In today's fast-paced startup landscape, the significance of a well-designed Minimum Viable Product (MVP) can't be overstated. Getting your product out to market and in the hands of real users quickly is incredibly valuable. Too often, however, speed to market trumps all else and poorly designed products are brought to market creating stumbling blocks for users making it harder validate assumptions and gain meaningful insights. This post outlines just a few of the benefits of prioritizing user experience and design when crafting your MVP.
Optimizing User Engagement
A well-designed MVP creates a positive and memorable user experience, instilling confidence in your product or service. According to a study by UserTesting, 86% of users consider a seamless user experience important when evaluating a new product or service. By emphasizing intuitive interfaces, streamlined interactions, and creating a visually appealing design, your MVP can leave a lasting impression that engages and retains customers.
Validating User Needs
We are all well aware that an MVP allows businesses to gather valuable user insights, validating assumptions and gaining a deep understanding of customer preferences and behaviors. An MVP that prioritizes a well-designed experience enables users to focus on the fundamental aspects of your product without stumbling due to poor design choices. This ensures that you can extract meaningful learnings focused on the core features and value proposition of your offering as opposed to just fixing design flaws.
A good example of this in real practice was my recent client, expeerly. My client knew she wanted to test her idea right away with actual, potential clients in the retail and consumer products industries. In order to do so, she needed to look legitimate with a nicely designed consumer-facing brand and a product that looked professional and polished, even if it wasn't completed. By focusing on her branding and ensuring her MVP was well-designed, she was able to meet with clients and get immediate feedback. Her product has since then evolved but because she had a good foundation, updates were made easily.
Differentiating Your Business
In a competitive market, a well-designed MVP sets your business apart from the competition. By prioritizing aesthetics and user experience early on, you can establish a unique brand identity that resonates with your target audience. Studies have shown that customers are more likely to choose a visually appealing and user-friendly solution over competitors with subpar designs. By investing in a well-designed MVP, you can differentiate your business and capture user attention from the start.
Avoiding unnecessary rework
It is important to recognize the possibility that a significant portion of your product might require adjustments or refinements based on your findings. By establishing a strong foundation, these future modifications can be executed more smoothly, allowing your product design team to primarily focus on enhancing functionality and incorporating new features, rather than fixing aesthetic or UI issues. I've personally experienced the pitfalls that arise when attempting to "evolve" an interface with a weak foundation. It can result in a disjointed appearance when integrating new features, and can take substantial time and bandwidth to bring the entire user experience to a consistent and high level of experience.
Conclusion
A well-designed MVP holds immense potential for driving product success. By prioritizing user experience, validating assumptions, and creating a unique brand identity, your MVP becomes a powerful tool for engaging users and setting your product apart. While speed to market and delivering a simplified MVP are key, good design doesn't need to be sacrificed. Following a lean design approach will ensure your first product iteration is completed quickly - but still prioritizes design and user experience.
About the Author
Allison Sarno is a product and branding designer based in Zürich, Switzerland. She specializing in lean design for startups and emerging brands. Have a project you'd like to discuss? Reach out at hello@allisonsarnodesign.com