Read along as we explore what digital marketing is, delve into the day-to-day responsibilities of a digital marketing professional, highlight the job and career prospects, shed light on why it’s an exciting role to be in, discuss the diverse range of employment opportunities within the industry, and explore the essential tools and software used in digital marketing.

First – What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing encompasses various strategies and techniques employed to promote products, services, and brands through digital channels such as search engines, social media, email marketing, content marketing, and more. It revolves around reaching and engaging target audiences online, analysing data-driven insights, and optimising campaigns to drive business growth.

The Role of a Digital Marketing Professional

A digital marketing professional wears many hats and embraces a multifaceted role. They strategise, execute, and measure marketing campaigns across different platforms. From managing social media accounts, creating engaging content, and leveraging social media advertising tools to optimising websites for search engines and analysing campaign performance using analytics platforms, digital marketers tackle a wide range of tasks to achieve marketing goals.

Job and Career Prospects

The job prospects in digital marketing are promising, with a growing number of organisations recognising its crucial role in achieving business objectives. According to industry reports, the demand for digital marketing professionals is consistently on the rise, with an expected increase in job opportunities in the coming years. Additionally, the digital marketing field offers a diverse range of roles, including social media manager, SEO specialist, content strategist, digital analyst, and more.

The Thrill of Being in Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is an exhilarating field that combines creativity, data analysis, and constant innovation. It offers professionals the opportunity to explore new technologies and experiment with a variety of tools and software. Social media, in particular, plays a significant role in digital marketing, providing a platform for brand communication, customer engagement, and targeted advertising. The ability to generate tangible results, drive brand success, and make a meaningful impact on audience engagement provides a sense of fulfillment and excitement.

Employment Opportunities

Digital marketing professionals can work in various settings, including:

• Startups: Joining a startup allows individuals to be part of a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment, contributing to the growth of emerging companies and being involved in multiple aspects of digital marketing.
• Agencies: Digital marketing agencies cater to a diverse range of clients, offering professionals exposure to different industries, projects, and strategies. Working in an agency provides valuable experience and opportunities for professional growth.
• Large Companies: Many established companies have dedicated in-house digital marketing teams. Joining such organisations allows professionals to work on comprehensive digital strategies, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to the brand’s online presence.
• Entrepreneurship: Some digital marketers choose to set up their own agencies or work as freelancers. This path offers the freedom to work on projects of interest, manage clients independently, and shape their own professional journey.

Industry Tools and Software

Digital marketing professionals utilise a variety of tools and software to streamline their work processes and optimise campaign performance. These may include:

• Social media management tools: Platforms like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer help streamline social media content scheduling, monitoring, and reporting.
• Analytics platforms: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, and Facebook Pixel provide insights into website traffic, user behaviour, and campaign performance.
• SEO tools: Software such as SEMrush, Moz, and Ahrefs aid in keyword research, website optimisation, and competitor analysis.
• Email marketing platforms: Services like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and HubSpot enable professionals to create and automate email campaigns.
• Content management systems (CMS): Platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla facilitate website creation and content publishing.

Digital marketing is a dynamic and rewarding field that offers numerous benefits for those who choose to pursue a career in it. From the exciting blend of creativity and data-driven decision-making to the wide range of employment opportunities, digital marketing opens doors to a fulfilling and prosperous professional journey. By leveraging various tools and software, including those for social media management, analytics, SEO, and email marketing, professionals can enhance their effectiveness in implementing successful digital campaigns.

The post Discover the Benefits of Pursuing a Career in Digital Marketing appeared first on Experience Haus.

Prototype made by one of our Product Design students

In this series of startup profiles, we speak to the people behind the startups that provide real-life design challenges to our students. Today, we speak to Jo Ashbridge, founder of architecture charity AzuKo.

Jo, can you tell us a little about your charity and your current team?

Architecture charity AzuKo is working to end housing poverty in Bangladesh and the UK by co-designing housing and infrastructure, delivering construction training, and supporting communities to understand their housing rights.

AzuKo works with vulnerable communities – the homeless, landless, those in extreme poverty – to improve living conditions. The charity offers low-cost, low-tech building improvements that make a dramatic difference to people’s lives. Most importantly it is the communities themselves that lead the design and construction, from start to finish.

We’re a small team of 4 staff (2 in UK, 2 in Bangladesh), and a Board of 8 Trustees. We work with around 30-40 volunteers throughout the year.

What design challenges have you supplied to Experience Haus? 

We set three briefs. Looking for support to:

1. Create a meaningful user experience for an event
2. Better understand the market for a new course/income stream for the charity
3. Review and provide recommendations to help shape our new website

What did the individual student/teams of students manage to produce for you?

1. Ronnie helped us design the evening event, which was to celebrate AzuKo’s 4^th birthday. His work looked at attendees’ experience from the invitation, to the moment they walked in the door, the flow of the evening, and followup. He highlighted potential pain points for us to address, and opportunities we could capitalise on. He also acted as a facilitator for group conversations on the night.
2. Sylvie’s work helped us understand appetite for the course, and expectations from potential participants (through personas). The service blueprint was particularly helpful to understand all the touchpoints, and what we would need to prepare for each stage. It certainly gave us confidence that there was a real interest in attending our humanitarian architecture course.
3. Maya and Adeola examined our current website, what worked well and what could be improved. The overall aim was to improve user flow, and ultimately encourage more online donations. Maya’s work brought together her graphic design and branding expertise to improve the way we tell our story. Adeola researched ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’ from charity website’s generally to improve navigation.

How have you been able to implement the outputs?

1. We held the event in 2018 off the back of Ronnie’s design help: https://azuko.org/news/celebrating-4-years
2. We created the course ‘Designing with dignity’ and hosted our first cohort in Bangladesh in summer 2022. https://bit.ly/azuko-dwd-2022-brochure
3. We are still developing our website. We plan to launch late 2023/early 2024.

What did you enjoy most about working on a project with Experience Haus?

We really believe in UX as a way to better understand our customers and communities, and design to meet their needs – whether this be how we operate, fundraise or deliver. We co-design; it aligns with our ethos.

It is a structured way for volunteers to contribute to AzuKo i.e. they have a specific brief, mentored throughout, and always meet their deadlines.

It is relatively light touch from our side, as volunteers are supported by Experience Haus. As a small charity we appreciate this.

Where do you see the company in 5 years?

AzuKo is a small but mighty charity. We’ll be celebrating our 10^th birthday this year… and we’re looking forward to the next decade of impact. Ultimately we want to continue serving those in acute housing poverty, and to reach even more people in 2023 and beyond. We’re building a fairer world.

Find out more about AzuKo:

Website: https://azuko.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/azuKo_org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azuko.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/azuko

Submit a Design Challenge for an Experience Haus student: https://experiencehaus.com/submit-a-project-brief/

The post Meet the Startup: AzuKo appeared first on Experience Haus.

Empathy mapping is a design thinking technique that helps us to understand our users’ needs, wants, and pain points. It allows us to create user-centred designs that truly meet their needs, and as a result, are more effective in achieving our goals.

What is Empathy Mapping?

Empathy mapping is a visual tool that helps designers gain a deeper understanding of their users by focusing on four key areas:

• What the user sees: This includes the user’s physical environment, what they are reading, and what they are looking at. Think about context here.
• What the user hears: This includes the user’s internal and external conversations, as well as what they are listening to.
• What the user thinks and feels: This includes the user’s beliefs, values, and emotions. Empathy really comes to life here.
• What the user says and does: This includes the user’s actions, behaviours, and communication.

It helps designers to test their assumptions. By creating an empathy map, designers can test their assumptions about the user and get feedback on their designs. Empathy mapping helps designers to create a detailed profile of the user, and to see things from their perspective. By doing this, we can better understand the user’s needs, goals, and motivations, and design tailored solutions.

Why is Empathy Mapping Useful in the Design Process?

Empathy mapping is a powerful tool for several reasons:

• It helps designers to think more deeply about their users and their needs. By focusing on the user’s perspective, designers can create more user-centred designs that are more effective in achieving their goals.
• It helps designers to identify and prioritise features that are important to the user. By understanding the user’s goals and motivations, designers can create solutions that are tailored to their needs.
• It helps designers to communicate with their teams and stakeholders. Empathy maps are visual and easy to understand, making them a great tool for communicating the user’s needs to others.
• It helps designers to test their assumptions. By creating an empathy map, designers can test their assumptions about the user and get feedback on their designs.

Empathy mapping is a great tool for designers who want to create user-centred designs that truly meet the needs of their users. By understanding the user’s perspective, designers can create solutions that are more effective in achieving their goals, and that ultimately result in a better user experience.

How to Create an Empathy Map?

Creating an empathy map is relatively easy as a practical tool, and can be done in a few simple steps:

• Identify your user persona: Who is your target user?
• Define the scenario: What is the context of use? What are the user’s goals?
• Fill in the empathy map: Use the four key areas of the empathy map to create a detailed profile of the user. You can use post-it notes or a digital tool like Figjam to create the map.
• Analyse and prioritise: Analyse the empathy map to identify the user’s pain points, goals, and motivations. Prioritise the most important features and design solutions that meet their needs.

In conclusion, empathy mapping is a powerful tool for user experience designers and product designers who want to create user-centred designs that meet the needs of their users. By focusing on the user’s perspective, these designers can create solutions that are more effective in achieving their goals, and that ultimately result in a better user experience.

If you’re a designer who hasn’t tried empathy mapping yet, try it and see how it can transform your design process. Come along to one of our empathy mapping workshops to see how this all comes together and to try your hand at creating one.

The post Designing with User-Centred Focus: How Empathy Mapping Can Help appeared first on Experience Haus.

Prototypes by Career Development Bootcamp Students

In this series of startup profiles, we speak to the people behind the startups that provide real-life design challenges to our students. Today, we speak to Jonathan Cosgrove, founder of WealthMaster.

Jonathan, can you tell us a little about your company and your current team?

WealthMaster is an ecosystem platform which gives retail investors a connected view of their cash and investment accounts, and provides users with the tools to maximise their investments through insights and advanced analytics.

What design challenges have you supplied to Experience Haus? 

I have given Experience Haus a variety of projects for students to work on, including:

• Initial user research to validate the problem and identify personas
• Development of Figma design flows capturing the high-level product features
• A deep dive into 2 of the personas that will inform the product features for the MVP
• Development of Figma flows (App and desktop) capturing the specific product features required by the 2 go-to-market personas
• A product strategy and roadmap

What did the individual student/teams of students manage to produce for you?

The teams that have worked on my briefs have produced a number of assets such as full Figma flows, product strategies, branding guidelines and user research data. 

How have you been able to implement the outputs?

I am currently working with Experience Haus to finalise the Figma files associated with the MVP. Once this work is complete, I will be able to implement it

What did you enjoy most about working on a project with Experience Haus?

I would say it was getting to work with so very creative students who have done a fantastic job on the design of my platform. A highlight for me was joining a number of persona workshops at the Experience Haus studios, which were a lot of fun.

Where do you see the company in 5 years?

Hopefully, a platform that’s well-established and makes the process of managing investment super easy for my users and catalyzing some innovation across the Wealth Management industry

Find out more about the Founder:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathancosgrove/

Submit a Design Challenge for an Experience Haus student: https://experiencehaus.com/submit-a-project-brief/

The post Meet the Startup: WealthMaster appeared first on Experience Haus.

Inclusive design means creating products, services, and experiences that are accessible and usable by everyone, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, or backgrounds. Inclusive design is not just about accommodating people with disabilities, but also about considering the needs of all users, including those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

So why is inclusive design so important? Here are a few reasons:

Inclusive design is the right thing to do.

First and foremost, inclusive design is the right thing to do. Everyone deserves to be able to access and use the products and services that are essential to daily life, from public transportation to online shopping. Inclusive design ensures that everyone is included and no one is left behind.

In our programmes, we emphasise the importance of designing for a diverse range of users, and encourage our students to consider the needs of all users in their design work. We believe that by prioritizing inclusivity, we can create a more equitable and just society

Inclusive design makes business sense.

Inclusive design is not just a matter of ethics or social responsibility, however. It also makes good business sense. When products and services are designed to be accessible to a wide range of people, they become more appealing to a broader audience. This can expand a company’s customer base and increase its market share.

Consider, for example, the success of Apple’s iPhone. The iPhone was designed with accessibility features such as VoiceOver, a screen reader that allows users with visual impairments to navigate the device. But these features are not just for users with disabilities; they also make the iPhone easier to use for everyone. As a result, the iPhone has become one of the most popular smartphones on the market, with a market share of over 40%.

Experience Haus design days revolve around bringing our community together to solve real-life issues that impact many.

Inclusive design sparks creativity.

Inclusive design also has a creative aspect to it. Designers who embrace inclusivity are forced to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions that can benefit everyone. By designing for people with disabilities, for example, designers can create products and services that are not only more accessible, but also more user-friendly and intuitive for everyone.

Take, for example, the design of OXO’s Good Grips kitchen utensils. The founder of OXO, Sam Farber, was inspired to create these utensils after watching his wife struggle to use a traditional vegetable peeler due to arthritis. The result was a line of kitchen utensils with large, soft, non-slip handles that were not only easier to use for people with arthritis, but also for anyone who wanted a more comfortable grip. Today, OXO’s Good Grips utensils are a staple in many kitchens around the world.

Inclusive design is the future of design.

Finally, as our society becomes more diverse and inclusive, it’s becoming increasingly clear that inclusive design is the way forward. Inclusive design is not just a trend or a fad, but a fundamental shift in the way we think about design.

As thought leaders in the design education space, we are committed to promoting inclusive design in everything we do, from our curriculum to the products and services we create. We believe that by teaching our students to think inclusively, we can help create a generation of designers who prioritise inclusivity in their work.

But inclusive design is not just the responsibility of designers; it’s the responsibility of everyone in the design ecosystem, from product managers to software engineers to digital marketers. That’s why we work closely with industry partners to promote inclusive design and encourage them to adopt inclusive design practices in their own work.

Inclusive design is not without its challenges.

Designing for a diverse range of users requires empathy, research, and a deep understanding of the needs of different users. It also requires designers to challenge their own biases and assumptions about what “normal” is.

We teach our students to embrace the challenge of inclusive design, and to approach it with curiosity, humility, and an open mind. We encourage our students to collaborate with users from diverse backgrounds and to incorporate their feedback into their designs. We also emphasize the importance of accessibility in our curriculum, and teach our students the skills they need to create accessible products and services, such as using alternative text for images, designing for keyboard navigation, and testing for colour contrast.

Inclusive design is not a new concept, but it’s more important now than ever before. As our society becomes more diverse and inclusive, it’s crucial that we design products and services that reflect this diversity and inclusivity. By prioritising inclusivity in our design work, we can create a more equitable and just society, expand our businesses, and unleash our creativity.

We are excited to see more and more designers embracing inclusive design and making it a central part of their work. We believe that by working together and sharing our knowledge and experiences, we can create a more inclusive world, one design at a time.

The post The Importance of Inclusive Design. appeared first on Experience Haus.

Nick, can you tell us a little about your company and your current team?

FORME Products Limited was created as we felt the shaker had fallen behind in the fast paced fitness world and needed a refresh. Our team of two health and fitness enthusiasts with sports industry experience, teamed up to design our first ever product – the FORME Shaker – with the aim of producing a shaker that would appeal to people like themselves. It’s no longer just bodybuilders who frequent gyms and take supplements but the shaker is still only really designed for them.

What design challenges have you supplied to Experience Haus?

We have submitted a number of projects to Experience Haus students, including:

• Clarifying our target user groups
• Optimising our current website user journey and experience
• Defining a new e-commerce journey to reach our core business goals
• Creating a referral strategy to help drive new customers to the site
• How to partner with similar brands to build awareness

What did the individual students/teams of students manage to produce for you?

We had the following information presented to us from the groups, as well as individual students:

• Research and insights(user interviews, key trends, user categorisation)
• Website design audit nd suggested experience improvements
• Competitor research to understand what else is out there

How have you been able to implement the outputs?

We are currently using this information to improve our website design and messaging, as well as creating guidelines and briefs for all future marketing materials (mainly social content) for a big push in the new year.

What did you enjoy most about working on a project with Experience Haus?

It was great to have insight from someone other than ourselves; they came at it with fresh sets of eyes. We were very impressed with the consistency of the feedback we got from various groups, which really confirmed the information we were being presented as legitimate and well worth considering. The students were very bright and enthusiastic but also incredibly smart and impressed us a lot.

Where do you see the company in five years?

Aim is to become one of the top fitness accessories and found in more gym bags than any other shaker. 

What has it been like working with Experience Haus?

It has been incredibly useful for us. Michael, my co-founder, and I both have jobs and are still running FORME as a side hustle for the time being so by having the students putting in time to help our research and planning has been invaluable. We were very impressed the with quality of teaching and calibre of students, they have all been incredibly impressive.

Read more about FORME:

Website: www.formeshaker.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/formeshaker/ 

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/formeshaker/forme-the-modern-day-supplement-shaker

Submit a Design Challenge for an Experience Haus student: https://experiencehaus.com/submit-a-project-brief/

The post Meet the Startup: FORME Shaker appeared first on Experience Haus.

Design is not just about creating aesthetically pleasing objects, but also about solving problems and finding solutions. And real-life challenges provide students with an opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice, to understand the complexities of design and to develop critical thinking skills.

At our recent Design Day, our students worked on a real-life challenge set by the City of London Education Strategy Unit.

Throughout their learning journey, our students are forced to consider the practicalities of their designs, such as budget constraints, deadlines, and the client’s requirements, as well as taking into account the cultural, social and ethical implications of their work.

As educators, we firmly believe that the best way for our students to learn and hone their design skills is through working on real-life projects and design challenges. This approach is at the centre of all of our courses and design days, and it is one of the things that sets us apart from other design schools. Let’s explore a few reasons why we feel this is so important and a pillar to our approach.

Context is key.

The first reason why real-life projects are so effective is that they provide a context for the design work. When students work on projects that have real-world implications, they are able to see how their design decisions affect not just the appearance of the project but also its functionality and impact on users. This helps students to think more deeply about the impact of their work and to consider the broader implications of their decisions. This is essential for developing a well-rounded understanding of design and its impact on the world.

Presentation and storytelling skills also come to life when working on real-life projects.

Providing a sense of purpose.

Additionally, real-life projects give students a sense of purpose and motivation, as they are working on something tangible and impactful. This can lead to a more engaged and motivated student, who is more likely to invest in extra effort and produce higher-quality work. This, in turn, leads to a more confident and capable designer, ready to tackle real-world challenges in their future careers.

Understanding the end to end process.

Another key benefit of real-life projects is that they allow students to experience the design process from start to finish. In a traditional classroom setting, students may only work on part of a project or may only see one aspect of the design process. By working on real-life projects, students are able to see how all the different pieces fit together and gain a better understanding of the overall design process, and an appreciation of how design teams come together. This can help to build a sense of ownership over the work and a deeper understanding of the steps involved in creating a successful design.

A platform for growth.

It is important to remember that the goal of working on real-life projects is not just to produce a final product but also to provide students with a platform for learning and growth. This means that students should be encouraged to take risks and explore new ideas, even if they are not certain of the outcome. At Experience Haus, we encourage our students to embrace this spirit of experimentation and to be open to new perspectives and approaches.

Enhancing soft skills.

Working on real-life projects also helps students develop important skills such as time management, teamwork and communication. Collaborating with other students or clients on a project teaches students to compromise and find common ground, skills that will serve them well in their future careers. Effective communication is also a crucial aspect of the design process, and students will learn to articulate their ideas and present their work in a professional and convincing manner.

Portfolio pieces.

One of the biggest benefits of working on real-life projects is the opportunity to gain real-world experience. Students can use these projects as a portfolio piece, which they can showcase to potential employers and demonstrate their competence and skills. This can give them a competitive edge in a crowded job market, and can help them to secure job opportunities in their desired field.

Here are some tips for those who are considering working on real-life projects as a way of developing their skillset in the experience design space.

• Start small: Don’t be afraid to start with smaller, less complex projects. This will help you to build your confidence and skills gradually.
• Collaborate with others: Working with other students or clients on a project will help you to develop important skills such as teamwork and communication.
• Be open to feedback: Real-life projects are a great opportunity to receive feedback from professionals and peers, which can help you to improve your work and grow as a designer.

At Experience Haus, we work closely with industry partners and clients to ensure that our projects are aligned with current trends and challenges in the design world. We tap into our growing network of incubators, accelerators, business schools, universities, co-working spaces and more, to find the most current and challenging projects for our students to work on. This helps to keep our students engaged and inspired and also provides a sense of the real-world demands of the design industry. But above all, students leave their Experience Haus learning journey with credibility and confidence they can move forward with as they begin their design careers.

The post Real-life projects: A pillar of the Experience Haus approach. appeared first on Experience Haus.

On one hand, there is the traditional route of going back to university and pursuing a design degree, while on the other hand, there is the alternative of attending a highly immersive design bootcamp (usually around 10-16 weeks long) Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the right choice?

Design bootcamps, like our UX/UI Career Development Bootcamp here at Experience Haus, have become a relevantly recent phenomenon in the design world, offering a compressed and focused curriculum that is designed to get students job-ready in a matter of months. This, of course, is appealing to many, but also raises a very important question: is it possible to master the art and science of design in such a short period of time?

On the other hand, a traditional design degree offers a more comprehensive education, allowing you to delve into important foundations and theory of design, as well as the technical skills required to become a successful designer. But is a degree necessary in an industry that is constantly evolving and changing? Will you get exposure to real-life challenges and scenarios?

Self-studying and taking a series of short courses can of course be a viable option for designers who are highly motivated and able to set their own learning pace. However, it’s important to be realistic about the level of dedication and discipline required to self-teach, as well as the rigor required to find finding structured learning resources and opportunities for hands-on experience. Nonetheless, there is a path to a UX career with this option that cannot and should not be ignored.

As any new designers contemplate the decision of which path to take,, it’s important to keep in mind that design is more than just a skill or a trade. It is a mindset, a way of thinking that allows you to solve problems and create impactful solutions in the world. So, the question becomes: can a design bootcamp provide you with this mindset and perspective, or is it only gained through years of dedicated study and practice?

In the end, the choice between a design bootcamp and other options comes down to personal preference and career goals, and of course the practicalities. If motivation is high, and there is a desire to enter the design industry as quickly as possible, a design bootcamp may be the right choice.

So does this sound like something you are currently contemplating? What exactly makes design bootcamps such a valuable resource for aspiring designer like yourself? Let’s take a closer look:

• Fast-track entry into the design industry: With a design bootcamp, you can get a head start on your career and start making a name for yourself in the design world. This is a great option for young designers who are eager to get started and make their mark in the industry.
• Compact and focused curriculum that provides job-ready skills: Design bootcamps are designed with a single goal in mind: to get you job-ready as quickly as possible. The focused curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of the industry, ensuring that you learn the skills that are most in demand and have the best chances of success.
• Networking Opportunities: Design bootcamps provide students with opportunities to network with peers, instructors, and industry professionals. This can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations that can enhance students’ careers.
• Career Support: Many design bootcamps provide job placement and career support services to their graduates. This can include job search strategies, interview preparation, resume building, and more. This support can be crucial for students looking to transition into the design industry.
• Cost-Effective: Compared to traditional design programs, design bootcamps are much more cost-effective. This makes them accessible to a wider range of people and provides an excellent return on investment for students who are looking to build a career in design.

Regardless of your choice, remember that design (especially when in it as a career) is a lifelong journey. Whether you attend a design bootcamp, self-teach, or go back and pursue a design degree, you will always be learning, growing, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. So, embrace the challenge and trust your instincts. The right path will become clear as you continue to pursue your passion for creativity and design. The path taken will also depend on personal learning styles and career goals.

Design bootcamps offer a structured learning environment and hands-on experience, while self-studying and taking a series of short courses may be a good option for those who are highly motivated and able to set their own learning pace.

Regardless of the path you choose, the important thing is to pursue your passion for design and continue to develop your skills, knowledge, and experience in this fast-paced field.

The post Design Your Future: The Benefits of a Design Bootcamp appeared first on Experience Haus.

When it comes to figuring out when a design is “good enough,” it’s not always an easy answer. So let’s dive into what “good enough” means in design, the factors that influence this often impossible-to-find line, and how to truly determine when your design is ready for the world to see.

Photo by Yan Krukau

First things first, let’s define what “good enough” actually means in design. Is it just hitting the client’s requirements? After all, aren’t we paid to deliver solutions that meet our client’s expectations? Or is it a design that looks great and functions well? Is there more to it than that?

It’s a little bit of everything. A “good enough” design should tick all the client’s boxes, look good, and give the end users an enjoyable and smooth experience. But the definition of “good enough” can change from project to project and client to client, so it’s important to have a flexible approach as part of your designer skillset.

Now that we know what “good enough” means, let’s talk about the factors that influence this line. These can include things like project timelines, budgets, design goals, and user experience. Finding the balance between these factors can be a tricky task and the “good enough” line may shift as the project progresses.

So, you may be asking, how do we determine when a design is “good enough”? There’s no one right answer, but there are a few strategies that can help:

• User testing: This can give you valuable insights into your design’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you make informed decisions and ensure that your design meets the needs of your audience.
• Iterative approach: The design process is iterative, so be prepared to make changes and improvements based on feedback and testing. This will help refine your design and make sure it heads towards the “good enough” line.
• Collaboration with stakeholders: Good communication with clients and stakeholders is key for the success of any design project. Make sure everyone is on the same page and your design hits its desired outcomes.

But what if you’re still questioning your design? Here are a few things you can do to help you make that determination:

• Take a break: Sometimes stepping away from a project can help you come back with fresh eyes and a clearer perspective. Go grab a coffee somewhere, or go for a walk with some of your favourite music on.
• Get feedback: Ask a colleague, instructor, fellow student, or friend for their honest opinion on your design. They may see something you missed or have a fresh perspective to offer.
• Trust your gut: You’re the designer. You’re the one in charge here. So trust yourself and your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. You’ll get better and better at this over time.

While hitting deadlines and budgets is understandable, settling for “good enough” design can have serious consequences. Compromising on quality, for example, not carefully thinking about the desired user experience, can result in a less effective design that doesn’t meet its goals. Nobody wants that, and a client will not be too pleased.

For example, let’s say you’re designing a new landing page for a client who is launching a new product soon, and they’re pushing for a tight deadline. You might be tempted to cut corners and settle for a design that just meets their requirements, but this could result in a site that has a poor mobile experience, misses accessibility standards and has unclear messaging. In the long run, this could hurt the client’s business and damage your reputation as a designer or a team.

As designers, it’s important to be mindful of the trade-offs we make for efficiency and be ready to argue for the time and resources needed to make our designs truly amazing. Our type of work takes time, and it’s best to be clear about this upfront to ensure you have enough time to design the ideal experience that everyone is expecting and needs.

Figuring out when a design is “good enough” is a complex process that requires a deep understanding of the design problem, audience, and project goals. By approaching your work with a flexible and adaptive mindset, you will create truly effective and impactful designs. But just remember, questioning if your work is “good enough” will probably never go away.

The post The “Good Enough” Dilemma appeared first on Experience Haus.

Innovation centres at universities are typically established to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, faculty, and the wider community. They typically provide resources, support, and mentorship to help entrepreneurs and innovators bring their ideas to market, and this is done through funding opportunities, workspace, and educational programs and workshops.

This past weekend Experience Haus worked with Essex Startups, a support service at the University of Essex, and based within the universities Innovation Centre. The Essex Startups team provides students and graduates the opportunities develop entrepreneurial skills to prepare for their future. The two-day workshop was one of many programmes that the team runs aimed at providing students with core design and entrepreneurship skills to help them bring their ideas to life.

Ten students, who are all part of the Essex Startup Frontrunners programme, took part. These students (who are employed as Innovation Factory project assistants) are provided paid opportunities and partnered with startups. Because they are studying various subjects, this provides a range of backgrounds which they can apply as their work on these startups, with fresh eyes, through in-depth research and more.

“The Innovation Factory is designed to do two things: firstly, we want to give our students practical, real-world examples of the types of problems that they’ll face in the workplace when they graduate, and, second, to provide additional help and support for our start-up community so they can explore new opportunities to help them scale and grow. It’s an exciting approach and we’re looking forward to seeing the outcomes at the end of the project.” Andy Mew, Head of Start-Up Support, Essex Startups

The workshop was divided into two parts. On the first day, students were introduced to design thinking and user research basics. They learned about the importance of the designers mindset, and understanding how divergent and convergent thinking can help in the design process. They then learned how to identify and understand the needs of their target audience, and how to use this information to inform their design decisions. This was followed by ideation and prototyping, where students used various methods and tools to generate and refine potential solutions.

To bring a sense of real-life application, the students were asked to re-imagine the whole Innovation Centre experience. And in order to bring some creativity, collaboration and an understanding of constraint into the day, students were asked to first sketch their concepts, and then used LEGO to build rapid prototypes of their vision.

On the second day, students dove deeper into the business side of design. They were introduced to business model design and pricing strategies, and learned how to develop a marketing plan that would help them reach their target audience and bring their ideas to market. As they worked through the topics of the day, they continued to work on their LEGO prototypes, which provided a good grounding for open conversation and deliberation on the best path forward.

The highlight of the workshop was the final pitches, where students presented their ideas and prototypes to the rest of the group, including the Head of Startup Support, Andy Mew. This was an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they had learned and to receive feedback from their peers. It was amazing to see the creativity and passion that the students brought to their projects, and everyone involved was impressed by the high level of professionalism displayed in their presentations.

“As someone who aspires to get into marketing this was an amazing experience to learn in-depth knowledge, in a fun creative way, which kept me engaged. It has given me more confidence as you provided great tips on what businesses look for and need to run a business, which I can apply in the future” Anoushka Tekeyan-Pelosi

“I learned a lot this weekend about design thinking, prototyping, ideation, and business modelling and I gained a lot of confidence from the pitching exercise that we undertook at the end of the weekend.” Ed Creeden

“This was a great workshop, very informative, always held my interest. It was very engaging and fun to participate in and something I would recommend to anyone.” Bilal Nagode

In conclusion, the collaboration this past weekend was a great success, and the combination of topics provided a well-rounded learning experience that will serve the students well in their future careers.

By providing students with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the very near future, we are helping to build a stronger and more vibrant creative community. The Experience Haus team looks forward to a continued collaboration with the Essex Startups team, and to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs and creative thinkers reach their full potential.

The post A Weekend Collaboration: Experience Haus and Essex Startups appeared first on Experience Haus.