Recent developments have seen a convergence of Agile software design methods with UX design, which has led to Agile UX Design. Agile UX design frames the user experience design within an Agile development framework. This idea may seem surprising to some, as Agile methods and UX design appear unrelated or at odds.
Agile software development embraces the unknown when building and shipping products. Agile software development views product development as an iterative process. Conventional design methods emphasize the need to get as much information and certainty as possible about the product being built and how it might be used.
If you look deeper, however, you’ll see that Agile and user experience design can be combined to create great things.
The Key Principles of Agile Software development
A concise list of Agile principles is available here: Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto. Understanding the core concepts of Agile is possible by reading its principles. There are many types of Agile methods, including:
Some key principles unify Scrum, Crystal Clear, and XP.
- The role of team-member interactions is crucial in software development.
- The development process is shaped by customer feedback and analysis. Early feedback is collected and analyzed to put the end-user in control of product development.
- Projects can be completed in small increments, which allows software developers to respond quickly to any changes.
These principles show how Agile methods can enhance and complement user experience design methods.
What is Agile UX?
Agile UX focuses on the core principles of Agile software development and is reframed within the context of design activities. Designers collaborate with their team members and incorporate customer feedback and changes with every iteration of a project.
Each product iteration stage can help improve or evolve the product’s look and feel. Designers are an integral part of the Agile team. Everyone works together. Designers and developers work together to create a cohesive product.
Software design evolves with each iteration, rather than being applied to the product in a pre-development phase. Constant contact is maintained and design review meetings are held to avoid knowledge gaps due to the transitory nature of project specifications.
Tips to Implement Agile UX
These tips can help you integrate Agile methods into your UX design workflow.
Learn the basics of Agile Software Development
Agile UX design is a departure from traditional UX design methodologies. It may be beneficial for all members of the production team, including project managers, designers, and developers, to participate in training or self-study to learn the basics of Agile. Although Agile teams might use terms such as ” sprint,” backlog,” or ” burning down chart”, this terminology is not rocket science and can confuse. This post contains articles and book recommendations to help you learn Agile and quickly implement it in your team.
Your team will communicate better and create great software together if they are on the same wavelength.
You can tailor agile processes to your needs
Agile is not an all-purpose approach. Every organization has its own needs and specificities. There are currently at least 11 widely-used Agile frameworks.
After you’ve mastered the basics of Agile, you can tweak and adjust processes to meet your specific needs. Your company may have a culture that is not collaborative. A lot of work is done in silos.
Perhaps your team has members who work remotely (distributed groups), in which case tweaking is necessary to make the process more effective. Each case will be unique and require adjustments.
Be a habit of working iteratively
Designers are by nature taught to see the bigger picture and strive for perfection from the beginning. Designers should remember that product development is gradual with agile UX design. It is important to embrace feedback and continuous product changes as a tool for growth, rather than a hindrance.
Use Collaboration Tools
Effective communication is key to agile methods and team dynamics. Even collaboration between developers and designers is possible with the right tools.
Consider your options for communication and project management tools like Basecamp, Asana, and Google Drive. Also, consider design platforms such UXPin (which is my CEO) and Invisionapp.
Collaboration is essential
Collaboration is key to Agile UX. This collaboration will be required by designers, developers, managers, and stakeholders throughout the design and/or development process.
Books on Agile UX
These books will help you master Agile UX.
