The User-Centric Design Process
Master the iterative process of designing solutions that users love
Your Progress
Section 3 of 5A Framework for User-Centric Design
User-centric design follows a structured yet flexible process. While different teams use different frameworks (Design Thinking, Double Diamond, Lean UX), they all share core principles: understand users, generate solutions, test with users, and iterate based on feedback.
The process shown here is based on Design Thinking, a proven framework used by companies like IDEO, IBM, and Google. It consists of six interconnected stages that guide you from problem to solution.
Explore Each Stage
Discover
Understand the problem and user needs
📋 Key Activities
- •User research and interviews
- •Competitive analysis
- •Problem definition
- •Stakeholder alignment
📦 Deliverables
- ✓Research insights
- ✓User personas
- ✓Problem statement
Key Question:
What problem are we solving? For whom?
💡 Remember
This process is not strictly linear. You'll often loop back to earlier stages as you learn more. The key is to involve users throughout and iterate based on feedback.
See Iteration in Action
Watch how a design improves through multiple iterations based on user feedback:
Iteration Cycle
V1 - Initial Concept
🎨 Design Changes:
Basic wireframe with core features
💬 User Feedback:
- "Navigation is confusing"
- "Too many steps to complete task"
- "Not sure what to do first"
📚 Key Learning:
Users need clearer guidance and simpler flows
Design Process Best Practices
Involve Users Throughout
Don't wait until testing to talk to users. Include them in discovery, ideation, and prototyping too.
Start Low-Fidelity
Begin with sketches and simple wireframes. High-fidelity designs too early slow you down and bias feedback.
Embrace Iteration
Your first design won't be perfect. Plan for multiple cycles of feedback and refinement.
Track Learnings
Document insights and decisions. Future you (and your team) will thank you.
The Process is Iterative, Not Linear
You'll often loop back to earlier stages as you learn more. Testing might reveal you misunderstood the problem (back to Discover). Prototyping might spark new ideas (back to Ideate). This is normal and healthy—it means you're learning.
Key Takeaways
- •Design process has six stages: Discover, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Iterate
- •Involve users throughout the process, not just at testing
- •Start with low-fidelity designs and iterate quickly based on feedback
- •The process is iterative—looping back is normal and healthy