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Problem Solving Techniques for Designers

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Philip Roger

So you've worked on teams which have very good process for problem solving? Great! But before we jump into that, I want to make sure you understand the difference between "UX" and "UI" ( UI or Usability) design. They are not one and the same. However, if implemented well, they can compliment each other very well to create an experience which delivers a high level of usability.

User Research - This is where a group of real people gets involved in creating a new digital product for real people. Usually, this involves surveys and interviews with representatives from the company, and it includes many more disciplines. The end result of all that user research is a list of what the user needs and wants. A lot goes into designing a great user experience. And we'll discuss some of the key things to keep in mind as you're doing yourux problem solving.

Research & Analysis - It's where a group of people dig in, do their research, and figure out what exactly needs to be done, and how to solve it. User research is just one piece of the whole puzzle though. Analysis is where the magic happens. It involves actually collecting the data, using it to develop a solution, and testing to make sure it actually works. User research & analysis is a core part of all of the work that goes into creating new digital products.

Usability - It's about making something that the target audience will use and feel comfortable with. This is a critical process in user research, and one which most ux experts miss. There's almost always a right time to test a product. The reason for this is simple: the more times real people get to use the product, the more we know about its actual effectiveness.

Human usability is absolutely critical for a successful ux design process. Without it, there's really no point in having any testing whatsoever. It's the whole point of the entire ux design process! But how do you gather usable data from real people? You ask.

Design Research - It's where a group of people (usually 10+ usually) go out and collect data on a large scale from real users. They do this by visiting stores, restaurants, hospitals, etc. For a new product development project, this might mean visiting 20 stores within a day or so. However, it can also mean gathering data over the course of three sprints ahead of the release date. This gives you enough data points to evaluate the usability of the new products in real-world situations.

User Interviews - This is where your designers ask real people (normally industry experts who are also good at conducting user interviews) questions about the usability of your new products. Again, it's a quick way to gather enough data points to evaluate them in the real-world situations. Of course, conducting user interviews also offers a way to find out whether or not your designers are on the right track. After all, they need to understand what users want, but what do other people think about them as well? A quick and easy way to find out that will give you a clear picture of the strength and weaknesses of your proposed solution.

The real key to problem solving techniques is to focus on problems which will have a significant effect on users in real-life situations. In addition, solve complex problems well. If they're not too difficult for you to execute, make sure you document them properly. And make sure you execute your ideas efficiently. These 3 key aspects of a great ux design process will ensure that you can solve problems quickly, efficiently and thoroughly.

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Philip Roger
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