Forget Personas and Journey Maps: 5 UX Tips That Produce Better Products

Most of the times, our approach should be strategic and holistic. Before we start designing a product, we need to understand the user's needs, business goals, and market trends. We also need to conduct user research to gain insights into their behaviors, preferences, and pain points.

Tip 1: Research before starting

This step is all about gathering information before finding solutions. First, I research what my competitors are doing to gain a better understanding of the domain I'm working in, including their business models and how effective they are. This helps me make sure I'm not duplicating their exact features. Then, I investigate recent failures of my competitors and similar industries that have similar solutions.

Although we can get super busy and often want to pass research and jump right into screen design, it's best to take the extra time to digest and immerse myself in my new topic area. Try to empathize with my audience about the problem I’m trying to solve and talk to actual learners about the struggles they have.

While it may be tempting to skip research and jump straight into screen design, it is important for me to take the time to fully understand and immerse myself in the new topic area. It is beneficial to empathize with my audience and understand the problem I’m trying to solve.

Tip 2: Always carry a sketchbook and pen

I don't have to be an artist to get my ideas down on paper. Inspiration can strike at any moment, and this way, I'll be ready to take notes or make sketches. With practice, my sketching skills improved and it helps me when I need to go back to my laptop or present a new idea later in the day.

This helped me get ready to carry out or present my ideas to the stakeholders. My sketchbook has everything from lists and drawings of new potential solutions to notes from meetings or even sketches of my major tasks for the day. Carrying a pen or pencil in my pocket gave me an edge, so I never missed a chance to write down an idea.

Tip 3: Use a grid

To enhance the visual appeal of my design, I should align the content, typography, and elements to a grid. When content is randomly placed, it becomes more noticeable to the user. As UX designers, we aim to achieve visual hierarchy and flow in our designs. Utilizing a grid is an effective way to quickly improve the visual appeal of a page and make it stand out.

A pro tip is to set quick keys and sketch for all of your alignment tools, which will save you time and effort.

Tip 4: Share what I do

With the pace we can move into today's software, there's no excuse not to show our designs daily or every other day. Share them with my team, spouse, or even a six-year-old boy. This helps me get comfortable talking about my work and getting feedback. Designs are just things, not a reflection of who I am. If there is negative feedback, it’s judging the design, not me.

Showing my work frequently allows me to identify problems much earlier, which allows me to address them before they become major roadblocks. Additionally, it provides me with a platform to receive feedback and suggestions from colleagues and superiors, which can help me to improve my work and make it more effective. This approach also ensures that I am able to stay organized and on track throughout the project, as it allows me to remain aware of any potential issues or challenges that may arise.

Tip 5: Get to know my customers

To better serve the business and improve customer satisfaction, it's important to understand my customers. This involves various strategies, such as conducting surveys, analyzing customer data, and monitoring social media channels. By understanding customers' preferences, behaviors, and pain points, I can provide tailored products and services to meet their specific needs, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and revenue.

Key takeaways

• Conduct research before starting
• Carry a sketchbook and pen
• Use a grid for alignment
• Share work frequently
• Get to know customers through surveys, data analysis, and social media monitoring

What do you do to improve you design skills? Drop your thoughts in the comments below...

Thanks for your time! I hope it inspired you.