Last updated on Aug 8, 2024

Your team is divided on design consistency across platforms. How do you ensure everyone is on the same page?

When your mobile design team is split over whether to maintain design consistency across different platforms, it can lead to a challenging work environment. The key to resolving such disputes lies in finding a balance between uniformity and platform-specific designs that cater to user expectations. Design consistency ensures a cohesive user experience, which is crucial for brand recognition and user satisfaction. However, each platform also has its unique guidelines and user interface elements that should be considered. Your role is to guide your team through this complexity and align everyone towards a common goal.

1 Align Goals

Start by aligning your team's goals. Gather everyone to discuss the importance of a unified design language that resonates with your brand identity, yet is flexible enough to adapt to different platforms. Emphasize the need for a consistent user experience that users find intuitive, regardless of the device they use. Encourage your team to consider the broader picture of user engagement and satisfaction, which is often bolstered by familiarity and ease of use. This initial step sets the foundation for a cohesive approach to design across platforms.

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Raza Sultan, PMP®

Electrical Lead | Specialist in Power Systems Commissioning and O&M | Aero Gas Turbines | GE TM2500
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Maintaining design consistency across platforms can be challenging, especially with diverse team opinions. Here’s how we keep everyone aligned: Establish Clear Guidelines: Create comprehensive design guidelines that outline standards for colors, fonts, and layouts. Frequent Communication: Hold regular meetings to discuss design decisions and address any inconsistencies. Collaborative Tools: Utilize collaborative design tools like Figma or Sketch to ensure everyone has access to the latest updates. Feedback Loop: Encourage continuous feedback and iteration to refine designs and maintain coherence.

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Diego Leonardo Avellaneda Prieto

Master Candidate | User experience design | UX Visual designer | DX
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La definición de objetivos es crucial, tener un journey map claro permite que exista coherencia en la navegación sin importar el tamaño de la pantalla que se esté trabajando. La escala de los componentes en sus respectivos responsive sizes permite que haya coherencia a través de toda la navegación

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2 Design Principles

Establishing clear design principles is crucial for consistency. These principles should act as the cornerstone for all design decisions, ensuring that every element aligns with the overall vision. Discuss these principles with your team, making sure they are specific enough to guide design choices yet broad enough to apply across various platforms. This might include guidelines on color schemes, typography, and layout structures. When these principles are agreed upon and documented, they serve as a reference point for all members, reducing ambiguity and subjective interpretations.

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Diego Leonardo Avellaneda Prieto

Master Candidate | User experience design | UX Visual designer | DX
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Es crucial restablecer unos guidelines concretos y con cada paramento establecido. Esto permite a los diferentes equipos tener una guía clara de lo que se permite y no se permite hacer en cuando al diseño, por otro lado, es crucial que todos los equipos tengan acceso a los guidelines y librerías actualizadas desde el inicio del proyecto para garantizar la coherencia del lenguaje de diseño.

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3 User-Centric Focus

A user-centric focus is paramount in design. Remind your team that the end goal is to satisfy the user's needs and expectations. Each platform has its own set of users with specific preferences; acknowledging this helps in creating designs that are not only consistent but also platform-appropriate. Encourage your team to conduct user research and usability testing to understand these nuances better. This approach ensures that designs are informed by real user feedback, leading to more effective and user-friendly interfaces.

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4 Communication Channels

Effective communication is the lifeblood of any collaborative project. Establish open channels where team members can share ideas, feedback, and concerns. Whether it's regular meetings, shared documents, or communication platforms, ensure that everyone has a voice and feels heard. This transparency helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps everyone informed about design decisions and changes. A team that communicates well is more likely to move in unison towards a shared vision.

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5 Prototype Iterations

Prototyping is an excellent way to visualize how designs will translate across different platforms. Encourage your team to create interactive prototypes that can be tested and iterated upon. This hands-on approach allows designers to see how their work functions in a real-world context and make necessary adjustments before final implementation. Iterative prototyping promotes a cycle of continuous improvement and helps maintain design consistency as it evolves.

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Diego Leonardo Avellaneda Prieto

Master Candidate | User experience design | UX Visual designer | DX
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El user testing es una parte fundamental del diseño, esto nos permite detectar y generar valor en fases tempranas de desarrollo y poder hacer los ajustes necesarios para que el usuario logre completar su journey de manera efectiva. La iteración de prototipos también nos permite encontrar errores y corregirlos antes de que el diseño sea utilizado en vivo por miles de personas.

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6 Feedback Loops

Lastly, establish regular feedback loops. This could be through peer reviews or sessions where the team collectively critiques the designs. Constructive feedback is a powerful tool that can help refine designs and ensure they meet the set standards across platforms. It also fosters a culture of collaboration and collective responsibility for the final product. Encourage your team to embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth and learning.

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Your team is divided on design consistency across platforms. How do you ensure everyone is on the same page?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Align Goals

2 Design Principles

3 User-Centric Focus

4 Communication Channels

5 Prototype Iterations

6 Feedback Loops

Mobile Design

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Your team is divided on design consistency across platforms. How do you ensure everyone is on the same page?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Align Goals

2 Design Principles

3 User-Centric Focus

4 Communication Channels

5 Prototype Iterations

6 Feedback Loops

Mobile Design

Rate this article

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