PROCESS

Design Process

My design process, honed by my education and professional experiences in human-centered design, design thinking, and design research, keeps people at the center. I draw significant inspiration from Vijay Kumar's Design Innovation Process, as depicted in his book, "101 Design Methods". I've adapted my approach to harmonize organizational objectives with user needs, resulting in designs that are feasible, viable, and desirable.

Here, I outline the core stages of my process, the mindset I bring, the tools I employ, and the frameworks I utilize at each stage. These stages are iterative and can sometimes deviate from a standard progression, depending on each project's unique requirements. My approach is continually evolving, reflecting my enthusiasm for gaining new perspectives and exploring new approaches to untangle challenges.

Understand Context

My first step is to absorb contextual information by looking at past patterns and potential futures. I then focus on empathizing with individuals, aiming to understand their emotions, needs, and aspirations through insightful queries and observations.

KEY METHODS & FRAMEWORKS

Primary Research
User Interviews
Field Observation
Contextual Inquiry
Surveys
Diary Studies

Interpret Patterns

I assimilate the data to discern patterns and define user personas, getting to the heart of their needs and pain points. This phase allows me to discover and articulate the problem areas that need addressing in the design process.

KEY METHODS & FRAMEWORKS

Exploratory or Improvisational Analysis
AEIOU
Affinity Mapping
User Journey
Persona

Ideate for Solutions

In this phase, the focus is on brainstorming and sketching out a plethora of potential solutions.
I thrive in this collaborative environment of collective idea generation, using diverse perspectives to drive innovation.

KEY METHODS & FRAMEWORKS

Secondary Research
Brainstorming
Mind Mapping
Sketching
Storyboarding

Design Development

This phase involves transitioning ideas into tangible, interactive prototypes. Key tasks include crafting user flows, wireframes, and information architectures, as well as refining designs from low to high fidelity.

KEY METHODS & FRAMEWORKS

User Flow
Information Architecture
Rapid Prototyping
Wireframing
Design Systems

Test, Iterate and Learn

I engage users with the prototype to evaluate its efficacy. Feedback gathered drives necessary modifications, fostering an iterative cycle of testing and refining to ensure the design aligns with user needs.

KEY METHODS & FRAMEWORKS

Usability Testing
A/B Testing
Heuristic Evaluation

Sunmin Ko‍

Chicago, IL, USA
ssmkdesign@gmail.com