Mark Levinson’s Post

Is Product Design Stressful? Product design mixes creativity and analysis. And, it has its stressors. Why the Stress? – Long hours. – Tight deadlines. – Staying creative. – Handling criticism. – Constantly learning new tools. – Solving complex never seen before challenges. On top of that... → Many companies lack awareness about UX, so designers have to play the role of educator and advocate. → UX Design is a broad umbrella term for many specialist skills. If you lack a skill, you might feel strong Imposter Syndrome. → Working with multiple stakeholders involves understanding and empathizing with different people inside and outside the organization. Despite these challenges, it's not all doom and gloom. Many designers find joy in their work, with studies indicating that product designers are generally happier than average in their roles. So how to manage stress? Here are some tips: ✦ Embrace negative feedback as a growth opportunity. – Ask for feedback. – Be open to criticism. – Learn from it. – Don't take it personally. ✦ Avoid comparing yourself to others – Skip social media comparison. – Celebrate your progress. – Focus on personal growth. – Seek inspiration, not competition. ✦ Trust in your design process – Define the problem. – Break down into small steps. – Be patient. ✦ Rejuvenate yourself – Take breaks – Go for walks – Chat with colleagues – Keep weekends to yourself, not work. While product design can be stressful, it offers immense satisfaction and opportunities for creative expression. By understanding the sources of stress and adopting strategies to manage them, you can navigate the challenges more effectively, making your design journey both rewarding and enjoyable. Summary – Embrace feedback. – Avoid comparison. – Trust the process. – Take breaks. Follow for more www.marklevi.com/links

Design goes beyond the boundaries of physical and digital products. It's present in every facet of human creation—from the way a manager leads their team, to a lesson plan, a movie script, or even a standup comedy routine. As a design consultant, I advocate for empathic design in all forms of creation. When we design with empathy, we create products—whether tangible, digital, or experiential—that resonate deeply with users. This approach not only makes for happier end users but also fosters a better world. In today’s creative landscape, anyone who produces something for others is engaging in design. And everyone is creative because they are constantly designing, shaping, and producing products in their own way. The shift toward a broader definition of design, inclusive of intangible products, ensures that empathy is embedded in every step of the process, ultimately making all outputs more impactful. Empathic design extends to speechwriting, corporate strategies, or even educational experiences, enabling these "products" to connect with people's emotions and needs. Companies like Airbnb and Apple have understood the importance of design in shaping not just products but experiences that evoke a human response, setting them apart from their competitors. In an age where user experience (UX) is as vital to a manager’s leadership approach as it is to a software interface, we must recognize that every created product impacts people’s lives. As designers, artists, managers, educators, or creators, understanding our users is critical. When we practice empathic design, we build something more valuable: long-lasting, human-centered solutions. If we want to craft better experiences, services, and products, empathy needs to be the cornerstone. Whether you’re developing an app or writing a speech, when you consider the emotions, needs, and struggles of your audience, the result will resonate much more deeply. And ultimately, it will lead to a world where every product—whether tangible or not—is designed for meaningful impact. In the end, empathic design makes for better products and, more importantly, happier, more engaged users. Sources to consider: - Tim Brown’s “Change by Design: How Design Thinking Creates New Alternatives for Business and Society” - "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman - IDEO's case studies on designing for human impact

How do you articulate the strategic value of Design? I remember seeing this on my feed, and it's been noodling around my head for the last week. For a lot of designers it's bound to trigger an allergic reaction - "how can you ask that!?". But I also feel like a lot of the responses still treat design as a tactical benefit, a force-multiplier that exists to support other disciplines. Maybe that's not a bad thing. If you could make your Engineers 10x more effective, or your Product Managers 10x more successful, you'd do it for sure. But that isn't something exclusive to designers. Heck if you believe the hype it's not even something exclusive to humans. Designers are people you hire, grow, and develop because they are accountable for making sure your product is built for the people who use it. Now you could claim that this is something that can be taught to anyone in the business, and to an extent that's true, but they'll never be completely accountable for that goal. That accountability means that as designers it is our responsibility to bring the voice of the end user to the table. To support decisions by others that benefit the end user, and to challenge those that don't. Where we differ from Product is that we aren't (as) accountable to the customer - who may not be the actual person using the tool. The strategic value of design is that we make sure an organisation delivers for people. It is our responsibility to develop our skills in a way that ensures we advocate better for people. There isn't a distinction between UX, UI, or any other bunch of letters because as long as we use those skillsets to make the organisation benefit people then we contribute to the long-term survival of the organisation.

Product design is a fascinating field that involves creating and developing new products. It combines aesthetics, functionality, and user experience to design innovative and practical solutions. A product designer plays a crucial role in this process, utilizing their creativity and problem-solving skills to bring ideas to life. Design thinking is a key concept in product design. It is an approach that focuses on understanding user needs and finding effective solutions. Designers use empathy to put themselves in the shoes of the users, conducting research and gathering insights to inform their design decisions. This human-centered approach ensures that products are tailored to meet user requirements and deliver a positive experience. To excel in product design, certain skills are essential. Designers need a strong foundation in design principles, including color theory, composition, and typography. They should also have proficiency in design software and tools. Additionally, good communication and collaboration skills are crucial for working effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders. Having role models in the field of product design can be inspiring and educational. Studying the work of accomplished designers can provide valuable insights into their design processes, problem-solving techniques, and approaches to user experience. Role models can serve as a source of motivation and guidance, helping aspiring product designers refine their skills and develop their own unique style. Understanding user experience (UX) is vital in product design. UX encompasses the overall experience and satisfaction a user has when interacting with a product or service. Factors that influence UX include usability, accessibility, aesthetics, and the emotional response elicited by the product. By considering these factors, product designers can create designs that are intuitive, enjoyable, and meet the needs of the users. In conclusion, product design is a multidisciplinary field that involves creating innovative and user-centered solutions. Design thinking, skills in design principles and software, role models, and a deep understanding of user experience are all essential components of successful product design. The Curve Africa Chiamaka Onyilimba, CSM Samuel Kelechi

This is a great post for designers moving into management/leadership roles. The nature of your job changes dramatically and it's important to figure out the most effective ways to help your team and the company. As noted in the article, it's very easy to have your time consumed by managerial tasks (operational work). Being deliberate about how you want to spend your time, focusing on the change you want to bring about and working consistently towards that end are critical skills to learn. #UX #Design #DesignLeadership https://lnkd.in/e_g4TRJx

The world of product design is a battleground for attention. Ever wondered why certain products hold our gaze and become daily essentials, while others barely make a mark? The secret often sleeps in the nuanced world of psychology. Ease Overload with Simplicity: Our minds can only handle so much. Drawing from Cognitive Load Theory, standout product designs cut through the noise, streamlining user decisions and warding off overwhelm. Forge Emotional Bonds: It's the products that stir positive emotions that carve out a place in our hearts and habits. Donald Norman's emotional design framework underscores the magic of making users feel seen and heard, nurturing a sense of belonging. Crafting Addictive Experiences: Nir Eyal's Hook Model sheds light on turning casual users into loyal fans. A simple trigger leading to an action, rewarded and eventually, the user’s investment, keeps us coming back for more. The Influence of the Crowd: We're wired to follow the flock, as Robert Cialdini’s persuasion principles reveal. Embedding social proof, like rave reviews or user milestones, into design can sway decision-making and foster trust. The Joy of Immediate Feedback: A quick response to user actions satisfies our craving for instant gratification. This direct acknowledgment enriches the user journey, making every interaction feel valued and vibrant. Integrating these psychological threads into product design not only meets but anticipates user needs, crafting experiences that are not just useful but meaningful. As designers and thinkers, our mission is to dive deep into these insights, molding products that don’t just exist but resonate deeply with our users. Keen to hear your thoughts—what psychological insights have transformed your approach to design?

𝟭𝟬 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲-𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 As a product designer, I've taken on various roles such as leading projects as an individual designer, leading a team of UX designers, and collaborating within a design group.  I want to share the habits and rules that have proven valuable to me and helped me in my workflow. 1. Wireframing ↳ Before proceeding to detailed UI design, I always start with wireframes. This approach allows for quick iterations and saves considerable time during the detailed design phase. 2. Templates ↳ I prefer to use templates, UI Kits, and reuse materials. This strategy eliminates the need to start from scratch each time, leading to significant time savings. 3. User Cases ↳ I develop detailed user cases to understand and document various user interactions with the product, covering all possible scenarios. 4. User Scenarios ↳ I create user scenarios to visualize real-world interactions with my design. This practice lets me identify potential issues or design gaps early on, thus saving time. 5. Communication ↳ Maintaining regular communication with colleagues involved in product development is a significant time saver. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page. 6. Designers Meetings ↳ Regular team meetings promote product consistency and save time by reducing disjointed design elements. 7. Anticipate Issues ↳  I conduct pre-mortem meetings with the team to identify potential issues or design challenges and address them before they become time-consuming problems. 8. CJM and Informational Architecture ↳ At the start of each project, I create CJMs and an informational architecture and update them as the product changes. This provides a clear overview for the team and helps guide new members. 9. Organized Workflow ↳ I regularly organize files and projects, remove unnecessary drafts, and maintain clean files. This practice helps me locate required materials faster, reducing search time. 10. Process Refinement ↳ Continuously evaluate and refine my design process, seeking areas for optimization and streamlining to make the process more efficient. ___ 🙋♀️ Hi, I'm Elina, a UX designer with 4+ years of experience. I use LinkedIn to share my thoughts, insights and lessons learned in the field. Follow me for valuable tips and advice. If you're a fellow designer, let's connect over an e-coffee!

💡 "Design thinking framework: A powerful tool for user-centered design." Let’s talk about the stages of this process 1️⃣ Empathize :  A fundamental step in UX design includes understanding users' needs, experiences, emotions, challenges, etc. The team conducts user research through interviews, and surveys, then creates empathy maps and user personas to gain insights. 2️⃣ Define :  The phase focuses on defining a clear problem statement based on information gathered in the previous stage. The problem statement reflects the most important pain points of the user. 3️⃣ Ideate :  Once the problem statement is created, the team generates creative ideas. This includes brainstorming, mind mapping, sketching, or other creative activities. 4️⃣ Prototype :  The goal is to create an early model of a product that gives an idea of the functionalities provided by the product. It’s an iterative process, refining the prototypes based on feedback and testing. 5️⃣ Test :  In the end, the prototypes are given to real users for testing and gathering feedback. Testing is done to improve the overall user experience. 📌 The key principles in design thinking are human-centered, collaboration, empathy, experimentation, and iteration. 

Intuition and gut feeling for product designers: is this something we can use? Or should everything we create be based on evidence and rationale? There are probably 2 groups of product designers. Those who think everything should be tested, and those who dare to use their gut feeling. I personally belong to the last one. I think designers can and should use their intuition for product development. And here is a breakdown of why I think so. 1️⃣ After a certain time (approximately after ~3 years of experience), product designers started gaining expertise level. It means they could know how things work just because they know it. The more experience designers have with different projects, the more expert they are. Of course, it shouldn’t be applied to every design solution. Definitely not. But expert-designers can create something based on their feelings. 2️⃣ There are common patterns of user behaviour. These patterns are the same across various products and even platforms. - Swipe down on the image will close it - Zoom in and zoom out with your pinch. - Etc. And designers know these patterns work without additional research, usability tests or metrics. 3️⃣ Unlike a previous one, being brave enough to design something completely new can also be rewarding. Design intuition can drive innovation and boost any product. In a product team, designers are those who, more than others, are responsible for creativity. And we can use our superpower. We shouldn’t just solve customer problems. We should aim to exceed customer expectations to create a truly outstanding product. __________ Of course, I’m not encouraging you to follow the above steps mindlessly. They are one of the options. We should always consider the context, product environment, economic situation on the market, and other indicators. #uxui #productdesign #gutfeeling #designprocess

A comprehensive post on how to get into Product Design in 2024 from our Founder Sera Tajima. Get the full article by going to her substack in the comments.