Ever wondered what a typical day looks like for a User eXperience (UX) designer? How do they navigate through their tasks and collaborate with various teams to create user-friendly and business-aligned designs? In this blog post, we delve into the daily practices and processes of our talented UX designers, Noémi, Dóra, and Kitti. We explore their approach to user research, the key stages of their design process, the tools they use, and the strategies they employ to stay at the forefront of UX design.

Join us as we uncover the intricacies of a UX designer's role, understand how they balance user needs with business goals, and learn from their experiences on challenging and rewarding projects. Whether you’re an aspiring UX designer or simply curious about the field, this post offers valuable perspectives and practical advice from our team.

Can you walk us through a typical day as the UX team at platformOS?

A typical day for the UX team at platformOS usually starts with a stand-up discussion in our internal chat where we discuss our current projects, any obstacles we're facing, and our goals for the day. We then dive into various tasks based on our responsibilities agreed on at the weekly planning meeting. Throughout the day, we're working on ongoing client projects (recently, we just completed the UX work on two major projects, DOB and Catalyst ), and  internal tasks such as research and content management. In these projects, we collaborate not only with each other but also with developers and product owners. Regular feedback sessions and design reviews help us stay on track and continuously improve our work.

What’s most helpful here is proper planning, responsibility sharing and regular re-evaluation.These practices ensure our team works in a way that aligns with platformOS business goals. They also provide opportunities for everyone within the team to develop skills in their preferred areas.

How does the UX team approach the process of user research and testing?

Our approach to user research and testing is methodical and user-centric. We start by identifying our research goals and selecting appropriate methods, such as surveys, interviews, or usability testing. 

We then gather and analyze data to uncover user needs, pain points, and behaviors. 

Based on our findings, we create personas and user journey maps to guide our design process. Usability testing is conducted iteratively, mainly using User Acceptance Testing (UAT) sites to validate design solutions and ensure they meet user expectations.

What are the key stages in your design process from initial concept to final implementation?

PHASE - STEP 0.

• Share the Strategic and Design Brief with the client; 

• Plan a UX kick-off meeting with the client to discuss any upcoming, unanswered or unclear inputs given by the client.

PHASE - RESEARCH

• ‘Learn’ the client and the product - Review the Strategic & Design Brief;

• For redesign projects: conduct a content audit and create a content inventory;

• Perform competitor analysis;

• Conduct user interviews.

Deliverables: 

• Visualize and analyze the research findings using an affinity map, which shows the primary needs and current challenges of the users.

• Create user personas: Based on the research findings and interviews, we identify differences in the target audience and summarize them in user personas.

PHASE - UX DESIGN

• User journeys - We discover and discuss all user journeys in detail together with the client. (We always start with the main and the most complex journey, and then add all the others in detail.).

• Information architecture (IA) and sitemap - Once we have enough information and have agreed on the user journeys, we proceed to develop the information architecture and sitemap.

• Wireframes - We strongly believe that content driven design ensures the best UX and design outcomes. The sitemap outlines what copy is needed for each wireframe, or step in the user journey, and it is very helpful with the ideation process.

• Prototypes and usability testing - We create prototypes and conduct usability testing, though this is not included in every project. In some cases, we use existing templates, such as the platformOS Community Solution. 

Following the UX stage, the project moves on to content writing and UI design, followed by a client review for validation. It is worth mentioning that for content-heavy pages, such as marketing pages, the ideal workflow is to develop the content first and then create wireframes based on that content. 

Conversely, for action or flow-heavy pages, like course modules, starting with wireframes and placeholder text is more effective, with content refinement coming later. 

At platformOS, we start UI preparation either before or alongside wireframing. If the client provides their brand resources on time, the project's UI designer can begin customizing the style guide and component library early in the process.

Development often begins concurrently with these phases, as preparations for implementation often overlap. Once implementation is complete, the client can review the result on the UAT site, and user testing can be conducted upon client request.

How do you approach the process of understanding user needs and translating them into design solutions?

We understand user needs through thorough research and empathetic engagement. This process includes conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability tests to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. 

We create personas and user journey maps to visualize and empathize with our users' experiences. By focusing on their goals, pain points, and preferences, we translate these insights into intuitive and effective design solutions.

Which design tools and software are essential for your daily tasks and how do they enhance your work?

Figma/FigJam: For building research plans, user flows, and creating wireframes.

Slack/Trello/Git: For team communication and project management.

These tools enhance our work by streamlining the design process, facilitating collaboration, and allowing us to iterate quickly based on feedback.

How do you collaborate with other teams, such as developers and product managers, to ensure cohesive and effective design solutions?

Collaboration is key to our success. We hold regular meetings with developers and product managers to discuss project requirements, constraints, and timelines. 

Using tools like Slack,Trello/Git, and Zoom, we maintain clear and open communication channels. Design reviews and feedback sessions ensure everyone is aligned and any issues are addressed promptly. 

By working closely with other teams, we ensure our designs are technically feasible and aligned with the overall product strategy.

How do you ensure that your designs are both user-friendly and aligned with the company’s business goals?

To make sure that our designs are user-friendly and aligned with business goals, we balance user needs with business objectives throughout the design process. 

We conduct user research to understand our audience and use these insights to inform our design decisions. Engaging stakeholders early and often allows us to incorporate their feedback and ensure that our solutions support business strategies. 

We also adhere to general accessibility standards throughout the design process. This includes creating clear and simple navigation and user flows, implementing descriptive labels and intuitive design patterns for interactive elements, and ensuring that error messages and validation feedback are both informative and easy to understand. 

Besides these, regular iteration helps us refine our designs to meet both user and business needs effectively.

Can you share an example of a particularly challenging or rewarding project your team worked on and how you overcame the obstacles?

Rather than highlighting a single project, we believe each project our team works on has its own unique challenges and rewarding aspects. Some of the common challenges we face include:

• Complex projects with tight deadlines: Balancing quality and speed can be difficult, especially with tight deadlines. We address this by prioritizing tasks, maintaining clear communication, and employing agile methodologies to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables;

• Cross-functional collaboration: Working with diverse teams, such as developers, product managers, and marketers, requires effective communication and coordination. We aim to use collaborative tools and hold regular meetings to ensure everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals;

• Adapting to changing requirements: User needs and business goals can evolve during a project. We stay flexible and open to feedback, iterating on our designs and adapting our strategies to meet these changing requirements, but without compromising the user experience;

• Balancing user needs with business goals: Ensuring our designs are user-centric while also aligning with business objectives can be a complex task. We achieve this by conducting thorough user research, involving stakeholders in the design process, and finding innovative solutions that satisfy both user needs and business goals;

• Maintaining consistency across the platform: As our platform grows, maintaining a consistent user experience becomes challenging. We’ve established and adhere to design guidelines and component libraries to ensure a cohesive look and feel across all features and updates.

Each project provides opportunities for growth and learning, whether through overcoming technical constraints, improving user satisfaction, or enhancing overall user experience. The diverse challenges we face and the rewarding outcomes we achieve collectively contribute to our continuous improvement and success as a UX team.

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in UX design, and how do you apply them to your work?

We stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in UX design by:

• Reading industry blogs and articles (e.g., Nielsen Norman Group, Smashing Magazine);

• Participating in webinars and online courses;

• Attending UX conferences and networking events;

• Following YouTube and TikTok channels related to UX;

• Engaging with the design community on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.

We apply these insights by incorporating new methodologies, tools, and best practices into our design process, ensuring our work remains innovative and effective.

What inspired you to pursue a career in UX design, and how did you end up at our company?

Noémi:
I was working for a small tech company when one of my tasks involved testing a system that was about to be implemented. During this process, I noticed numerous areas that could be improved to make the system more user-friendly and intuitive. This experience opened my eyes to the importance of user experience design. Around the same time, I collaborated with a newly joined UX/UI designer and was impressed by his expertise and the potential of UX/UI to solve problems and create user-centered solutions.

This exposure to UX/UI design inspired me to pursue a career in the field, drawn by the opportunity to improve people's lives through thoughtful design. As a junior, I was fortunate to join platformOS and work under a mentor who guided me through the nuances of UX design. The company’s mission and culture aligned perfectly with my values and career aspirations, making it an ideal environment for me to grow and develop as a UX designer.

Dóra:
I have been working as a graphic designer for 7 years, then in 2018, I transitioned to a UI designer. I joined platformOS as a UI designer in 2022. I worked closely with UX designers from the beginning of my UI career, and this collaboration sparked my interest in organizing and enhancing my UX-related knowledge that I gained throughout the years; prompting me to enroll in a UX course at Google last year. This marked a significant milestone for me, because although UX and UI are interconnected, they require distinct skill sets. This journey not only broadened my skill set but also transformed my mindset — I discovered a newfound passion for collaborating with others and delving deep into research tasks. At platformOS, I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to take on more UX-related responsibilities alongside my UI tasks, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to grow in both disciplines.

Kitti:
After an extensive career in HR, I've found myself fascinated by the blend of psychology and technology in UX design. I admired how UX principles aligned with understanding and improving user experiences. I decided to move into the field to blend my people skills with technical expertise. Joining platformOS has been a rewarding journey, thanks to the incredibly talented and supportive team that welcomed me from day one.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in UX design, and what skills do you think are most important?

For those looking to start a career in UX design, I advise:

• Learn the fundamentals: Gain a strong understanding of UX principles, methods, and tools. E.g. taking free or paid courses, or just reading learning materials.

• Practice:

• Check out the available community resources on Figma Community, where you can learn a lot from how others solve problems;

• Read case studies;

• Find projects to work on to gain experience, such as those for non-profit organizations, design pools or theoretical design projects.

• Find a mentor / Seek feedback: Continuously improve by learning from others.

• Stay curious: Keep up with industry trends and advancements. Important skills include empathy, problem-solving, communication, and proficiency with design tools. A strong foundation in research methods and the ability to iterate based on feedback are also crucial for success in UX design.

• Build a portfolio: Showcase your work and highlight your design process.