Product design refers to the procedures used to produce and develop products which are designed to solve specific user problems. It is closely related to industrial manufacturing and often encompasses mass production methods.
Research
During this stage the needs of the end user will be identified. The current market must be assessed to evaluate similar products, technologies and patterns that are already being used. The goal is to leverage this information in a way that allows the team to design a product which stands outs and fills a particular niche. All the team members must be aligned and understand the goals and vision of the project, along with the accompanying business requirements. User demand should also be discussed with project stakeholders.
Deduction
This is a fundamental creation phase where the product concept will be formulated based on specific user needs within a set business model (which should have been established during the previous Research stage). At this point both the product and UX designer should collaborate closely.
The user experience must be taken into account, along with a decision matrix that establishes the foundation for product development and wireframes that are created to convey interface usability while minimizing design time. This is also the stage where the product’s feel and appearance must be compatible with market and user demand.
Execution
At this point, product designers will begin developing an actual physical representation for their concept. To accomplish this, they will use a style guide where things such as the front, buttons, input fields, and color will be selected. The goal is to ensure consistency across an application. The product will also need to receive the approval of key stakeholders. Once it has, a prototype can be constructed. This is a rough idea of how the final product will look and is designed to identify any weaknesses or flaws that can be addressed.
Technical Analysis
During this phase, the objective is guaranteeing that every idea and requirement previously generated is realistic with regard to implementation. They have to be achievable within the deadline and budget constraints which were previously established. To this end, higher level architecture is a sub step that involves developing technical design and a balance between reach and complexity.
This is also the step where any external dependencies involving 3rd party providers such as Amazon, Stripe or Facebook will be identified. Higher level architecture also highlights the manner in which the product will be constructed; establishing baselines for required technologies along with the skills needed to obtain it.
Project planning involves the last and final step which will define key milestones while providing a generalized understanding of a project’s scope, phases, structure, interdependencies and intersections.
When designing a product, it is essential to adhere to this phase order, because the outputs generated during earlier stages are a necessity for those that follow. While some designers attempt to develop or process multiple tasks simultaneously, in most instances this will actually erode efficiency. When designing a product you want to minimize time and cost by establishing a schedule which is realistic.
