How To Improve Your Product Design Discovery Process

A good product design discovery process can produce a good quality product. The process may look simple. But in reality, it can be overwhelming.

So, how can you improve your product design discovery process? Read on to learn more.

Discovery Phase

The discovery phase will help you know details about the problem you’re trying to solve. Thus, you can find a better solution if you spend more time on this phase.

Also, you can collect the requirements for your product. You can also research your competitors and their offers.

Moreover, this phase helps you analyze the expectations of your customers. Why is this analysis important?

Generally, you need to know the profile of your target customers. And you also need to know their needs and issues. So, you have to gather information.

Besides, this phase will help you define your objectives. These objectives include:

• making a great UX for your customers
• satisfying your company’s goals

Finally, you can compare the products of your competitors. It will help you see how you can improve yours.

Product Design Discovery Phase

Product design discovery is a part of the discovery phase. It is usually performed by your team’s designers.

Also, it is where they decide on what design is perfect for your product. It is also important to get rid of limitations. Why?

Design limitations will stop you from making unique products. So, once you free your mind, you’ll design a creative and unique one.

But what is the goal of this stage? It has to connect your discovery processes. Then, they will finalize their design decisions.

Also, they will meet to merge the design and establish a solid direction.

Here are some important reminders for this stage:

1. The engineering team should not force the design team. The finalized design must be based on a mutual arrangement.
2. Open your mind to future opportunities. True, your team should know the current design trends. But, you also need to keep in mind how it will affect the design in the next years. This step is important so you’ll be sure that it is still in demand.

Ideation Phase

During this phase, you will have brainstorming sessions. It is important to set a path for your product.

Here are some tips for an efficient brainstorming:

1. Invite the most creative people. Also, it is best to have it in a physical setting, not virtually. Thus, it will be easier to share thoughts. Besides, you will see the reactions of your team.
2. Do not limit yourself. Dream for big ideas. 
3. Structure your ideas. You can build boards with stickers to group your thoughts.
4. Discuss your ideas with the engineering team. It will help you know if your ideas are feasible.

Prototyping Phase

Projects can be different from one another. So, it is difficult to list hard rules for this phase.

But here are the common tips you can use:

1. Prototyping is not a linear process. But it is an iterative process. So, you can make up to 10 prototypes for a screen.
2. Go for consistency. Your designs should look like one person made them.
3. Focus on details. It is important to get the final product feels.

Testing Phase

Nielsen said, “You are not your user.” So. before your product reaches the market, test it with real users.

Here are some rules for this phase:

1. Test early. Make sure to test at an early stage.
2. Test often. Make sure to test every stage.
3. Set clear standards. It is important to identify success.