You’re about to start a new UX project. What tools do you need to get started?

1 User journey maps

A user journey map is a diagram that shows how a user interacts with a product or service over time and across different touchpoints. It helps you to empathize with your users, identify their pain points, and discover opportunities for improvement. To create a user journey map, you need to define your user persona, their scenario, and their goals. Then, you need to map out the steps they take, the actions they perform, the emotions they feel, and the pain points they encounter along the way.

2 Tools for research and analysis

Before you can create a user journey map, you need to do some research and analysis to understand your users and their context. You can use various tools to collect and organize qualitative and quantitative data, such as surveys, interviews, observations, analytics, and feedback. Some of the tools you can use are Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Zoom, Google Analytics, and Hotjar. These tools can help you to create user personas, scenarios, and goals based on real user data.

3 Tools for sketching and brainstorming

Once you have your research and analysis done, you can start sketching and brainstorming your user journey map. You can use tools like pen and paper, whiteboards, sticky notes, or digital sketching apps to create a rough outline of your user journey map. You can also use tools like Miro, Mural, or Jamboard to collaborate with your team and share your ideas online. These tools can help you to generate and iterate your user journey map quickly and easily.

4 Tools for prototyping and testing

After you have your sketch and brainstorm done, you can start prototyping and testing your user journey map. You can use tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision to create a high-fidelity prototype of your user journey map. You can also use tools like UserTesting, UsabilityHub, or Maze to test your user journey map with real users and get feedback. These tools can help you to validate and refine your user journey map and make sure it meets your users’ needs and expectations.

5 Tools for presentation and documentation

Finally, after you have your prototype and testing done, you can start presenting and documenting your user journey map. You can use tools like PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, or Prezi to create a compelling presentation of your user journey map. You can also use tools like Confluence, Notion, or Airtable to document your user journey map and share it with your team, clients, and stakeholders. These tools can help you to communicate your user journey map and its benefits clearly and effectively.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?