Design Process Deep Dive: From Research to Launch

As a UX/UI designer with 7+ years of experience, I’ve refined my design process through dozens of projects ranging from mobile apps to enterprise SaaS platforms. Today, I want to share my comprehensive approach that has consistently delivered successful outcomes.

The 5-Phase Framework

1. Discovery & Research (Weeks 1-2)

Objective: Understand the problem space, users, and business context

Key Activities:

• Stakeholder interviews and alignment sessions
• User research (interviews, surveys, analytics review)
• Competitive analysis and market research
• Technical constraints assessment

Deliverables: Research report, user personas, problem statement

Real Example: For a recent fintech app, we discovered through 45 user interviews that the primary pain point wasn’t feature complexity, but trust and security concerns. This completely shifted our design strategy.

2. Strategy & Planning (Week 3)

Objective: Define the solution approach and project roadmap

Key Activities:

• Information architecture development
• User journey mapping
• Feature prioritization using MoSCoW method
• Success metrics definition

Deliverables: Site map, user flows, project timeline

3. Design & Prototyping (Weeks 4-6)

Objective: Create and validate design solutions

Key Activities:

• Wireframing and low-fidelity prototypes
• Visual design and high-fidelity mockups
• Interactive prototyping
• Design system development/extension

Deliverables: Wireframes, visual designs, interactive prototypes

Pro Tip: I always create clickable prototypes using Figma’s advanced prototyping features. This allows for better stakeholder buy-in and more accurate user testing.

4. Testing & Iteration (Week 7)

Objective: Validate designs with real users and refine

Key Activities:

• Usability testing (moderated and unmoderated)
• A/B testing setup for key interactions
• Accessibility auditing
• Stakeholder feedback incorporation

Deliverables: Test results, revised designs, accessibility report

5. Implementation & Launch (Weeks 8-10)

Objective: Ensure successful development handoff and launch

Key Activities:

• Developer handoff with detailed specifications
• Quality assurance during development
• Launch preparation and go-to-market support
• Post-launch monitoring and optimization

Deliverables: Design specifications, QA reports, success metrics tracking

Tools That Power My Process

Research & Strategy:

• Miro for collaborative workshops and journey mapping
• Notion for research documentation and project management
• Google Analytics and Hotjar for behavioral insights

Design & Prototyping:

• Figma for all design work and collaboration
• Principle for complex animations and micro-interactions
• Maze for remote usability testing

Handoff & Collaboration:

• Zeplin for developer handoff specifications
• Slack for team communication
• Abstract for design version control

Key Success Factors

1. Early and Continuous User Involvement

I involve users at every stage, not just during research and testing. This prevents costly late-stage changes and ensures solutions truly meet user needs.

2. Cross-functional Collaboration

Design doesn’t happen in isolation. I work closely with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders throughout the process to ensure feasibility and alignment.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making

Every design decision is backed by data, whether it’s user research insights, analytics data, or usability testing results. This removes subjective debates and focuses on user outcomes.

4. Iterative Refinement

I never consider designs “final” until they’re launched and validated with real user behavior. Continuous iteration based on feedback is essential.

Measuring Success

The true test of any design process is the outcomes it delivers. Here are key metrics I track:

User Experience Metrics:

• Task completion rates
• Time to complete key actions
• User satisfaction scores (NPS, CSAT)
• Error rates and support ticket volume

Business Impact Metrics:

• Conversion rate improvements
• User engagement and retention
• Revenue impact
• Development efficiency gains

Adapting the Process

This framework is flexible and adapts based on project constraints:

Tight Timelines: Focus on rapid prototyping and guerrilla testing methods Limited Resources: Leverage existing research and design system components Complex Enterprise Projects: Extend discovery phase and include more stakeholder alignment sessions

Conclusion

A well-defined design process is crucial for delivering consistent, user-centered solutions. The key is finding the right balance between structure and flexibility, allowing for creativity while ensuring thorough validation and successful outcomes.

What design process challenges are you facing? I’d love to hear about your experiences and help troubleshoot specific scenarios.

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Want to learn more about specific aspects of this process? Follow my blog for deep dives into user research methods, design system development, and conversion optimization strategies.