REFLECTION

Challange

My team is operating in a tailor-made consultancy. Due to high price pressure we want to  enter a mass market with a standardize solution (IT software). Our challenge is defining the  product for the mass market including features, UX, pricing. We could not create a complete  solution as it is too costly and there are too many uncertainties and doubts whether it would  meet clients expectations.

Selection

As we were at the beginning of our problem, we decided it is best to validate our idea with a  tool of Visualization. It will help us to quickly validate what are the actual needs of actual  customers, specify crucial features and key aspects of UX.

Application

My team has created several sketches of application wireframe. The sketches were manually  drawn and imitated application screens with several features. We have created 3 alternative  views for the application itself and a set of features, which it would contain.

We have taken those sketches to five people from the target group. At each meeting, we have  presented all alternatives of sketches and asked for feedback. We have explained what each  screen represents and what could be done with it.

The client have shared their opinion about each visualization – both from the functionality  perspective as well as UX. On two of the meetings, we have actually sketched a new  application wireframe together with the client.

Based on the interviews we had with the clients we were able to confidently close the phase of  choosing functionalities and high level design and move on to actual design based on hand- drawn screens.

We decided to create two design mockups and present them to the target group for feedback.

Insight

The targets were really open and shared with us feedback regarding functionality and UX.  The most crucial aspect was that we have shared 3 alternatives application, which allowed  user to choose from presented alternatives without “hurting our idea”. This was crucial also  from our perspective, as we did not feel offended when someone criticized one proposal.

Another important observation was that people were not put off by badly drawn application  sketches. We understood the main concepts.

Approach

We have agreed that this challenge has taught us very important lessons on feedback. First of  all, clients are open for discussion about the product without actually seeing it. They were  very open with feedback even though we only presented hand-written sketches.

That approach has saved us tons of money, as we already got clients feedback without even  starting to code. We are definitely planning to use this approach in the future.

