Clarify Users' Mental Models and Center the Design Around Them
Across the process, I spent a lot of time contemplating what the users are trying to do and what their instincts are. I felt this helpful for my further design since I can have a clearer mind of how to center the design around users!
For instance, while coming up with the mobile app's information architecture, I was able to realize users' critical need for information. Hence I decided to set the mobile app's first tab to be of users' urgent need: check the startup updates. This approach that's totally different from the news website helps users quickly get their needs nailed and can communicate to the users that this is the exact app they need!
Ambiguity is Spicy Food!
I love spicy food. First sight, the hot mess might get you a bit worried. However, as the spicy kicks in, your body starts to generate endorphins, which gets you addicted (scientifically proved🤓), you start sweating, and you can pass through it and feel just good!
At the beginning of this project, the company handed me this vague task with no known constraints. Since we are a startup, I have to build up the product concept, test it, and design it on my own. This freedom leads to vagueness, which I know can lead to unlimited opportunities. Like I always like to bring friends to have spicy food together, I collaborated with my teammates, and we ended up getting addicted together!