The Design Process

The design process is very important when people make or develop products. The quality of products depends on how to make. In my cases, I usually start to basic data research about the product which I will design.
First of all, I gather the data about position in market, pros and cons of competitive products, and bench marking mode. Then, I make a specific process and a schedule. General process of mine can divided four steps.
First step is to make a strategy about the product. In this step, I interview large scale user soup or investigate behavior of small user group concerning the product. If the product was already shown in market, I generally observe how the user wants to change or what kinds of problems users feel. After gathering data about product, I develop a strategy to improve product quality or to provide best services to customer.
Second step is to design prototype. Using the data of product, I design the paper prototype. It is kind of sketch of product. First I draw a prototype in a paper and test the prototype with one or two users. I can find some problems or improve factors though this primary test. Then, I start to make more detail prototype using computer. And, I test the prototype one more time with five or seven users. In this test, I can find specific problem of user interface and can fix it correctly. Their step is to develop the product. Starting develop real product is not only one person’s duty in my case. Many experts join the product, and collaborate. My position is usually interaction design. So, I manage quality of user interface when engineers reflect my prototype to their programming. Finishing the veta version of the real product, we test again the product with ten or twelve users.
I observe how the users they reach their task goals, and what problems in there. I usually write report about the test and share with engineers. Then engineers finally fix the problems.
Final step is to lunch the product. This step is very important. How to show the product in the market or to customers determines the success or failure of the product. I explain the important functions or main point of project and suggest some opinions about how we can attract our users, because I observed several times users through tests in every step. Then the product is launched in the world. When customer care service starts to gather customer’s feedback, I can know the project’s success or failure. And I start next version of the product basis on customer’s feedback.
Designing product is not only for designer’s inspiration. Definitely, designer should consider target users who use the product everyday or frequently. In my design process, main points are to understand user’s needs and goals to design products using research data. Although design is creative works, I strongly believe that design should be for users, humans, and real world. Also, design should make benefits in their market if the product is not just pure artworks. Researching large-scale data and testing with users in every design process are the best way for the best design.