How to create and effectively use UX problem statement?
Keen to know how to create and effectively use UX problem statement? Interested to learn when to write and utilise it? Look no further – our guide will help you throughout the process and respond to all your important questions! Let's dive in!
What is a problem statement in UX discovery?
As you well know, UX design is all about solving problems: every little detail needed throughout the design thinking process is a tiny challenge that needs solving. And you constantly see that a new problem occurs. UX problem statement helps dealing with it.
To look at it more technically, a UX problem statement articulates a specific user experience challenge or issue that requires resolution. It typically outlines the pain points, frustrations, or unmet needs of the target users within a given context.
Ultimately, the goal of a UX problem statement is to frame the problem in a way that inspires innovative solutions and leads to meaningful improvements in the user experience.
The role of problem statements in design thinking
In the dynamic world of UX discovery, writing problem statements serves as the compass guiding designers through uncharted territories of user experience.
It’s not just a string of words; it’s a narrative woven with empathy, understanding, and a dash of strategic foresight. A compelling problem statement doesn’t just state the obvious; it paints a vivid picture of users struggling with frustrations, aspirations, and untapped potentials.
By referring to problem statements, UX designers and the design team never lose sight of the real problem and of why a given feature is produced. They keep being problem-oriented and solve all challenges, never creating overcomplicated solutions that do not serve anyone.
When should you write a problem statement?
Writing a problem statement is a crucial first step in any design or problem-solving process, and it’s best done at the outset of a project or initiative.
It’s essential to craft the problem statement early on to ensure clarity and alignment among team members and stakeholders. This typically happens during the initial stages of discovery or problem definition, when the focus is on understanding user needs, identifying pain points, and defining project goals.
From the very beginning the focus is on the problem and its solution, and the question that is constantly being asked is WHY?: why is this a problem, why do users need it, etc. If the problem is not defined at the beginning of the journey, there is a temptation to focus too much on the future solution and lose sight of the problem that really needs solving.
By establishing a clear problem statement early in the process, teams can set a solid foundation for subsequent activities such as research, ideation, and solution development. Additionally, a well-defined problem statement helps to maintain focus and direction throughout the project, ensuring that efforts are aligned with addressing the core challenges faced by users.
Components of a powerful UX problem statement
When you start thinking about crafting a powerful UX problem statement, consider the following three components that will help you in the process:
The User: Who are we designing for?
Clearly define the target audience or user group for whom the design solution is intended. Consider its:
- demographics,
- behaviours,
- motivations,
- and pain points.
Paint a vivid picture of the users’ personas and user’s perspective to ensure empathy and understanding throughout the design process.
The Need: What do users need or lack?
Identify the specific needs, desires, or challenges that users face within the given context – in simple words, do your user research. Clearly articulate user pain point or gaps in the current user experience that need to be addressed. Focus on uncovering both explicit and implicit needs to ensure a comprehensive understanding of user requirements and improve user experience.
The Insight: Why do these needs exist?
Dive deeper into the underlying reasons or root causes behind the identified user needs. Utilise research findings, user feedback, and observational insights to uncover the motivations driving user behaviour. Explore the broader context, including environmental factors, technological limitations, or social influences, that contribute to user needs.
By integrating these components into a cohesive narrative, a powerful UX problem statement emerges, serving as a compass that directs design efforts toward creating impactful and user-centric solutions.
When crafting your problem statement and finding out information about the above components, try the 5Ws technique – it can be a real game-changer! It’s simple yet powerful: just answer these key questions:
- Who is impacted by the problem?
- What exactly is the problem?
- Where does this problem manifest?
- When does the problem arise?
- Why does the problem occur, and why is it important?
If you’re unsure about how to respond to these questions, don’t worry. The discovery stage is designed to help you uncover crucial answers. Dive into research with these questions in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to a comprehensive problem statement.
How to write a UX problem statement?
Having answered all the above questions and having prepared all necessary information, start writing your UX problem statement. Remember to focus always on one problem at a time – even if it leads to other issues, remember to stay focused, as trying to solve too many problems at once is rarely effective. And don’t think too much about the potential solutions – just list all the information you have, and the solution will come later.
UX problem statements: examples
To put all the theory into practice, let’s look at an example of a UX problem statement.
- User: College students living in urban areas who frequently use public transportation to commute to campus.
- Need: Users need a mobile transit app that provides accurate real-time bus arrival information, intuitive navigation, and personalised route recommendations to streamline their daily commute and reduce travel-related stress.
- Insight: Existing transit apps lack reliable real-time tracking, have complex user interfaces, and fail to consider user preferences and context, leading to frustration, missed buses, and delays in reaching destinations.
Problem Statement: College students living in urban areas require a mobile transit app that delivers:
- accurate real-time bus arrival updates,
- intuitive navigation features,
- personalised route recommendations tailored to their schedules and preferences.
This will optimise their daily commutes, minimise wait times, and they will arrive at their destinations efficiently and stress-free.
Utilising UX problem statements to guide design process
Let’s now look at how you can effectively utilise problem statements throughout the design process:
- Research and discovery: Use the problem statement as a guiding framework during the research phase to understand user needs, pain points, and behaviours. Conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability tests to gather insights that directly relate to the identified problem.
- Ideation and conceptualisation: When brainstorming design solutions, refer back to the problem statement to ensure that ideas are aligned with addressing the identified user needs. Encourage team members to generate concepts that directly tackle the core challenges outlined in the problem statement.
- Prototyping and iteration: Develop MVPs, mockups, and prototypes and design iterations that focus on solving the specific problem outlined in the problem statement. Test prototypes with users to gather feedback and validate whether the proposed solutions effectively address the identified user needs.
- Evaluation and validation: Use the problem statement as a benchmark for evaluating the success of design solutions. Measure usability metrics, user satisfaction, and task completion rates to determine whether the implemented features have effectively addressed the identified problem.
- Iterative refinement: Continuously refine and iterate on design solutions based on user feedback and evaluation results. Update the problem statement as needed to reflect any changes in user needs or project requirements, ensuring that the design process remains responsive and adaptable.
By consistently referencing the problem statement throughout the design process, teams can stay focused on addressing user needs and delivering meaningful experiences that truly resonate with their audience.
Create meaningful problem statements for UX design with Future Processing
Keen to kick start with problem statements for UX design but not sure how to go about creating them or don’t feel you have the right people to do it? Stack with some project-related challenge?
At Future Processing we have a wealth of experience and will be happy to share it with you so that your UX problem statement becomes as effective and powerful as possible. We will help you with the discovery process as well, also when a project is already up and running and looking for improvements.
Contact us and we will be happy to help you create a well-crafted problem statement that will allow you reach your goals or help you make the next step with your project that is already at a more advanced stage.
