Here's how you can maximize the benefits of consulting in UX.

Setting the goals for a UX/UI design project is surely a good way to start. The idea of what goals are often driven by a desired business value e.g. increased conversion, better onboarding journey, etc. However, the goals can pose unrealized challenges at the user behavioral level. Therefore, the goal-setting exercise should be an evolving exercise. This way the goals can be aligned with the business objectives and the users' unmet needs and expectations.

In UX (User Experience) design, a goal is a specific outcome or achievement that designers aim for to enhance the overall user experience of a product or service. These goals can range from improving usability and accessibility to increasing user engagement and satisfaction.

To maximize the benefits of consulting in UX: Understand the User: Conduct thorough user research to understand the needs, behaviors, and pain points of your target audience. Collaborate Effectively: Work closely with stakeholders, developers, and designers to ensure a cohesive vision and seamless implementation. Prioritize Usability: Focus on creating intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that enhance the overall user experience. Iterate and Test: Regularly test prototypes with real users and iterate based on feedback to continuously improve the design.

User experience efforts should always start with the definition of business goals. Before you can identify the primary users, key journeys, pain points, or other insights, ensure that you know the business objectives of your clients. Tether your efforts and your focus to delivering on those business goals and stakeholders are much less likely to question the approach or direction. Defining the business success criteria up front has the added benefit of demonstrating the ROI as you progress. And this just happens to make for great case studies too.

Goal comes from Executive intent. What the company want to achieve in terms of sale, cost, name recognition, etc. These exceutive intent or business goals can come from project requirement, project justification, ecpected outcome, anticipated process, critical success factor (impotant outcomes that must be met for the executive intent to succeed) and usabilty criteria(outcome prased in terms of user experience metrics).

Knowing users helps us to find a comprehensive understanding of your users' needs, behaviors, and pain points through targeted research and user testing. It enables the creation of intuitive and seamless user experiences that meet their expectations and retain users, leading to higher user satisfaction and loyalty.

In the realm of UX consulting, exceptional service isn't just about technical expertise. It's about understanding the people you're designing for – the end-users. - Use User Research Methods like interviews, usability testing, and ethnographic studies. These methods provide invaluable insights into user behavior, motivations, and pain points. - Watch users interact with existing products or complete tasks. Pay close attention to their body language, facial expressions, and frustrations. So dive in, get to know your users, and watch your consulting services soar.

Knowing the users is the most critical part of the entire UX process. The field has evolved from knowing about the users based on what they say, to what they do... and slowly UX domain is realizing the need to know them at the level of their emotions, feelings, and cognition while they interact with a digital product. Neuroscience offers capabilities that can help UX designers dive into the subconscious aspects of users.

Conduct thorough user research to understand the target audience's needs, behaviors, and pain points. This foundational knowledge is critical for creating user-centered designs that resonate and meet real user needs.

As a UX designer with years of experience in a service-based company, I've learned that collaboration is essential. Clients often think design is just about aesthetics, but it's really about creating products that fulfill specific purposes and solve human problems. To understand the origins of a problem, we need to collaborate with users. To grasp business goals we need to work with stakeholders. Creating beautiful, problem-solving designs requires collaboration with other designers to bring diverse perspectives and ideas into the mix. To ensure our designs are feasible, we collaborate with developers. Also, to help users understand the features, we need to work with marketers to tell the right story. So, collaboration is the key.

I was brought on as a contractor to a Fortune 500 company with a well-established, seasoned, yet overwhelmed team. My role was to take the analysis from user research and work as part of a team to translate it into a design strategy. One particular senior designer did not like my presence on the team and felt that I was a threat to her career path. It wasn't until we had a crucial conversation that our collaboration really synergized and we were able to tackle the project efficiently. I say that because I want to emphasize the "closely" part of "collaborate closely."

Foster strong collaboration between the consultant, design team, and stakeholders. Regular communication and feedback loops ensure that everyone is aligned and that insights are integrated seamlessly into the design process.

Collaborating closely indeed can be tricky where there are subtle dynamics in play in a work environment. That’s when a consultant not only has to consider the user experience but also has to drive the business to a common strategic vision. Storytelling often helps to explain subtle dimensions of behavioural changes that are expected through a design intervention. Comparative visual representation of various strategic pathways along with their adaptation pros cons helps in quicker alignment and consensus.

Continuous learning is key in the dynamic field of UX. I make it a point to stay updated with the latest UX trends, tools, and methodologies through online courses, webinars, and professional networks. This commitment to learning not only enhances my skills but also allows me to offer cutting-edge solutions to my clients. Staying ahead of the curve ensures that my consulting services remain relevant and valuable.

UX design is shaped by emerging trends. By continuously learning, you stay ahead of the curve, incorporating these trends into your designs to create experiences that resonate with users. - Be a master in new tools and technologies. Continuous learning allows you to master these advancements, expanding your design capabilities and creating more efficient workflows. As user needs and preferences change, continuous learning equips you to adapt your design approach. You'll gain a deeper understanding of user psychology and motivations, enabling you to design experiences that are truly user-centric.

Stay updated with the latest UX trends, tools, and best practices. Encourage a culture of continuous learning within the team to ensure that designs are innovative, effective, and competitive in the market.

Provide training sessions for the client’s team to enhance their UX skills and knowledge. Empowering the internal team with UX expertise ensures sustainability and the ability to maintain high design standards post-consultation.

Offering structured learning modules can provide invaluable support to the client team as well as the consultant team to execute a standardised delivery quality. This can also include ways of working, daily rituals, Strategy, goals, and roadmaps. To execute this one needs to understand the cost implications of engaging people in training activities in terms of billable hours. The return on the learning engagements should be higher than the cost in the long-term. So it is necessary to also set metrics to measure the outcome of training people and the qualitative changes it has brought about in the delivery, behavioural and cultural aspects of the organisation.

For me, maximizing the benefits of consulting in UX, by prioritize thorough analysis & continuous iteration. Begin by deeply understanding user needs & business goals through comprehensive research & data analysis. Use qualitative methods like interviews & usability tests, combined with quantitative analytics, to gather insights. With these insights, create user personas & journey maps to guide design decisions. Next, employ an iterative approach. Develop prototypes and test them regularly, gathering feedback to refine and improve designs. Great UX is like a good conversation - test, learn, adapt. User consultants help you keep things user-friendly with constant tweaks, making sure your solution hits the bullseye!

Regularly analyze user feedback and performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the UX solutions. Use this data to iterate and refine designs, ensuring continuous improvement and optimal user experiences.

Consider the broader business context, including brand strategy, marketing goals, and technical constraints. Integrating UX efforts with these elements ensures cohesive, well-rounded solutions that drive overall business success.