Working with UX designers: What developers need to know

As a pharmaceutical technology company, it’s very possible that you have a healthy engineering team but have little in the way of design support. You might also be unsure of how to work with an external UX Designer, and how it can benefit your project trajectory.

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It can seem like working with an external UX designer is a luxury, but isn’t vital for the success of your project. After all, your engineers are responsible for making the product work, and UX designers are responsible for making it look good. Developers are often more focused on functionality while designers are more focused on aesthetics.

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Designers (arguably) can be said to be more creative and spontaneous, while developers are more logical and methodical. Designers also usually tend to be better at communicating their ideas, as they're used to working with non-technical people. They can provide a clear understanding of who the end user is and what they need from a product.

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Despite these differences, there are actually quite a few things that developers and designers have in common. Both roles require creativity, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail. Designers and developers need to be able to think abstractly, and they both need to have a good understanding of how people interact with products. 

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One of the main reasons that developers and designers might clash is when their goals and visions are misaligned. This can usually be chalked down to a failure early on in the development process, when product ideas have not been developed fully, have not been validated properly, and may not have buy-in from all parties involved. This can lead to conflict when it comes to decisions about the product, as each side tries to push for their own agenda. 

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Another thing that can cause friction between developers and designers is the way they work. Developers tend to work in a more linear fashion, starting with the requirements and then working their way down to the code. Designers, on the other hand, tend to work in a more iterative fashion, starting with a general idea and then refining it as they go. This can lead to frustration on both sides, as developers feel like they're being held back by the designers, and designers feel like they're being held back by the developers. 

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One way to help reduce any friction between designers and developers is to have regular workshops in which both sides can share their ideas and concerns in a productive way. Successful workshops involve structured exercises that cut through all the small talk and are designed to get internal alignment in a more efficient way. They are fun, engaging and decrease the risk of ‘having a meeting about a meeting' syndrome. In design workshops, all stakeholders are involved and heard, meaning that developers and designers can work better together.

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Another way to help reduce friction is to understand the strengths of both sides and use them to your advantage. Developers are usually good at solving problems, so they can help designers when they get stuck. Designers are usually good at coming up with creative solutions, so they can help developers when they need to break out of a rut. 

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Using a high-fidelity prototype which has been validated with users can also help to reduce friction, as it gives everyone a clear idea of what the product should look and feel like. When designers can provide developers with a complete prototype in which ideas have been tested out before they're implemented, this can help to avoid problems down the road. 

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Working with designers doesn't have to be difficult. By understanding the strengths of both sides and communicating clearly and regularly, developers and designers can work together extremely  well.

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Finally, it's important to remember that designers and developers are both working towards the same goal: to create a great product that benefits patients and makes the job of healthcare providers much easier. If you can keep this in mind, it will be easier to work together and find compromises when disagreements arise. 

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Get in touch with us to find out how our rapid design process can benefit your product development.

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