Inside A Design Process

People often ask about “the design process” as if it were a clean, linear path — research → wireframe → UI → handoff → done. In reality, a design process is rarely that tidy. It’s messy. It loops. And most of the real work happens between the steps — not inside them.


1. A process is not a checklist

Following a process doesn’t mean blindly completing steps.

You can run research and still misunderstand users.
You can create wireframes and still solve the wrong problem.
You can polish UI and still make the product harder to build.

A good process is not about what steps you follow,
but why you take each step.

If you can’t explain why a screen exists,
no amount of visual polish will save it.

2. Most decisions are small — and invisible

Design rarely fails because of one big mistake.

It fails because of dozens of small decisions:

  • a spacing choice

  • a button state

  • an empty message

  • a transition that feels “just a bit off”

These decisions don’t show up in case study headlines,
but they shape how a product feels — and how hard it is to build.

Good design is often quiet.
Bad design is loud — usually during development.

3. The real process happens in iterations

The first version is almost never right.

You design.
You review.
You doubt.
You adjust.
You simplify.
You repeat.

Iteration is not a sign of weakness.
It’s a sign that you’re paying attention.

A mature design process doesn’t chase perfection —
it moves steadily toward clarity.

4. Design doesn’t end at handoff

A design isn’t finished when it’s handed to developers.

That’s when reality begins.

Questions appear.
Edge cases surface.
Assumptions break.

A healthy process makes room for conversation:

  • clarifying intent

  • adjusting details

  • respecting technical constraints

Design that survives development is design that understands it.

5. A process should serve people — not impress them

Your process doesn’t need to look beautiful on slides.

It needs to help:

  • users understand

  • developers build

  • teams maintain

If a process makes collaboration harder,
it’s not a good process — no matter how “professional” it looks.

What I’ve learned

Over time, I stopped asking:

“Am I following the right process?”

And started asking:

“Is this process helping us make better decisions?”

A design process is not something you copy.
It’s something you grow — slowly, through experience, mistakes, and reflection.

Just like good design itself.

Nếu bạn muốn, mình có thể:

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Chỉ cần nói bạn muốn bài này trầm – sâu hay ngắn – sắc hơn nhé.

Bloom EVERYDAY