Meenakshi Bose

Over the past few years, I have worked on 20+ web and mobile projects, including a few from the ground up. As with any journey, there were both successes and failures. However, I learned something new from every failure and found relief in every success. Here are a few lessons I have learned as a designer that have come through experience and that I pledge to follow when designing a new product.

1. Problem statement

To tackle either a major enterprise problem or a small usability improvement, it is necessary to establish a problem statement to comprehend the situation and deliver a resolution. The problem statement serves not only as a statement but also as a means of keeping your thoughts on target while developing a solution.

2. Mobile-first approach

As the number of mobile users increases, websites are adopting mobile screen-based designs. However, it’s important to base this decision on the data collected for each specific website. Traffic can vary from page to page, so the design should be tailored accordingly. Some screens may receive more mobile traffic than others, as users tend to research on-the-go and make payments on their laptops at home for security reasons. Therefore, the design should be a responsive combination of both.

3. View-port & Breakpoints

Have you ever observed that website designs may look good on one screen but appear distorted on another? Although it may not be a widespread problem, I encountered it while working on a redesign project for a travel brand. The design was aesthetically pleasing and addressed all issues with the previous website, but it only looked good on a specific screen. As soon as the resolution changed, the design became distorted, and this became evident during the website’s development phase. This experience made me realise the significance of viewports as a designer.

4. Convertible design

A design that can be effortlessly translated into its HTML form is what I refer to as a “Convertible design.” In essence, it involves creating a design using standard units of measurement such as ems or rems, rather than pixels. This simplifies the process of dynamic scaling, saving designers from the hassle of creating designs for altered resolutions or dimensions.

5. Worst cases & Scenarios

Taking worst-case scenarios into account can greatly impact the success of a design. Therefore, I suggest making note of these scenarios before beginning the design process for a page or module. This is because worst-case scenarios highlight any usability issues in the design and can provide opportunities for more effective problem-solving.

6. Global audience

The advancement of technology has made it possible to reach diverse audiences, even in the remotest of places on earth. As a result, designs created today are not limited to a particular region, gender, or age group, but instead cater to a wide range of demographic needs. Therefore, it is crucial to consider a global perspective while designing websites or apps. To achieve this, a few simple steps can be followed, including:

1. Making language translations easy and modifying designs based on region. This approach helps to connect better with the audience than showing the same site to everyone.
2. Using minimal design language and visual narratives, which can be universally understood.
3. Using neutral colours and font sizes to connect with the global audience. This approach helps to avoid any cultural or regional bias.

7. Language, Typography and colors

Typography and colors are the cornerstone of design. Each typeface, whether it’s Serif, Sans Serif, or Handwriting fonts, plays a significant role in evoking human emotions. Likewise, colors also have an impact on human emotions and the conversion rate of a website. Hence, selecting the appropriate typeface and color is crucial. The simplest method is to choose based on the website’s theme.

8. Reuse and reduce

I understand the excitement of designing various modules with excellent functionality. Nonetheless, creating a reusable module not only reduces clutter but also decreases the overall burden on a website.

Designing involves a continuous learning process that helps us grow and become better designers. I would love to hear your thoughts on these learnings in the comments section.