Creativity is subjective. Yet businesses run on it. So, how do they go about the challenging task of quantifying it? We can’t speak for other industries, but at Team Codesign we can shed light on some ways that show how UX design can be quantified. In this article, we look at a checklist of UX deliverables that help you assess the work done towards achieving your business goals.
TL; DR? Get a brief look at the different deliverables in UX- UI here.
What Are UX Deliverables & What Do They Quantify?
UX deliverables are methods used to give you a way to measure the amount of creative work done. They are tangible records of the efforts put in by the UX team. They work well for both clients & agencies, allowing each to review the creative process step-by-step. Depending on the project requirements, UX deliverables vary slightly. However, no matter which method you choose to follow, the end goal remains the same; to quantify creativity.
1. Research Presentations (Competitor & Audience Analysis): UX design is a combination of psychology, technical know-how & market research. Most firms will begin by scoping out the competition to know what they’re up against. They may also analyze their target audience to some extent. A research presentation attempts to give insight on what the market may be ready to accept.
Research presentations help make data-driven decisions that impact the UX design strategy. Therefore this is usually the first deliverable an agency discusses with their clients.
2. Personas: Once the problem areas have been identified, UX designers can begin detailing their understanding of the target audience. They do this by creating what are called User Personas. Based on research, a UX designer will try and detail out all relevant aspects of a potential users personality. This answers questions such as what motivates the audience, how they usually behave and who exactly these people are. User personas help UX designers create products that best fulfill the needs of the customer.
3. Information Architecture (IA): The World Wide Web overflows with information. This quite often overwhelms a user. Information architecture was created as a counter to such a scenario. It is the process of structuring information in an organized manner for ease of use. To put it simply, IA is a blueprint of the end product.
UX designers use a number of different methods to create information architecture. For example they may begin by cataloguing the information on your website/app. They then organize it in terms of hierarchy, label it and maybe create a wireframe (a simple illustration of the content structure).
If a user cannot find what they are looking for easily, they probably won’t make the effort to look for it. Businesses & UX designers alike understand the need for a strong foundation through IA.
4. User Flows: All products are made for a particular purpose. Common purposes in the world of UX include convincing a user to purchase a product or signing up for a service.
A User Flow is used to help users fulfil this purpose in the quickest & simplest way possible. User flows detail out every step of a user’s journey through the product. They are flowcharts of the different paths a user may take within the product.
When UX designers create a user flow, it helps them evaluate the efficiency of the product being created. It also helps them precisely pinpoint the stage at which a user may lose interest in the product.
5. Low-Fidelity Prototypes: Fidelity in terms of design refers to the amount of detail displayed. A prototype is a sample or representation of a final product. Low-Fidelity Prototypes attempt to show the interaction between the various wireframes initially created.
This process helps give a visual representation of the overall working of the product. It saves a large amount of resources by giving the team an idea of what they are getting into & allowing them to make corrections early on in the process.
6. Design System: Colours, typography & elements: A design system is one of the most important deliverables of a UX team. However, it is also an evolving deliverable.
Design systems list the complete set of design principles the brand must follow, while also providing the tools needed to achieve those principals. They are more detailed than style guides & pattern libraries put together. They define the entire ecosystem of the end product.
Design systems are built to create a cohesive, uniform experience for users.
7. Visual Designs & Specification Documents: With the groundwork done and agreed upon, it is now up to the UX team to convey to the developers what is needed. To do this effectively, the UX team creates a final document that entails specifications and visual designs.
This document doesn’t just list out what needs to be executed; it also explains the reasoning behind each design aspect at the micro-level.
Without the above mentioned UX deliverables, any product is destined to be created in chaos. These deliverables help businesses execute designs as they were originally intended. They also help businesses expand their products easily at a later stage. So the next time you approach a UX firm, make sure they list out deliverables that will be effective in helping you achieve your business goals.
We at Team CoDesign follow the UX deliverables checklist religiously. If you want to get us onboard for your design project, just contact us here.
