Farhan Shakir’s Post

💻👨🏽💻I recently had the opportunity of being an observer in multiple in-depth user interviews over the past week , and I have to say, it was an eye-opening experience! Watching people from various backgrounds engage with our product prototype was incredibly insightful. One of the most striking aspects was witnessing the diverse ways in which individuals process information and make decisions. From cautious deliberation to intuitive leaps, each participant brought their unique perspective to the table, highlighting the importance of designing for a broad spectrum of user behaviors. Moreover, hearing firsthand what users value (or don't value) in our product was immensely valuable. Their candid feedback shed light on features and experiences that truly resonate with them, guiding us toward refining our design and even generating new ideas to better meet their needs and preferences. But perhaps the most impactful aspect of this experience was the reminder of the human element in design. Seeing the world through our users' eyes fostered a deeper sense of empathy and reinforced the importance of crafting solutions that truly enrich their lives. As a designer, these insights are invaluable. They not only inform our current design iteration but also set the foundation for continuous improvement and innovation. I'm excited to apply what I've learned to create even more meaningful experiences for our users. Here's to the power of user interviews in shaping user-centric design! 🚀

Empathy maps are not just tools—they are a mindset. They remind us to stay curious, ask "why", and always seek a deeper understanding of the people we design for. So, next time you're tackling a design challenge, grab an empathy map and start exploring your user's world! Question for You: How have you used empathy maps in your design process, and what surprising insights have you uncovered? Share your experiences!

How can we truly empathise? 🤔 Empathy is at the heart of human-centred design thinking. But how can we make it more than just a buzzword? One of the best ways to empathise is by involving users, customers, and stakeholders in the design process through co-creation. 👐 ✨ What does this look like? - A member of the design team facilitates sessions where users and designers generate and evaluate ideas together. - Designers carefully observe the situation and follow up with thoughtful questions to better understand users’ needs and behaviours. This process can often take place early in the discovery stage. Remember—just because you're co-creating doesn't mean you're already in solution mode. It's about uncovering user motivations, their pains, and their gains. 🙌 What is your best way to empathise?👇 #HumanCentredDesign #EmpathyInAction #CoCreation #DesignThinking #Innovation

Empathy drives 91% of successful product designs. Have you ever wondered how deeply understanding your users can transform the design process and result in groundbreaking products? In a world where traditional problem-solving sometimes stifles innovation, design thinking shines through as a powerful catalyst. By centering our focus on human experiences, we not only embrace their needs and desires but also unearth possibilities that might otherwise remain hidden. What can we do to harness this potential in our work? Let's take a deeper dive into key elements that fuel innovation in design: 1. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴: Immerse yourself in the lives of your users. Understand and feel their pain points as your own. 2. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀: Foster an environment where ideas flow uninhibitedly and creativity knows no bounds. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Bring ideas to life. Experiment, test, iterate, and let users guide the refinement. 4. 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Merge diverse perspectives to spark creativity and holistic solutions. 5. 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴: Anticipate each twist and turn a user encounters to smoothen their path. By fostering these practices, we elevate design beyond aesthetics to create intuitive, meaningful, and engaging user experiences. Remember, every small insight has the power to revolutionize our approach to product and service design #Empathy #ProductDesign #DesignThinking #UserExperience #Innovation #HumanCenteredDesign #Creativity #Prototype #Testing #Collaboration #UserJourney #DesignInnovation #UserResearch

Designers pride themselves on knowing users. But have you thought about this? Business stakeholders often understand the customers better than we understand the business. Years ago, that might have been OK. Today? Not so much Not understanding the business is a major career gamble. In an era where design decisions can make or break a company’s growth, knowing how your work impacts the business is just as important as understanding the user. How does this feature affect revenue? Why is this problem worth solving for the company? What’s the ROI of this design change? Bridging the gap between user empathy and business strategy is the key to staying relevant—and thriving—in modern design roles. What do you think... Are designers keeping up with the business side of things? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇 #productdesign #uiux #designcareer #designcoach

Design thinking is a powerful tool, but how often do we consider how bias can subtly shape the products we create? 🤔 Whether it's assumptions about who our users are or blind spots in our process, bias can limit the impact and inclusivity of our designs. In our rush to innovate, it’s easy to overlook perspectives that don’t match our own. That’s why it’s crucial to challenge these biases intentionally, by involving diverse voices, testing with a range of users, and questioning our assumptions at every step. Together, we can create designs that truly reflect and serve the diversity of the world around us. Let’s strive to make every product a step toward inclusivity and equity. #DesignThinking #BiasInDesign #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #ProductDesign

Empathy and Design Walking into design without wearing the empathy cap is like trying to build a house without windows and a roof, it might be beautiful, but not useful for humans to live in. Being a designer in any form or art, requires you to pour empathy into every work of art you produce. With that being said, what then is empathy? I'll put it simply; Empathy is the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. while creating design, you need to ask yourself these questions: - Why am I creating this? - What problem am I solving? - Who am I solving this problem for, what are their pains, dreams, goals aspiration? Your ability to put yourself in your target audience shoes and create a design, that matches every inch of their needs, not only exposes increases bottom-line of the company but exposes your skillset and attract investors. Empathy being the cornerstone of Design thinking, plays a very key role in designing a product. I have drafted out a few points to emphasize its importance - Creates true user centric products - Understand human psychology better - Improve user usability and in turn profits what else do you think are the core importance of Empathy in design thinking? Let me hear your thoughts in the comment section below #designthinkinghashtag #empathyindesign #productdesign #fasthirecontentwritingchallenge #Day1

Last week, I discovered myself in a challenging design evaluate meeting. Our crew became providing a brand new feature, and the stakeholders seemed skeptical. As the lead clothier, I knew I needed to step up and navigate this tricky scenario. Drawing from current management lessons, I decided to strive a brand new method. Instead of protecting our picks, I opened with, "I'm curious to listen your mind." This simple phrase shifted the entire dynamic. Suddenly, stakeholders have been sharing valuable insights rather than criticizing. As the discussion improved, I observed tensions rising over a selected design decision. I took a deep breath and stated, "Let's take a step returned and revisit our important objective." This refocused the group on our shared desires, diffusing the war. When faced with a suggestion that did not align with our user studies, I replied with, "That's an interesting perspective. How may we validate that?" This recommended statistics-pushed choice-making without dismissing anybody's enter. As we wrapped up, I used "What if we..." to propose a compromise that included feedback even as keeping our design integrity. This collaborative method caused an answer that excited everyone in the room. Finally, I closed the assembly with, "I respect your input. Here's what I'm removing..." This summary ensured we had been all aligned and established that every voice had been heard. The outcome? A reinvigorated crew, impressed stakeholders, and a stronger layout route. By employing these powerful conversation techniques, I converted a doubtlessly contentious assembly right into a productive collaboration. It's incredible how a few nicely-chosen terms can increase our leadership and drive higher layout results. #UXLeadership #DesignCommunication #StakeholderManagement #TeamCollaboration #EffectiveMeetings #DesignStrategy #UXCareers #ProductDesign #LeadershipSkills #DesignThinking