Design-First Product Development

At IREMOTE, we believe that design-first product development is crucial for creating products that resonate with our customers. This approach ensures that our products are user-centric, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. By placing design at the forefront, we can drive the entire process, from initial concept to final implementation, with a clear focus on meeting user needs and expectations.

Here's a detailed breakdown of our workflow, emphasizing the value of design-first product development and the roles involved at each step.

Workflow Description

1. Issue Creation

Roles Involved: Product Managers

• Tools Used: Jira, Trello, Asana
• Description: At IREMOTE, our product managers create issues in project management tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana. This step ensures that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the project scope and objectives, setting the foundation for successful product development.

2. Lo-Fi Design Development

Roles Involved: Product Managers, Designers

• Tools Used: FigJam, Miro, Sketch, Figma
• Description: We collaborate using FigJam, Miro, Sketch, or Figma to build low-fidelity (lo-fi) designs. These initial sketches and wireframes help us visualize the basic structure and functionality of the product, fostering a shared understanding among all team members.

3. Hi-Fi Design Creation and Feedback Incorporation

Roles Involved: Designers

• Tools Used: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch
• Description: Our designers create high-fidelity (hi-fi) designs using tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch. We gather feedback from stakeholders and integrate it to ensure the designs align with user needs and expectations, creating a polished and functional design ready for development.

4. Design Sign-Off and Upload

Roles Involved: Product Managers, Designers

• Tools Used: Figma, Zeplin, InVision (Figma -> Zeplin Plugin)
• Description: Once the hi-fi designs are finalized and signed off by the product manager and other stakeholders, we upload them to Zeplin or InVision using the Figma to Zeplin plugin. This step ensures our developers have access to detailed design specifications and assets, enabling smooth development.

5. UI Component Development

Roles Involved: Developers

• Tools Used: Storybook, React, Next.js, Gatsby.js
• Description: Our developers start by working on the user interface (UI) components only. Using Storybook, along with frameworks like React, Next.js, or Gatsby.js, they create interactive components with mock data to demonstrate interactions and gather feedback from the product manager and designer.

6. UI Component Feedback and Sign-Off

Roles Involved: Product Managers, Designers

• Description: We provide feedback on the UI components demonstrated in Storybook. Once the components meet the required standards and functionality, they are signed off for further development, ensuring alignment with the original design vision.

7. Functional Code Integration

Roles Involved: Developers

• Tools Used: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Jenkins, CircleCI
• Description: With the UI components approved, our developers proceed to add the rest of the functional code. Utilizing tools like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Jenkins, or CircleCI, they integrate the UI with backend services, ensuring that the product functions as intended and is ready for deployment.

8. Testing and Validation

Roles Involved: Testers

• Tools Used: Selenium, Cypress, JUnit, TestRail
• Description: We conduct thorough testing using tools like Selenium, Cypress, JUnit, or TestRail to ensure the product is bug-free and meets the specifications. This includes usability testing, A/B testing, and other validation methods to confirm the product's quality and user-friendliness.

9. Launch and Evaluation

Roles Involved: Product Managers, Designers, Developers, Testers

• Tools Used: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Hotjar
• Description: Our product is launched to users, and we monitor its performance using tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Hotjar. We collect and analyze user feedback to identify areas for improvement, ensuring continuous improvement cycles based on real user experiences and needs.

Conclusion

At IREMOTE, adopting a design-first approach to development places user experience and satisfaction at the heart of our product lifecycle. By prioritizing design from the outset, we ensure that every decision is informed by real user needs and feedback. This method fosters innovation, enhances functionality, and ultimately results in successful product delivery that resonates with our customers and stands out in the market. Our collaborative efforts among product managers, designers, developers, and testers ensure a seamless and efficient workflow, leading to high-quality, user-centric products.