5 Tips for Product Managers to Work Better with UX Designers
User experience has become a de facto part of product development. Whether you are working as a design agency or a copywriting firm, chances are that you will want to hire and work with UX designers very soon. So much so in fact, that it is important to understand what UX is, what it stands for and what defines a UX designer.
Studies have told us that approximately 60% of web users actively promote not visiting a badly designed website to their friends and family. This means that the way you handle your UX designer will indeed affect your business as a whole.
Knowing as much as possible about your current or future UX designer will allow you to synergize with them far more quickly and effectively than you otherwise would. This will result in quicker development cycles, more high-quality features, and more satisfied customers and clients. So what are some of the must-know tips for handling UX designers from a product manager’s perspective?
1. (All) Designers have feelings
User experience designers are not unlike graphic designers or web designers. This means that you should treat them a bit differently than your other employees and colleagues. For example, designers often think visually, hypothetically and in abstract strokes. This is what makes UX designers essential to correct and adequate product development.
They are essentially in charge of what the user “feels” when they use your website, service or a product. The emotional journey of finding your website, going through the navigation pages and clicking on a relevant button is far more intricate than it might seem at first glance — and UX designers know this. Put yourself in their shoes anytime you find a “flaw” or an “inconsistency” in their design. Chances are that it is deliberate and purposeful.
2. Define your ideas
The good thing about working with user experience designers is that you don’t have to literally show them what you want and how you want it. As a project manager, your job is to define the ideas, concepts and thought processes for each of your products.
The intricacies of placing different elements on a UI, choosing the color palettes (according to your brand’s standards) and other customer-centric decisions should be left to the UX designer. Make sure to do your work correctly by answering some important questions before presenting your ideas to your designer:
· Who is our product aimed at?
· How does our budget look?
· Are we on a strict schedule?
· Can we afford changes and shifts in development?
3. Encourage and answer questions
Chances are that your UX designer will ask additional questions about the product they are working on — be there to answer them. The worst thing you can do is dodge your coworker and later assign blame on their inability to handle their part of the job.
Remember that you are all in the same team working on the same goal. If you create bad blood over a misunderstanding it will be very difficult to clear the air for future projects. Leona Henryson, a UX designer at EssaySypply.com adds: “Encourage your designer to ask you any questions they might have and make sure to give them actionable answers. They will likely focus on the emotional aspect of their UX design which can result in intangible questions.”
For example, your UX designer might come up with interesting ideas that require copywriting work to be done on your UI. Don’t be afraid of hypothetical conversations about who your customers are and what you are aiming to do with your product. The more you get into it, the more you will understand how a UX designer thinks and works. This is one of the best perks you can have as someone who is directly in charge of a designer.
4. Be personally involved
While you are in charge of the project and are responsible for shipping on time it doesn’t mean you are free from actual work. Being an integral part of the development team is a great way to get closer to your coworkers, learn something from them and have a personal stake at the table.
“Managing the project through a remote app and reminding everyone of the deadlines you are approaching won’t help them work harder, especially when UX designers are in question,” explains Randy Snyder, product manager at Resumes Expert. He adds: “UX is a very delicate part of the product to design. It involves abstract intangible ideas that need time to bear actual fruit.”
Hurrying someone up without helping them in their work won’t bode well for your results or reputation. Pull up a chair, grab a notepad and start contributing to the project. This is one of the most effective ways of working with UX designers and designers in general.
5. Where credit is due
Lastly, make sure to give credit to your employees and colleagues at the end of each development cycle. Think of yourself as a captain of a small ship — if you manage your sailors well, you will always reach the next port. Failing to do so will make continuous work very difficult, especially if you take all the credit for your newly developed product.
UX designers are an integral part of the team regardless of the fact that their work focuses on customer journey, ideation and brainstorming. Think of small ways in which you can thank your team members for their time, dedication and teamwork regularly.
Being distant from your coworkers and keeping things professional won’t bring innovation to the table. Ideas will be kept under wraps, voices won’t be heard and people will become even more distant. If everyone gets along and gives their fullest to the project, it will resonate organically you’re your UX designer’s workflow. Encourage a familiar, positive environment in your development team’s mindset to achieve the best results.
A common orbit (Conclusion)
The best way to work with your UX designer is to treat them like every one of your team members — with respect and professionalism. The design is a profession that revolves around the aesthetic of products and services we find on the market. Lowering your designer to a common evil that is needed to complete the project will likely result in inadequate results. Brush up on your design vocabulary, familiarize yourself with the project and be available for coaching and feedback — the rest is out of your hands.
