As a startup or entrepreneur, you’re likely always looking for new ways to improve your product. However, while it’s important to always be innovating, you must remember the challenges associated with product design.
In this blog post, we’ll look at six of the most common digital product design challenges. Keep these in mind as you design your next product – they can make or break your success!
1- The art of answering the right questions
Like any other process, product design needs a solid foundation before you can start building on it. Though designing a product is time-consuming and laborious, one can make it quite simple by answering the right questions.
There are multiple questions that must be considered before making a framework. Like:
(a) What is your target audience?
(b) What are their major pain points?
(c) How can your product help solve those problems?
(d) How will you reach your target audience?
(e) Will your end users be willing to pay for your offering?
Brainstorm all such questions very carefully. If you can answer these questions, you will gather a lot of valuable data related to your ideal users, which will help you design a great product. A product that delivers a seamless user experience and is tailored to address a specific problem.
2- The limitations of wireframing tools
Do you have any idea what a wireframe is? To simplify it, a wireframe is a sketch of your product. Before any kind of design elements or development even takes place.
So, to sum it up: it’s a visual representation of elements of your product. That works to communicate your product’s concept, layout, and overall flow in the best possible manner.
However, it becomes challenging when we tend to create a wireframe using any software tool like Sketch. Challenging in the sense that how to convey our product will interact with the intended audience, or end users so to speak.
And most of the time, the reason behind all this is a static wireframe.
But is there any solution to it? Yes, you need to present it as an animated prototype. This will result in multiple benefits.
The development team will be able to understand much better, like how to carry it out. Plus, showing your prototype to users and stakeholders will bring a lot of clarity to your vision.
Now, if you’re searching for a tool to help you make an animated prototype, there are various friendly options, such as Adobe Flash and Microsoft Sketchflow.
3- Neglecting the purpose of the product
Do not get alluded to the visual appeal of your product only. This is the problem with most designers and developers that they neglect the product’s purpose. And their main focus is how the product meets the eye.
However, your product has a purpose. If it’s here to stay, it should solve a certain problem in the smartest way possible.
Great design will just help users keep using your product if it’s solving their most pressing problem because the design is not the product itself. It may influence the sale decision, but the success of your product lies in its purpose.
4- Underestimating the scope of changes
Designers expect some design changes to be made during the process. But they rarely plan how many changes could be requested or how one change will require another.
This is such a commonplace that almost all designers have to face it, regardless of the type of product design.
Many times, these changes will ask for minute alterations. However, there is also a possibility of such feedback that requires you to redesign the product entirely.
Solution?
(a) Make sure that there is no communication gap between your team members.
(b) You could also ensure that client expectations are clearly communicated early in the design process to avoid confusion.
(c) It’s best that you stay ahead of the deadlines. Completing the work before any deadline will give you plenty of time for iterations or re-work.
5- Having a lack of customer knowledge
Not everyone is a buyer of your product. Similarly, not every prospective client will be your end user. Therefore, you must have the fundamentals in order before designing a new product.
It is not sufficient to understand who your end users are, what they do, their problems, and the solutions they seek. The real point is to understand what motivates them to make a purchase or use your product.
You can conduct surveys to interact with your potential customers. Or engage them through beta testing. Or use social media to take their feedback, understand their needs and incorporate them into your product.
6- Overcomplicating a simple concept or solution
A solution to any sort of problem should be straightforward and self-explanatory. However, many people have the tendency to overcomplicate things, especially when they try to design with their minds, body, and soul.
Design is a type of visual communication, as we all know. It shouldn’t be necessary to read a lengthy “how to” manual to comprehend how your product functions.
Avoid becoming so caught up in innovation and creating a one-of-a-kind solution that you make it difficult for your end-user to comprehend. Good design, as in the words of Joe Sparano, is obvious. However, the great design is the one that’s transparent.
Bring in the UI/UX Experts. And put an end to all your concerns.
Creating a digital product, without a doubt, is no easy task. Some countless challenges and considerations go into making something that not only functions well but looks great and appeals to users. Some of these are mentioned above.
That’s why it’s important to bring on board experts in UX and UI design who can help you navigate these waters and create a custom-designed product your customers will love.
At PureLogics, we believe that anything is possible with the right team in place! We’re a digital product design company that can help you with anything from website design and development to mobile app design, user interface/experience design, wireframes & prototyping, and more.
Just get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to help tackle all your woes.