UX stands for ‘user experience’. The user is therefore at the centre of all considerations, not the look of the interface of a website or app. User experience design is about really understanding the habits, needs, behaviours, motivations and emotions of users and using this knowledge to define the right flows, focal points, microcopies and functions. The first step is therefore to understand and analyse a problem in detail; for whom and in which phase of an interaction is the design used to develop prototypes and find solutions.
UX design requires an intensive examination and analysis of and with users and their behaviour. User journeys with interviews, user surveys, heat map analyses on a small scale or eye tracking and reaction measurement on a large scale are used for this purpose.
Of course, you also try to take UX aspects into account in a conventional web design process, but without such explorative elements, you will achieve less good results in the long term.
At Uhura, we have been supporting web and app design processes for large and small clients and public and private companies for more than 20 years. As a UX agency, we know how important a well thought-out process is for the successful design of user experiences. It is crucial for potential clients to choose the right UX process for their project.
Here are the most basic and commonly used ones:
The waterfall process is a step-by-step, linear approach in which each phase (requirements, design, development, testing and deployment) is completed in sequence. This approach is particularly suitable for projects where the requirements are clearly defined at the beginning and remain stable. This also means that jumps between phases should be avoided. In plain language: less space can be given to change processes and new requirements that may arise at the end of the project. Strict expectation management and clear conclusions after each phase are important.
Advantages of the waterfall process:
Disadvantages:
Conclusion:
For those who are used to typical project execution and have developed clearly defined functions and timelines, the waterfall process could be useful for working through a clearly defined set of specifications.
The agile approach emphasises flexibility and continuous adaptation. Instead of planning the entire project in a linear fashion, it is divided into sprints - short, iterative development cycles in which feedback and adjustments are quickly implemented. It is suitable for scenarios in which requirements can change or design and functional requirements are not clearly clarified at the beginning. The Agile UX process supports teams that want to work on solutions for specific development and design problems in an iterative process.
Advantages of the agile UX process:
Disadvantages of the agile UX process:
Conclusion:
For example, an agile UX process is suitable if a platform is to be developed that is regularly improved based on user feedback. The iterative approach allows new functions to be continuously tested and implemented. The success of a project depends on continuous feedback from users and stakeholders. The team and organisation must therefore work very closely and communicatively with each other. To this end, it is sometimes imperative that client and agency teams are given sufficient resources and time.
Lean UX focuses on fast iterations and close collaboration between design, development and business teams. The aim is to test hypotheses quickly, evaluate results and validate design solutions with minimal resources.
Advantages of Lean UX:
Disadvantages of Lean UX:
Conclusion:
Ideal for the rapid development and optimisation of design solutions, such as testing different design options for a check-out process in an online shop to find out which variant has the highest conversion rate.
Design thinking places the user at the centre of the development process. A mixture of empathy, brainstorming, prototyping and testing ensures that the solution addresses the problem from the user's perspective.
Advantages of design thinking:
Disadvantages of design thinking:
Conclusion:
Design thinking can be used particularly in the early phases of a comprehensive project, for example to develop a new intuitive service app for customers that covers their most common needs.
In practice, hybrid approaches that combine elements of Agile, Lean UX and Design Thinking are often used. This allows teams to react flexibly while still maintaining clear structures and objectives.
Choosing the right UX process depends on several factors, including the stability of the requirements, the size of the project and the available budget.
If your project has clearly defined requirements and is being developed in a stable environment, the waterfall process offers a structured solution.
For dynamic projects where requirements and target group needs change frequently, agile methods offer more flexibility and customisation options.
If you are focussing on efficiency, lean UX could be the right choice, as it focuses on hypothesis-driven product development.
Each UX process comes with specific benefits. For companies looking for the optimal way to develop user-centred products, it is crucial to choose the process that best suits the requirements and dynamics of the project.
As a UX agency, we are happy to advise you on the right approach for your project and guide you through the entire process - from the initial idea to the final product. Get in touch with us.
