Process

For every project, I always kick things off with a Discovery Meeting. This is where I meet with the founder or stakeholder, to gain a deeper understanding of your business. I feel that its the best way to know each other and understand the project so I go for face-to-face coffee meeting or virtual Google Meet. Ideally, I go for three meetings: Discovery, Progress, and Handoff.

I leverage these meetings to gain firsthand insights and understand the intricacies of the business which no research or documents can.

As part of my UX process, I dive deep into research, especially when it comes to understanding the business domain and the intricacies of the product. Infact, research make me happy, it excites me, be it small scale project or large, I never stop researching about what I am building. I leave no stone unturned, exploring every aspect from market size to related articles and even watching numerous YouTube videos. Since I treat each project as if it were my own, I take full ownership of the research process to ensure thoroughness and accuracy.

Competitive analysis is a crucial step in my process. After gaining a thorough understanding of your business during our discovery meeting, I get researching your competitors. This involves examining various aspects such as their business strategies, sales tactics, website content, and overall layout. By studying their strengths and weaknesses, I identify opportunities to differentiate your product or service and make it stand out in the market. This in-depth analysis informs our strategy moving forward, ensuring that we are well-positioned to succeed amidst competition.

In my experience, some clients may believe they have no competitors, but this is rarely the case. Whether they are unaware of their competitors or simply underestimate their presence, I make it a priority to conduct a thorough analysis to uncover any potential competitors.

When it comes to designing apps and dashboards, user interviews play a pivotal role in the process. Understanding the needs and challenges of the end users is essential for creating a user-centric design. I conduct user interviews either through external services or from a list provided by the client. This allows me to gain valuable insights directly from the individuals who will be interacting with the product, ensuring that the final design effectively addresses their requirements and preferences.

In the case of website design, be it Large Scale or Small Scale, information architecture is key. I start by creating a site map to outline page structure. Then, I developed a content strategy for each page to ensure the layout had the right messaging and call to action. Using tools like Google Sheets, I organize content logically for easy navigation. While making content strategy, I will engage client as much as possible.

Before developing high-fidelity designs for apps, I prioritize creating prototypes. While I used to hand-draw prototypes in the past, I now opt for Figma. This shift is due to the virtual nature of most client-stakeholder interactions, with individuals located in various locations. Figma allows me to craft comprehensive prototypes that can be easily shared and collaborated on.

In most cases, I make prototypes by spending hours with clients over a video call for all days or weeks. I make sure the client is fully engaged in the process.

Wireframing, primarily used in website projects, is a step I approach with efficiency in mind. Given that clients often struggle to visualize concepts until presented with high-fidelity designs, I aim to keep wireframing concise and straightforward. Occasionally, I skip the process by creating wireframes in Figma, using screenshots from various other websites. The depth of wireframing depends on project by project, however, my preference will always be to keep it fast and dirty.

User testing is an integral part of my design process, spanning various phases to ensure optimal usability and effectiveness. I provide users with prototypes to test, facilitating feedback collection and iteration. This testing occurs at multiple stages, beginning with prototype testing to gather initial insights. As the project progresses and high-fidelity designs are developed, additional rounds of user testing are conducted to validate the usability and functionality of the interface.

Furthermore, even after the site is launched, user testing remains an ongoing process, allowing for continuous refinement and enhancement based on user feedback and evolving needs.

When it comes to crafting high-fidelity designs for web apps and dashboards, I follow brand guidelines to ensure consistency and coherence. This involves selecting appropriate colors, fonts, and design elements that reflect the brand’s identity and values.

Since most of the brainstorming occurs during the prototyping phase, I view high-fidelity design as an opportunity for artistic expression, where I can refine and polish the visual aspects of the interface with meticulous attention to detail.

In crafting high-fidelity web designs, I leverage insights gained from the discovery meeting, content strategy, and information architecture to create visually captivating and user-centric website interfaces.

With a deep understanding of the business objectives and user needs, I meticulously translate concepts into refined designs that resonate with the target audience. From selecting color palettes and typography to crafting engaging layouts and interactive elements, every detail is thoughtfully considered to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.

As someone with expertise in both design and development, I handle web development for projects I design myself. In some cases, I exclusively focus on development based on Figma designs provided. I specialize in converting Figma designs into functional websites, whether it’s Figma to HTML/CSS, Figma to WordPress, or Figma to Webflow.

Throughout the development process, I prioritize responsiveness and semantic HTML. This means ensuring that the design adapts seamlessly to different devices and screen sizes, while also using proper HTML elements such as <h1>, <h2>, <header>.<footer>, <span>, <button>, <a>, and providing appropriate attributes like aria-label, alt, and title for accessibility and SEO purposes.

By adhering to these standards and practices, I ensure that the websites I develop are not only visually appealing but also accessible, SEO-friendly, and user-friendly across various platforms and devices.

For me, handing off designs to developers marks the start of a continuous cycle, especially for web apps and dashboards, it’s not the end. Since I don’t specialize in backend-heavy development, I transfer Figma files in dev mode to provide developers with all necessary assets. Alongside this, I offer clear instructions detailing button effects, interactions, font sizes, color palettes, and other design specifics.

Additionally, I prefer to conduct handoffs over meetings rather than relying solely on documentation. This ensures that developers have the opportunity to ask questions and clarify any uncertainties, fostering a smoother transition from design to development.

Testing is a crucial phase of post-website development. Typically, I conduct tests myself, sometimes involving the client, or if budget allows, I hire external testers for an additional perspective. These tests includes cross-browser compatibility, responsiveness across devices, and form validation checks. While I prioritize these aspects, I keep the security testing completely out of scope as its a separate discipline, often requiring specialized expertise beyond my expertise.

When it comes to delivering websites, I prioritize being with the client every step of the way until the launch. Before going live, I create a staging environment where all updates and changes are made. Once everything is finalized, I push the website live. During the initial launch, I handle all content updates personally to avoid confusion for the client. This ensures a seamless delivery process and a successful website launch.

Rather than simply handing over files, I take care of deployment and server configuration myself. As I specialize in WordPress and Webflow, I prefer simple hosting solutions. For complex servers like AWS, Azure, or Digital Ocean, I avoid involvement due to my limited expertise.