Let's face it, in 2024, website development is expensive, time-consuming and constantly evolving with new technology. It can be a daunting task to face, but we have a solution that can alleviate this stressor: Agile UX. Guaranteed to save you time and money, Agile UX is the budget-friendly design tool you've been searching for.
What is Agile UX?
Agile UX is a methodology that integrates user experience (UX) design into Agile development processes. The goal is to ensure that user feedback and iterative improvements are incorporated throughout the development cycle. Agile UX harmonises the principles of user-centred design with Agile development, ensuring that user needs are consistently met through continuous feedback and iterative improvements.
Why Agile UX?
Better User Experience
Implementing the principles of Agile UX allows for designers and developers to open a dialogue with users of the digital product and fellow builders. Continuous feedback and iteration lead to a more user-friendly product.
Faster Time to Market
Iterative development allows for quicker releases and responsiveness to user needs. By tackling pain points as they arise, you can stay on top of problems and leave time for bigger development tasks.
Increased Collaboration
Cross-functional teams work more closely, leading to better integrated and cohesive products. Agile UX encourages collaboration between the designers and developers and engages stakeholders to ensure the project stays on task.
Flexibility
Agile UX allows for teams to pivot in their decision-making to learn from mistakes or respond to user feedback and market trends when needed. In the digital age, having this kind of flexibility is a luxury as the digital space is constantly evolving.
Tools & techniques for Agile UX
Collaboration Tools Platforms for managing tasks and workflows.
Jira: Jira is a product developed for issue and bug tracking as well as agile project management. It can be used for time logging, task assigning, coding, testing and releasing, and sprint management.
Trello: Trello is list-making application that allows assigning of tasks and lists to certain individuals with journey tracking.
Asana: Asana allows for the tracking of tasks, delegating responsibilities and monitor team progress as well as real-time communication.
Design Tools Platforms for creating and sharing design artifacts.
Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor that allows you to create products at scale, collaboratively. It features design tools, prototyping and developer handoff.
Figma: Figma is an application for interface design so team members can create, share and test designs for digital products and experiences, and allows you to give feedback directly on boards.
Adobe XD: Adobe XD is a vector design tool for website design and applications. It allows you to design interactive user experiences for these digital products.
Prototyping Tools Platforms for creating interactive prototypes.
InVision: Invision is a prototyping, collaboration and workflow tool that exists as an online whiteboard and productivity platform so you can ideate, plan, execute and track projects.
Axure: Axure is a software for creating prototypes and specifications for websites and applications. It gives UX designers and developers the power to build realistic and functional prototypes.
User Testing Tools Platforms for conducting and analysing user tests.
UserTesting: UserTesting is a platform for getting rapid customer feedback on anything from mobile applications to prototypes or websites, to real world experiences.
Optimal Workshop: Optimal Workshop is a UX platform that allows designers and developers to conduct user research via surveys, first-click testing, qualitative research and more.
Agile Methodology: The Basic Rules
Agile UX Methodology is structured around several fundamental rules that streamline the software development process. Central to this methodology is Iterative Development, where work is segmented into small, manageable chunks known as iterations or sprints, typically lasting between one to four weeks. This approach facilitates continuous progress and allows for rapid adaptation to changes. Each of these iterations leads to Incremental Releases, producing potentially shippable product increments that add value incrementally.
A key aspect of Agile UX is the composition of Cross-functional Teams. These teams are composed of members with diverse expertise, including developers, designers, and testers, who work collaboratively to achieve shared goals. Within the sprint cycle, Design Sprints are conducted—these are short, focused design sessions aimed at rapidly prototyping and testing ideas to ensure their viability before full-scale implementation.
To maintain a seamless workflow, Parallel Track Development is employed. In this approach, designers work slightly ahead of developers to prepare designs for the next sprint, ensuring that development can proceed smoothly and without delays. Lean UX principles are integral to Agile UX, emphasizing minimal documentation and swift iterations to quickly validate assumptions and ideas, thus reducing waste and enhancing efficiency.
To align the development process with user needs, Agile UX employs Personas and User Stories. Personas are fictional characters that represent key user segments, while user stories capture specific user needs and requirements, ensuring that the product development remains user centric. Prototyping plays a critical role in Agile UX, with the creation of both low-fidelity (such as sketches and wireframes) and high-fidelity (including interactive prototypes) designs to explore and validate potential solutions.
Finally, Usability Testing is a regular part of the Agile UX process. By frequently testing designs with actual users, teams can identify issues and gather valuable feedback, ensuring that the product meets user expectations and needs. This cycle of iterative development, incremental releases, and continuous user testing helps in refining the product, making Agile UX a powerful framework for delivering high-quality software solutions efficiently and effectively.
MACH Architecture and Agile UX
Agile UX allows you to create the most visually appealing and customer-centric website for your brand, and adopting MACH Architecture will give you an additional leg up.
What is MACH? MACH stands for Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless, and is a modern approach to building digital solutions that are flexible, modular, and scalable. MACH identifies websites that are built with composable architecture. In a composable architecture, the entire website platform is subdivided into multiple distinct platforms and services. Composable architecture fosters the ability to change components and services at will. Whenever a system or service needs replacement, it can be done without affecting the integrity of other systems, processes, or data.
By choosing a composable architecture, you become responsive to change and avoid getting locked into early choices for many years to come.
Composable websites are the future. They are a cost-effective, future-proof solution to your business’s digital presence with the ability to swiftly respond to shifting customer needs and market demands.
Why use Novicell to guide your business through Agile UX?
At Novicell, we become part of your business as a small and collaborative team of developers and designers that are highly skilled in user experience. Get in touch with us today if your website is falling behind.
