Important Design thinking Frameworks - 2 : Lean UX

 Chapter 2: Lean UX

Compiled by Narendra Raghunath

(Open access template for curriculum/Business planning and facilitation. Free to use, share, and adapt without copyright restrictions.)

Lean UX is rooted in lean manufacturing, focusing on minimizing waste to enhance efficiency. This concept was detailed in "The Machine That Changed the World" by James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, and Daniel Roos in 1990. Eric Ries later applied this methodology to business and product development in 2008 through his book "The Lean Startup." This approach advocates for a cycle of building, measuring, and learning to test business hypotheses with minimally viable products.

Lean UX adapts lean manufacturing and startup principles to user experience design, emphasizing waste reduction, cross-functional collaboration, and customer-centric approaches. Its core principles advocate for unified teamwork, addressing the correct issues, collaborative design, adaptable planning, and a focus on outcomes over deliverables. It is expected to standardize operational procedures, break down operational silos, and establish a continuous process model, marking a significant evolution in its application and impact as it continues to develop.

Keywords: Collaboration, User-Centered, Experimentation, Feedback Loop, Problem-Focused, MVP (Minimum Viable Product), Continuous Improvement

Process stages

Discover

1. Define the problem or opportunity.
2. Conduct user research (interviews, surveys, analytics).
3. Identify user needs, pain points, and goals.
4. Develop a hypothesis or problem statement.

Define

1. Define the design challenge or question.
2. Establish design principles and goals.
3. Develop a rough wireframe or prototype.
4. Identify key performance indicators (KPIs).

Design

1. Create a low-fidelity prototype or mock-up.
2. Conduct usability testing and gather feedback.
3. Refine and iterate on the design.
4. Develop a functional prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product).

Validate

1. Conduct usability testing and user feedback sessions.
2. Gather data and analytics on user behaviour.
3. Validate or invalidate design assumptions.
4. Refine the design based on feedback and testing results.

Iterate

1. Continuously refine and improve the design.
2. Conduct A/B testing and experimentation.
3. Gather user feedback and analytics data.
4. Refine the design based on user input.

Lean UX Principles

1. User-centered: Focus on user needs and goals.
2. Build-Measure-Learn: Iterate and refine based on feedback.
3. Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Develop a functional prototype.
4. Data-driven: Make design decisions based on data and feedback.
5. Collaborative: Work closely with stakeholders and teams.
6. Efficient: Reduce waste and maximize value.

Lean UX Tools and Techniques

1. User Research and Testing Methods

- Conducting user interviews, surveys, and contextual inquiries to understand user needs and behaviours

- Utilizing usability testing, heuristic evaluations, and cognitive walkthroughs to identify areas for improvement

- Employing user testing methods like think-aloud protocols, user observation, and feedback sessions

2. Wireframing and Prototyping Tools

- Utilizing design tools like Sketch, Figma, InVision, and Adobe XD to create low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes

- Creating interactive prototypes to test and validate design concepts

- Collaborating with team members and stakeholders using real-time design tools

3. Usability Testing and User Feedback Sessions

- Conducting usability testing sessions to gather feedback on prototypes and designs

- Facilitating user feedback sessions to understand user needs and pain points

- Analyzing user feedback and iterating on design solutions

4. A/B Testing and Experimentation Tools

- Utilizing tools like Optimizely, VWO, and Google Optimize for A/B testing and experimentation

- Designing and running experiments to validate design decisions and measure impact

- Analyzing test results and iterating on design solutions

5. Design Systems and Style Guides

- Developing and maintaining design systems and style guides to ensure consistency

- Creating reusable design components and patterns

- Establishing design standards and best practices

6. Agile Project Management Tools

- Utilizing tools like Jira, Trello, Asana, and Basecamp to manage design projects

- Collaborating with cross-functional teams using agile project management methodologies

- Tracking progress, identifying roadblocks, and iterating on design solutions

Where is Lean UX used

Software as a Service (SaaS) Companies

Lean UX is employed by SaaS companies like Doodle to enhance products through an efficient, evidence-based, and customer-centric approach. This involves:

- Streamlining design processes to reduce waste and accelerate time-to-market

- Conducting user research to inform product decisions and drive customer satisfaction

- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and effective communication

- Continuously testing and iterating on products to meet evolving customer needs

Agile Development Teams

Agile development teams leverage Lean UX to minimize waste and create user-centered products. This includes:

- Embracing an iterative design approach to respond to changing requirements and user feedback

- Focusing on delivering value to customers through continuous improvement and refinement

- Encouraging active collaboration between designers, developers, and stakeholders

- Prioritizing user needs and validating design decisions through testing and experimentation

E-commerce Product Design Teams

E-commerce product design teams utilize Lean UX to rapidly explore new ideas, test them, and refine them based on customer responses and usability. This involves:

- Conducting user research to understand customer behaviour and preferences

- Creating prototypes and testing them with real users to validate design decisions

- Iterating on designs based on customer feedback and usability testing results

- Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure design solutions meet business objectives

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

In SAFe, Lean UX provides a closed-loop method for defining and measuring value. This includes:

- Integrating design thinking and user-centered principles into the Agile development process

- Establishing a continuous feedback loop to inform product decisions and drive improvement

- Collaborating with stakeholders to define and measure value from a customer-centric perspective

- Scaling Lean UX practices across multiple teams and programs to drive enterprise-wide impact