Master the MVP Process

The efficient approach: build, measure, learn.

MVP Process: what is it?

MVP is the version of a new product that allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least amount of effort. This way defines it Erich Rie, who introduced the concept of the minimum viable product as part of his Lean Startup methodology.

The MVP is developed through an iterative process of idea generation, prototyping, presentation, data collection, analysis, and learning. With an MVP you seek to minimize the total time spent on an iteration with a launchable version of a product with just enough features to solve a core user problem.

Startup product teams often face limited resources such as tight budgets and deadlines and sometimes also a lack of known requirements and user preferences. MVP framework is a way to manage uncertainty and deliver. And last but not least, to reduce risk.?

Some designers confuse MVPs with proofs of concept or prototypes. But MVPs are complete products that are ready for production.

The general MVP methodology is generally summed up as Build (or Prototype), Measure, Learn (and then repeat based on those learnings). We’ll summarize this full process in 5 essential steps for you to master it.

5 steps of an MVP Process.

1. Align your MVP with the company's strategic goals.
2. Define the MVP with a PRD.
3. Organize the MVP’s Information Architecture.
4. Create Wireframes and Prototypes.
5. Complete Design QA.

Step 1: Align your MVP with the company's strategic goals.

The first step in developing your MVP is to make sure the product will align with your team’s or your company’s strategic goals. Also, ask what purpose this minimum viable product will serve. The answers to these questions will clarify your priorities and tell you if this MVP plan might be strategically viable.

Step 2: Define the MVP With a PRD

The PRD is a product requirements document through which you’ll define the purpose, features, functionality, and behavior of the product you’re about to build.?

To get the best results, your PRD needs to contain the following key elements:

• Purpose: define the real-life user problem that the product aims to solve.?
• Specific solutions: to define the features and functionalities the product will have you can start with defining user personas, user stories, and epics that will lead you through the specific solutions you want your product to offer users.?

These solutions do not represent the product’s overall vision—only subsets of ? ? ? ? that vision. Remember, you can develop only a small amount of functionality for your MVP.

You will need to be strategic in deciding which limited functionality to include. You can base these decisions on several factors such as: how quickly you’ll be able to iterate on certain types of functionality when you receive user feedback and what are the relative costs to implement the various user stories or epics.

• Analysis: Elaborate assumptions of what we expect the product will do or how the user will behave, and constraints outline possible product limitations that will allow you to tackle them earlier in the process and create a better experience for the user. Also, define actionable success metrics for measuring MVP performance.?

Step 3: Organize the MVP’s Information Architecture

The third step in the MVP design process is labeling and organizing the app’s digital content, such as sections, pages, and features. The result of this process is called information architecture (IA) and can be broken down into two parts:

1. Defining the product’s content; and
2. Determining the content’s hierarchy.

Once in the step of defining a product’s content, it’ll be very valuable to do deep research about trends, competition, and your target audience. After that, determine the content hierarchy to design UI architecture.? A great way to order content is by card sorting, with users organizing topics into logical groups.?

Step 4: Create Wireframes and Prototypes

First, create a Wireframe with your content defined and organized, This allows you to visualize your product while keeping things lean.

Then, test With Users. MVP process involves the “measure, learn, repeat” user testing approach in order to identify and fix potential friction points early on.

Finally, develop a High-fidelity Prototype. With your wireframe MVP validated, it’s time to upgrade to an interactive prototyping experience. In contrast to basic wireframing, high-fidelity (hi-fi) prototypes leverage pixel-perfect UI design and animation, and are much closer in appearance and functionality to the final product.?

Step 5: Complete Design QA

Finally, confirm that everything looks as expected and runs smoothly by clicking through the prototype and verifying that:

• Your MVP resonates with the initial product concept.
• The user flow feels natural.
• All use cases have been considered.
• All development bugs have been fixed.

Conclusion

Lean UX MVPs have a lot of advantages over other product design methods.

The resulting product will address people’s pain points while also creating a pleasurable experience. Building products using the Lean UX MVP methodology gives designers a clean roadmap for the entire process. From ideation through iterations based on real customer feedback, this method makes design more efficient and less wasteful.