1. Identify your users
You need to get into the heads of your consumers to create a product they will be able to use. Ask them questions to help guide your design.
Who are they? What challenges do they face? What does their day look like? How will they access your website? Questions like these will help you get a deeper understanding of your target user, which will help guide the design process.
2. Involve users throughout the design process
Once you know who they are, keep your customers involved. This means getting feedback on prototypes, testing the product in real-world scenarios, and listening to their likes and frustrations about the user experience.
When customers are involved throughout the design process, you can be sure the final product meets their needs and is user-friendly.
3. Embrace iteration
Designing a product is not a straight line from idea to market; it’s an iterative process. You will likely go through many different designs, dozens of rounds of testing, and an enormous amount of refining before your final product goes live.
It is so important that everyone involved in designing your product or service is open to feedback on making changes, and flexible in how you get to the finish line.
4. Empower your designers
What resources does your design team need to do their best work? Give them the tools they need and all of your support to create the product. Put your trust in them to make important decisions.
Remember, you hired them because you believed they could bring your vision to life — so let them! When they have the right tools, support, and autonomy, they will be more likely to create products that are user-friendly and effective.
5. Prioritize the user experience
User experience is paramount to the human-centered design approach.
Sometimes you will have to prioritize the needs and wants of your customers during product development and constantly make improvements to create the best service you can. It may add time and costs to your original budget, but it will be a better return on your investment in the long run.
Putting a product on the market that people can’t use or don’t like won’t be worth the day or two of work you saved.
Embracing Human-Centered Design
In conclusion, human-centered design can help your agency stay ahead of the curve. It may stretch your go-to-market timeline, but the investment will be worthwhile. By prioritizing your customers, you can create a service that is streamlined, easy to use, and more fruitful for your agency.