UX Design Playbook

Why This Matters

• Many products fail due to poor UX—confusing navigation, unclear workflows, and friction points that drive users away.
• UX design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about solving real user problems and making products intuitive.
• The challenge is to adopt a structured UX design process that balances creativity, research, and iteration.

As an engineer and developer I’ve seen several poor user experiences designed by well intentioned developers. As product owner of calibration algorithms and signal processing tool chains I figured I should do my users a favor and study UX design. Being a developer first, is not a good enough excuse to deliver poor user experiences.

The Core Idea or Framework

My UX Design Playbook is built on five core phases that ensure products are user-centric, intuitive, and effective:

1. Research and Discovery – Understand user needs, business goals, and competitive landscape.
2. Ideation and Information Architecture – Define user journeys, create wireframes, and map workflows.
3. Prototyping and Testing – Build low- and high-fidelity prototypes, then validate with real users.
4. Design and Implementation – Develop high-fidelity UI, establish design systems, and ensure accessibility.‍
5. Validation and Iteration – Conduct usability testing, analyze feedback, and refine the experience.

Breaking It Down – The Playbook in Action

Step 1: Research and Discovery – Know Your Users

• Define the problem statement—what challenge are we solving?
• Perform a competitive analysis to understand market gaps.
• Conduct user research through surveys and user interviews
• Summarize insights using user personas, empathy maps, and customer journeys.

"Skipping research is like designing blindfolded. The more you understand users upfront, the fewer redesigns you’ll need later."

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Step 2: Ideation and Information Architecture – Structuring the Experience

• Generate user stories to list and prioritize design needs.
• Define the MVP (Minimum Viable Product)—what’s the simplest, most effective version?
• Develop sitemaps and information architecture using card sorting techniques.
• Create user flows to visualize navigation paths.

"Before designing screens, I map out how users will move through the experience. A clear information structure prevents costly redesigns"

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Step 3: Prototyping and Testing – Bringing Concepts to Life

• Create low-fidelity sketches and wireframes before committing to high-fidelity UI.
• Develop clickable prototypes in tools like Figma, Marvel App, or Adobe XD.
• Conduct guerrilla usability testing—quick, informal tests with real users.
• Iterate designs based on user feedback and heuristic evaluations.

"A prototype is worth a thousand meetings. Testing early and often prevents costly redesigns down the line."

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Step 4: Design and Implementation – Creating a Cohesive UI

• Establish a design system with consistent typography, color, and components.
• Develop high-fidelity mockups that align with brand identity.
• Consider UI accessibility—color contrast, touch targets, and screen reader compatibility.
• Collaborate with developers to ensure pixel-perfect implementation through design systems and design hand-offs.

"Great UX design doesn’t stop at visuals—it must be usable, scalable, and technically feasible."

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Step 5: Validation and Iteration – Refining the Experience

• Conduct usability testing with real users to identify friction points.
• Analyze behavior using Google Analytics, heatmaps, and session recordings.
• Iterate based on data—refine navigation, improve UI elements, and optimize workflows.

Tools, Workflows, and Technical Implementation

• User Research & Testing : Typeform, Zoom + Otter AI (user interviews)
• Wireframing & Prototyping : Figma, Adobe XD, Marvel App
• Information Architecture : Mural, Whimsical
• Usability Testing & Analytics : Google Analytics, Zoom + Otter AI (usability tests), Mixpanel
• Design Systems & UI Implementation : Figma, Adobe XD

Real-World Applications and Impact

• Reduce user friction by refining navigation and simplifying workflows.
• Improve conversion rates by optimizing UI based on usability data.
• Increase accessibility through inclusive design practices.
• Improve product or internal tool adoption rates with clean onboarding and simple to use interfaces.

Challenges and Nuances – What to Watch Out For

• Skipping research—Assuming what users want leads to misaligned designs.
• Overloading with features—Complexity reduces usability; prioritize core tasks.
• Ignoring accessibility—A beautiful interface that isn’t accessible excludes users.

"The best UX design is invisible—it just works. The challenge is making complexity feel effortless."

Closing Thoughts and How to Take Action

How to to Action

• Start with user research—talk to real users before designing.
• Test prototypes early—avoid late-stage surprises.
• Iterate continuously—the best UX designs evolve over time.

Some Background:

As an electrical engineer and developer I could only get so far with intuitive design alone. I needed formalized training if were to ever build user-centered experiences.

I dropped out of art school to pursue an associates degree in electronics. I felt that the design skills gained there would be valuable but I didn’t know how. While working at a prestigious product development company (LogicPD) I got a glimpse of this by working with the industrial designers.

Brad Lohring, who studied product design at Stanford, exposed me to design thinking and UX design. From this experience I knew I wanted a degree in product design, design thinking or UX design. I eventually went on to get a certificate in both UX and UI Design.

References

Projects:

• Flirty Fits
• Rift Riders
• House2Home

Education:

• UX / UI Design Track Springboard

Books:

• User Experience Team of One