Image Credits to The Design CouncilAny designer can tell you that project timelines and schedules don't always go to plan, but to the best of my ability I use the Double Diamond Design Process as a guide in my work.
The idea is to widen our knowledge base and awareness and then narrow down our solutions using an empathy building and data-driven approach.
This process is presented here in a linear fashion, but realistically it's important to return to different phases throughout the duration of a Sprint or Project Timeline in order to validate ideas, systems, and deliverables.
My preferred tools are Figma, Webflow, paper, and a pen, but I'm always enthusiastic about learning new software and skills.
The discovery phase is for discovering more information to build context around the problem that needs to be fixed.
The Definition phase is for analyzing and drawing understanding from the collected data to find patterns, key details, and direction.
The development phase is for co-creating new data-driven solutions for the identified problem space. All potential solutions are viable and accepted for consideration at the first round of development.
After the first round of creation, designs should be tested against known constraints and potentially tested with ideal users. Results are used to continually improve upon the design.
The Delivery phase is a presentation to key stakeholders. No product or service is every fully "done" because there will always be room to improve upon the user experience with further testing and increased awareness of best practices in accessibility. However, with a Minimum Viable Product in hand, products and services can be presented for use to the users at this stage!
