Think of design as interactive sketching. If you're developing an app for restaurant reservations, the Design-First approach doesn't start with a list of features and the code that will make them possible. Instead, you'd ask yourself: Who will use this app? What will their experience be like when searching for a restaurant, choosing a table, confirming a reservation?
These prototypes, created with tools such as Figma, allow you to simulate what the real interaction will be like. And the best thing: you can share them with users, stakeholders or even do quick cpa email list tests to validate if you are going in the right direction.
MVPs (Minimum Viable Products): The design allows ideas to be tested quickly without committing development resources.
Complex projects: Enterprise software or SaaS with multiple user types and flows requires detailed planning to avoid future problems.
Customer-centric applications: A design focused on user experience is key for products where customer interaction and satisfaction are paramount.
How to implement the Design-First approach in your project
Skipping this phase may seem tempting. After all, starting to code right away can give the impression of moving faster. However, this initial speed is often a mirage. Development that is not supported by a solid design tends to run into problems as it progresses. Changing flows or redesigning features late in the development process is expensive and can frustrate both developers and customers.
For example, imagine you discover that your app's users need a different flow to complete a key task. If you've already written the code, redoing it could mean weeks of work. If you're working on a design, however, this change can be made in a couple of days.
Start with a product discovery process: Define project objectives, users, and requirements.
Conduct user research: Get to know your audience to design flows that effectively solve their problems.
Design with prototyping tools: Platforms like Figma allow you to create interactive prototypes that can be tested before development.
Ensure cross-team collaboration: Designers, developers, and stakeholders need to be aligned from the start.