UI/UX Articles and Interesting Tidbits of the Week
March//4//2022
Here are some interesting finds on UI/UX of the week!
1.
Creating a Product Roadmap. Interesting article hailing from “Neuron” focused on the topic of crafting a Product Roadmap. There are of course different types of Roadmaps, namely Product, Field and Specialty. Whereas Product roadmaps represent all future problems that typically need to be solved for, Field specializes in representing all problems for a particular discipline (for instance UX/Product Design), and Specialty is a subset of the prior category, focusing on specific issues within that same particular discipline. This article focuses on topics which empower a solid Product Roadmap, such as Conducting Research, Identifying Users needs, Quantifying success measurements, to name but a few. Well worth reading through. Highlight of the article includes:
“A product roadmap is like a funnel — collecting known challenges, issues, and feature requests. But a performative roadmap needs to look ahead and evaluate the user journey in detail to identify opportunities that will support longevity and growth. At the end of every sprint teams should reconvene to turn their notes, backlog tickets, ideas, and customer feedback into action items or features. While ideas are seemingly infinite, capacity is finite. Mature product teams should be working defensively, proactively, and stealthily. This simultaneous or three pronged approach is necessitated by competition in the market and evolving user needs. As we design and launch new features, we tend to uncover new problems or opportunities. As other players do the same, product teams need to make changes to keep their product relevant and competitive.”
2.
A Recipe for a Good Design System. Another article on Design Systems, hailing from The Smashing Magazine and author Atila Fassina. The article showcases what comprises an efficient Design System, looking at strategical items as part of its construct, but also highlighting important topics, such as versioning, adaptability and scalability. The author also illustrates and details how these systems can efficiently work with the multi-purpose code that empowers tools such as these. Well worth a read. Highlight of the article includes:
“Being able to iterate quickly and incrementally on your Design System becomes a basic requirement when dealing with the organic approach. And it also requires an extra level of clarity from your consumer developers (in case there are separate teams: one creating the Design System, the other creating product features). Both must align expectations clearly on product requirements and developer experience requirements in order to have a proper symbiosis. Because a Design System is nothing if it’s annoying to use, or if it makes the user experience worse in any way.”
3.
Preparing for Digital Disruption. Very succinct article from Inc. Magazine on the topic of Digital Transformation, and how to effectively channel it and make it a worthwhile process. The article from author Sarvarth Misra focuses on aspects such as better understanding of the core products and services on the market, shorter adoption and implementation cycles, continuous innovation, to name but a few. As many organizations embark on these types of journeys, it’s always worth considering that these journeys should be grounded on understand markets/context, its users, and always envisioning how different stories that resonate can be written. It’s well worth a read. Highlight of the article includes:
“Digital transformation is intrinsically tied to change management, requiring various departments to work together in an integrated fashion. This ensures that the deployment of digital tools is supported enterprise-wide and will not stall at any point — and fosters a much stronger digital culture. In turn, organizations will develop innovative solutions that help resolve complex business challenges over time. This digital transformation will also attune companies to a rapidly changing world — and open corporate leaders’ minds to all technological possibilities.”
