How do you create a website or platform that resonates with users? This is the overarching question, not just in web design, but in the entirety of product design and development. While it can be hard to predict the certainty of success, there are strategies that designers can use to better understand users.
With iterative design, designers can test their product and gain valuable feedback to create a more effective final product.
What is Iterative Design?
Iterative design is essentially a cyclic process for product development. It involves designing, prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining until you achieve the final product. In web design, the final product is the website.
The process begins by ideating and designing a prototype that is then tested by real users. After evaluating the results of those tests, designers will go back and make adjustments. The cycle is repeated until the final product comes to life.
Iterative design can be leveraged at any point in the creative process. But the earlier it is implemented in the product lifecycle, the more cost-effective it will be for the brand. This is because prototypes give designers more accurate insights before investing in final product development.
What are the Benefits?
Predicting user behaviors can be a struggle in product development. People will often say one thing and then react differently when confronted with the product. During the initial stages of product development, designers may conduct user research to see how they will react to the product. But that research, while still an essential step, may not lead to successful results.
Using the iterative design methodology, designers can quickly develop a prototype to test with real users. Evaluating the results can help them determine necessary adjustments based on the actual user behaviors.
As a result, designers can collect valuable feedback and identify problems early in the process. This, in turn, leads to a more polished and effective final product. It is also quite cost-effective for brands. Iteration allows designers to continuously improve their product without having to fully invest in its development. By discovering the difference between what users say they’ll do and what they actually do early in the process, brands avoid costly redesigns.
Iterative design can be a valuable tool for designers. After all, the end goal is to deliver a product that resonates with users. And so the feedback gained from user testing in this design method can make for a more polished final product and ultimately a more valuable experience.