“Lean UX” is a book written by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden that focuses on how to apply user experience (UX) design principles in an agile development environment. The book is aimed at product people, such as product managers, CPOs, and entrepreneurs, who are looking to improve the design and development process for their products and teams.
The book is divided into three parts: the first part provides an overview of the lean UX approach and how it differs from traditional UX design methods; the second part provides a step-by-step guide for implementing lean UX within an agile development team; and the third part provides case studies and real-world examples of how organizations have successfully implemented lean UX.
One of the key concepts in the book is the “lean startup” approach, which emphasizes the importance of rapid experimentation and iteration in the product development process. The authors argue that traditional UX design methods, which focus on creating detailed specifications and wireframes before development, are not well-suited to an agile environment, where development is done in small, iterative cycles. Instead, they recommend using lightweight design methods that allow for rapid experimentation and validation.
Another key concept in the book is the idea of “validated learning.” This is the process of testing product assumptions and hypotheses through rapid experimentation and user research, in order to validate product ideas and features before investing significant resources in development. The authors argue that this approach allows product teams to quickly identify and pivot away from features or ideas that are not resonating with users.
The book also provides practical advice for how to implement lean UX within an agile development team, including how to collaborate with developers and how to measure the success of the lean UX approach. Throughout the book, the authors provide real-world examples and case studies from companies that have successfully implemented lean UX, including Etsy, IDEO, and Zendesk.
Overall, “Lean UX” is an important book for product people looking to improve the design and development process for their products and teams. It provides a clear and actionable guide for implementing lean UX within an agile development environment, and is full of practical advice and real-world examples that can help product teams improve the user experience for their products.
Lean UX approach VS traditional UX design methods
The lean UX approach differs from traditional UX design methods in several key ways. Here are a few of the key differences, along with examples of how they might be implemented in practice:
- Emphasis on rapid experimentation and iteration: In traditional UX design, the process often begins with a thorough research phase, followed by the creation of detailed specifications and wireframes. In contrast, the lean UX approach emphasizes the importance of rapid experimentation and iteration, with a focus on quickly testing and validating product assumptions and hypotheses. For example, a lean UX designer might conduct a series of short, targeted user interviews to validate a particular product feature, rather than spending weeks conducting extensive user research. Key stakeholders working with the designer in this step are product managers, researchers and developer teams.
- Lightweight design methods: Traditional UX design often relies on detailed wireframes and specifications to communicate design ideas to developers. In contrast, the lean UX approach favors lightweight design methods, such as sketches and storyboards, that allow for rapid iteration and experimentation. For example, a lean UX designer might create a simple sketch of a product feature and test it with users, rather than spending weeks creating detailed wireframes. Key stakeholders working with the designer in this step are product managers, researchers and developer teams.
- Collaboration with development teams: In traditional UX design, the designer often works independently from the development team, with design deliverables handed off to developers for implementation. In contrast, the lean UX approach emphasizes the importance of close collaboration between designers and developers, with a focus on co-creation and continuous feedback. For example, a lean UX designer might sit with a development team and work together to iterate on a product feature, rather than working independently and handing off design deliverables. Key stakeholders working with the designer in this step are product managers, researchers and developer teams.
- Validated learning: Traditional UX design often focuses on creating detailed specifications and wireframes before development. In contrast, the lean UX approach emphasizes the importance of validated learning, which is the process of testing product assumptions and hypotheses through rapid experimentation and user research, in order to validate product ideas and features before investing significant resources in development. For example, a lean UX designer might conduct a series of A/B tests to see how users interact with a product feature, rather than spending weeks creating detailed wireframes. Key stakeholders working with the designer in this step are product managers, researchers and developer teams.
- Measuring success: In traditional UX design, success is often measured by how well a design meets the requirements set out in a specification. In contrast, the lean UX approach emphasizes the importance of measuring success in terms of business outcomes, such as increased user engagement or revenue. For example, a lean UX designer might track metrics such as user engagement, conversion rates, and revenue to see how a product feature is impacting the business. Key stakeholders working with the designer in this step are product managers, researchers and developer teams.
Zendesk case
Zendesk, a cloud-based customer service software company, has applied the Lean UX method in several ways to improve their product development process. Here are a few examples:
- Rapid experimentation and iteration: Zendesk has implemented a process of rapid experimentation and iteration to validate product assumptions and hypotheses. For example, they conduct a series of short, targeted user interviews to validate a particular product feature, which allows them to quickly test and validate ideas, rather than spending weeks conducting extensive user research.
- Collaboration with development teams: Zendesk has emphasized the importance of close collaboration between designers and developers, with a focus on co-creation and continuous feedback. They have implemented a product development process that involves working closely with developers throughout the design process, which allows for rapid iteration and experimentation.
- Validated learning: Zendesk has implemented a process of validated learning, which is the process of testing product assumptions and hypotheses through rapid experimentation and user research, in order to validate product ideas and features before investing significant resources in development. They conduct A/B tests and other experiments to gather data on how users interact with a product feature and make decisions based on the results.
- Measuring success: Zendesk has implemented a process of measuring success in terms of business outcomes, such as increased user engagement or revenue. They track metrics such as user engagement, conversion rates, and revenue to see how a product feature is impacting the business and make decisions on what to do next.
- Lean UX workshops: Zendesk has also implemented workshops as a way of encouraging collaboration and experimentation among designers, developers, and product managers. The workshops are used to generate ideas, validate assumptions and make rapid progress on product development.
Overall, Zendesk’s approach to Lean UX has allowed them to create a more efficient and effective product development process that focuses on validated learning, rapid experimentation, and close collaboration between designers, developers, and product managers. This approach has led to the development of more effective and user-centered products, which in turn has led to increased user engagement and revenue.
Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden are both authors, speakers, and consultants in the field of product development and user experience (UX) design.
Jeff Gothelf is the author of the book “Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams”, published in 2013. He is also the co-founder of Sense & Respond Press, a publishing company that focuses on books about product development and innovation. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has also worked as a consultant and coach to help organizations improve their product development processes.
Josh Seiden is the author of the book “Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience”, published in 2013. He is also the founder of a consulting firm called Seiden Group, which helps organizations improve their product development processes. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has also worked as a consultant and coach to help organizations improve their product development processes.
Both Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden have a lot of experience in the field of product development and have worked with many organizations to help them improve their product development processes. They are both well-respected in the industry and have a lot of knowledge and expertise to share about the topic of Lean UX.
