Product discovery helps to develop products successfully. It is essential to gather information at an early stage and to adopt the user's perspective. The process often begins with workshops that uncover blind spots and help to clarify uncertainties before development begins. User research also plays a central role in setting the right direction and making informed decisions. A well thought-out discovery process can make the difference between a product that inspires and one that misses the mark.
In this episode, I talk to Curie Kure about product discovery. How can we gather all the necessary information about the product early on and take the user perspective? Curie shows how important it is to clarify uncertainties before the first lines of code are written. We talk about the process of product discovery, which often begins with a workshop to uncover blind spots. Curie explains how user research helps to set the right direction.
"It's definitely worth doing it because you avoid mistakes very, very early on. You get feedback very early on with things that aren't even programmed." - Curie Kure
Are we solving the right problem right now? Have we chosen the right approach? These are the two questions Curie Kure, Senior User Experience Designer, employed by the custom development partner slashwhy GmbH&Co. KG, asks in all her projects.After studying communication design, these two questions led her to the world of digital products and services via several stations in classic graphic design. She specialized in conception and expanded her skills to include research methods, transformation and moderation with the extra-occupational degree "Certified UX & Usability Professional" (artop Academy - Institute at Humboldt University Berlin).
Quality assurance in software development is a crucial process to ensure error-free and user-friendly products. Product discovery plays a central role in this by collecting all relevant information about the product at an early stage and, in particular, by incorporating the user's perspective.
In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the topic of "Better quality with Product Discovery" and explain the following points:
Definition of Product Discovery
Product discovery refers to a process within software development in which all relevant information about a product is collected and analyzed at an early stage. The aim is to reduce uncertainties and gain clarity about the product to be developed. Instead of starting implementation immediately, the first step is to research what exactly is to be built - for whom and what purpose it needs to fulfill. In this way, undesirable developments can be avoided.
Role in the software development process
Product discovery is not a one-off step, but an iterative process that ideally takes place before and during development. It helps to define requirements more precisely and appraise assumptions. In practice, this often means workshops with different stakeholders such as UX designers, developers, product managers and users.
"You sit down together, gather existing knowledge and identify blind spots that still need to be explored." - Curie Kure
Importance of the user perspective
The focus on the user is key. A suitable product can only be developed if you understand how users actually work and what problems they have. User research - such as interviews or observations - provides valuable insights into users' everyday lives.
These findings help:
This ensures that the software delivers the right benefits and does not fail to meet the requirements.
Product discovery offers clear advantages if it is implemented in a structured and systematic way. The targeted collection of information before the actual development is central to this. It helps with this,
Misguided developments often arise from assumptions that have not been appraised or a lack of detail in understanding user needs. Product Discovery ensures that these assumptions are questioned and validated before time and resources are spent on implementation.
The focus is consistently on the needs of the right target group. This means not simply building a solution, but identifying the exact problem that is relevant to the user. This is the only way to create a product with real added value.
Another advantage is that the involvement of various stakeholders - from UX designers to developers and customer advisors - creates a holistic picture of the product and its requirements. This ensures that all perspectives are taken into account and that the result remains targeted.
Advantages of Product Discovery:** Minimization of bad investments and undesirable developments through well-founded user perspectives and precise target group orientation.
This structured approach helps you to make your product safer and of higher quality.
Better quality with Product Discovery is achieved through a clearly structured process that runs in several phases. The focus is on the early and comprehensive collection of information, which brings everyone involved to the same level of knowledge.
Phases of the Product Discovery process:
This process not only enables you to define requirements more clearly, but also to target the needs of the right target group - a key factor for sustainable product quality.
When implementing Product Discovery, various challenges can arise that can complicate the process and affect its success. Some of these challenges are
To overcome these challenges, the following strategies may be helpful:
By specifically addressing these challenges, companies can implement effective product discovery processes and benefit from high-quality products in the long term.
Product discovery is not a one-off project, but a continuous process that contributes to sustainable quality assurance. Those who systematically and consciously incorporate the user perspective build products that truly meet the needs of the target group. This minimizes sources of error and reduces expensive rework.
Important advantages of the consistent application of Product Discovery:
Better quality with Product Discovery means that you are not only faster to market, but also more sustainably convincing. Investing in this process is a decisive step towards successful software projects.