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Stop Preaching UX Process!

Olia Birulia
UX Planet
Published in
2 min readAug 4, 2023

After my recent post on Threads, I received an overwhelming number of comments and reactions, sparking an engaging conversation. I’m excited to delve deeper into this topic and continue the discussion.

In the world of design, the process is undeniably crucial, but let’s not get lost in it! The UX community needs to rethink its obsession with the design process and focus on what truly matters: solving problems and creating remarkable user experiences.

Process vs. Problem: Unveiling the A vs. B Approaches

Sure, every role involves a process, but let’s not drown in procedural details like generic personas and tool debates. Instead, let’s shift our perspective to highlight the real heroes: the project stories and the unique challenges they present.

UX Designer A: We followed a typical UX process in this project, conducting extensive research, interviews, and surveys to understand our audience. Ideation, prototyping, and usability tests refined our design based on user feedback. A comprehensive process that drove the project forward.

During the ideation phase, we debated design directions and usability testing tools. In the end, we created a great solution users loved.

The design process guides user-centered solutions, identifying pain points and generating ideas. But the key is recognizing that it supports problem-solving, not overpowering it.

UX Designer B: This project was fascinating! Redesigning an e-commerce website for a growing fashion brand challenged us. Our research revealed users’ desire for a personalized shopping experience.

Our tailored shopping journey with personalized recommendations and smoother checkout nailed it! Iterative testing and positive feedback boosted customer satisfaction, increasing sales and loyalty.

Let’s put the problem first, ensuring our solutions are effective and relevant. Understanding the problem drives flexibility and adaptability in our approach.

Instead of focusing on a step-by-step process, let’s tell the project’s journey. Highlight challenges, insights, and impactful decisions. Share the outcomes — the results clients and stakeholders truly care about.

Having a process is essential, but it should take a back seat to the real deal: solving problems for exceptional user experiences.

So, fellow UXers, let’s shift our perspective. Celebrate the art of problem-solving and the impact of our work. Focus on understanding the problem and letting it guide our process. Delivering exceptional user experiences is what truly matters and leaves a lasting impression on everyone involved.

Do you want to get FREE feedback on your project? Check out😎goodcrit.com!

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Published in UX Planet

UX Planet is a one-stop resource for everything related to user experience.

Written by Olia Birulia

😎 Founder http://goodcrit.com 👩‍💻 Previously design lead @meta @strava 💸 Angel investor 📍 San Francisco #uxmentor #startupadvisor #angelinvestor

Responses (4)

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This is so true. When I was a junior designer and writing my project story, I always fell into the mindset of "I have explored such an amazing design process and let me show it off to you!"
Thanks for sharing such honest words, Olia!

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Finally someone from the design field raised a perfect issue with the great solution. I truly believe that instead of showing them the process by using jargon and being a distinguishing person, we should just tell the story of the project. I repeat…

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Thanks for the article. What’s an example of a good case study in this perspective?

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