hey!
I'm Gleb, a product manager who decided to strengthen my UX design skills and complete the design specialization from Google. I have experience in building product processes, improving metrics on mobile and desktop, and dealing with product line development strategies, as well as making complex decisions about product launches and shutdown products.
But design is my passion. I have a goal and a personal task to learn something new and structure my knowledge in design. So, I decided to take Google's courses and, as a result, write a summary framework for myself and for you.
This article serves as the Definition of Done for what I've learned in the courses.
The framework I've assembled below is the result of completing four courses in the UX Design specialization:
- Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
- Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
- Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
- Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts
I've passed this framework through my own experience. I'm In the tech industry since 2012, and I've encountered many challenges. I've also consulted experienced designers like Sveta, Kote, and Eugene – thanks!
If you need examples of any of the tools listed below, GPT can handle that, so there won't be specific examples in the article.
Who is this article for?
It's for product managers, those looking to launch a startup or work on an idea that's been on the shelf for a while, junior designers, and those contemplating whether to pursue this specialization or not.
What is the value of the framework?
It adds clarity on which tools can be used and in what sequence to enhance your design solutions, ultimately improving product metrics. The framework helps minimize the risk of creating a product or feature that nobody needs, but it doesn't guarantee it.
How long does it take to complete the full framework cycle?
You can complete a comprehensive approach in just two working weeks.
Please note that deviations from the process will happen in real life, requiring decisions with limited data and resources.
Let's get started!
Step 0
You have a real problem in your business or the product you're working on, or there's a specific feature that needs to be created or improved. It could even be an idea you want to implement.
Step 1
Gather a set of user personas whom you know and who might find this interesting.
Step 2
Conduct interviews with individuals close to the created personas. The goal of these interviews is to understand user scenarios and problems and build a Customer Journey Map (CJM).
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Return to Step 1 to refine user personas and proceed to Step 3.
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Step 3
Structure user scenarios and problems in a Google Sheet or note-taking application to identify recurring requests and focus on them.
Step 4
Generate hypotheses on what can be offered to user segments (user personas) based on their challenges:
Locally (major features) — Hypotheses should address the issues identified in user problems.
Globally (product) — Goal statement.
Step 5
Conduct competitors' research.
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You should now have enough basic information to begin designing the product.
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Step 6
Create the initial version of the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). I would do this in Miro or on paper/iPad. To do this, you'll need to construct an affinity diagram. List all features and benefits that come to mind, including those generated during the hypothesis and goal statement stages.
Step 7
Categorize features by user problem-solving value.
Step 8
Match user persona (segment) problems with features to create a foundational USP, usable on landing pages and other audience touchpoints. Discard anything that doesn't match.
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Now that you have the USP, it's time to design the product.
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Step 9
Take the list of features from the basic USP and design a flow chart. This should outline the steps, screens, and actions the user needs to take to complete their job. Design the information structure, including the elements required at each step.
Step 10
Sketch the first "paper" wireframes (on paper or iPad), creating 3-5 versions for each screen and selecting the best one for each.
Step 11
Digitize the paper wireframes in Figma.
Step 12
Assemble wireflows from the wireframes.
Step 13
Create an interactive prototype from the wireflows, still in low fidelity, without final aesthetics or pixel perfection.
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Now that you have the prototype, it's time to test it.
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Step 14
Prepare a research plan.
Step 15
Conduct a UX study, with 4-10 participants per iteration usually being sufficient. When you start noticing recurring patterns, you can stop the research.
Step 16
Prepare conclusions and insights after the UX study. Prioritize the top 3-5 insights:
- P0 – Implement immediately
- P1 – Implement in the next iteration
- P2 – Implement at a later time
Next, you need to decide what to do:
- Make changes based on insights to the low-fidelity prototype
- Repeat the UX Study cycle (Step 11) and/or move on to high-fidelity design
The desired output after using the framework should include:
- Refined User Personas: Problems/Tasks/Pains
- USP
- Interactive Prototype
- Research Insights
- A clear set of next steps: either improve the prototype and test again or move on to high-fidelity design.
Can I recommend Google's UX Design specialization?
Yes, 100%. I highly recommend it if you want to gain a foundation and structure in UX design. I have no regrets.
That's it, it's that easy. I look forward to your comments after reading, and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn - LinkedIn Profile
Useful links:
- Nielsen Norman Group Website
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate
- ChatGPT for examples on each point
Thank you, everyone!
Top comments (1)
This is my first attempt at synthesizing knowledge in UX design, and I would appreciate any comments. :)