My design process is not linear. It’s iterative , and that’s OK .
Design is explorative, and full of iteration. While methodologies may vary, I consistently follow a six-step framework that brings structure to the chaos: Define, Discover, Interpret, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
🎯 Step 1: Define
Every great design starts with clarity. Before diving into solutions, I focus on understanding the problem the team is trying to solve.
This means:
Identifying the core challenge Mapping assumptions and claims Assessing risks and realities Aligning on a shared vision
Beyond the big picture, I dive into the business needs, project requirements, and stakeholder expectations. A well-defined foundation sets the stage for impactful design and a smoother collaboration with cross-functional teams.
🔍 Step 2: Discover
Great design is rooted in insight, not assumptions. This phase is all about uncovering the user, market, competitive, and product landscape to inform design decisions.
There are various research methods, typically grouped into four categories: Behavioral, Attitudinal, Quantitative, and Qualitative.
Choosing the right method depends on the project’s needs, so I take the time to identify research goals before selecting an approach.
Some research methods I leverage include:
At the heart of this phase is one principle: design decisions should be data-driven, not opinion-driven. The insights gathered in this step lay the groundwork for an informed, user-centric solution.
🧩 Step 3: Interpret
By combining qualitative storytelling with quantitative evidence, I ensure that every design choice is backed by a deep understanding of user behavior, needs, and challenges.
Raw data alone doesn’t drive great design—meaningful insights do. In this phase, I synthesize research findings to uncover patterns, define user needs, and build a solid foundation for ideation.
To translate research into actionable insights, I use:
💡 Step 4: Ideate
With a clear understanding of the problem, it's time to generate solutions. This phase is all about collaboration, creativity, and innovation—bringing cross-functional teams together to explore a wide range of possibilities before narrowing down the best ones.
I start by crafting need statements to keep ideas focused on solving real user challenges.
Then, I facilitate structured ideation workshops that balance improving existing solutions and exploring new ideas:
Building on Existing Solutions
Exploring New Ideas
The goal is to explore broadly, refine strategically, and uncover the most impactful ideas before moving into prototyping.
🛠️ Step 5: Prototype
Bringing ideas to life starts with prototyping—transforming concepts into tangible designs that can be tested and refined.
This process evolves from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive prototypes, ensuring flexibility and continuous iteration.
Prototyping Process
Why Different Fidelities?
Starting with low-to-mid fidelity prototypes keeps the design process flexible and bias-free, allowing for rapid changes without attachment to a single idea. It also enables early usability testing, helping refine the experience before investing heavily in high-fidelity details.
Whether sketching ideas on paper or crafting pixel-perfect designs, my approach ensures that each iteration gets closer to an intuitive, user-centered solution.
✅ Step 6: Test
Design is never truly finished—it evolves through testing and iteration. Testing ensures that solutions are usable, accessible, and aligned with user needs, allowing me to refine designs based on real user feedback rather than assumptions.
Key Testing Techniques
Testing is not a one-time step—it’s an ongoing process that allows for continuous refinement. Each round of feedback helps identify pain points, improve usability, and validate design decisions, ensuring that the final experience is intuitive, effective, and user-centered.
