1. Define your product goals and objectives

The first step in any product design process is to define your goals and objectives. The famous framework is the OKRs formula (great article from WhatMatters here to read more). To jump straight in you can also answer the following questions:
- What do you want your product to achieve?
- What problems does it solve?
- What are the needs and desires of your target audience?
Answering these questions will help you to define the scope of your product and determine what features and capabilities it should have. To see a real life example, you can check how we do it at Tadaa.

2. Conduct thorough market research

Once you have defined your product goals and objectives, the next step is to conduct thorough market research.
This involves talking to your clients/ users, understanding your target audience and gathering information about their needs, behaviors, and preferences. To make the best user interviews, we've created an awesome guide here. You should also research your competitors and the products they offer, as well as the broader market trends and technologies that may impact your product.

Market research is a critical component of the product design process because it helps you to validate your product idea and determine whether there is a market for your product. It also helps you to identify any potential roadblocks or challenges that you may face, and to make informed decisions about the direction of your product.

3. Create personas and user journeys

Once you have completed your market research, the next step is to create personas and user journeys. Personas are fictional characters that represent your target audience, and user journeys are the steps that your personas take as they interact with your product. Creating personas and user journeys helps you to understand your target audience at a deeper level and to design a product that meets their needs.

4. Prototype and test your product

Once you have completed your research and validated your personas and user journeys, the next step is to prototype and test your product. Prototyping is the process of creating a physical or digital model of your product that you can test and refine. Testing your product is crucial because it allows you to identify any problems or issues with your product and make changes before it's too late.

There are a number of different types of prototypes, including low-fidelity prototypes (such as sketches or wireframes), medium-fidelity prototypes (such as interactive prototypes), and high-fidelity prototypes (such as working models). The type of prototype you create will depend on your goals and the stage of your product design process. A create tool to draw and animate your prototype is Figma!

4. Refine and iterate your Product Design

Once you have prototyped and tested your product, the next step is to refine and iterate your product design. This involves making changes to your product based on the feedback you received during testing. The goal is to create a product that is as close to perfect as possible, one that meets the needs of your target audience and solves the problems you set out to solve.

Refining and iterating your product design is an ongoing process that continues throughout the product design process. It requires you to be flexible and willing to make changes based on feedback, as well as to continuously gather information and validate your product.

4. Document your product design process

Finally, it's important to document your product design process. This includes keeping detailed records of all the steps you take, the decisions you make, and the feedback you receive. This documentation will be valuable for future reference and can be used to improve your process over time. It's also helpful for new team members to have a clear understanding of the design process and how it has been established. I really recommend reading the atomic research practice FranceTV put in place, they are the Marie Kondo of research!

Conclusion

In conclusion, following best practices in the product design process can help ensure the success of your product. From defining your goals and conducting thorough market research, to prototyping and iterating your design, each step is critical in creating a product that meets the needs of your target audience. By following a structured process and continuously refining your design, you can bring your product idea to life and achieve success in the market.
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If you have any suggestions or want to learn more about Tadaa, don't hesitate to DM us on slack!