Services
My services match empirical methods with the possibilities of modern design tools, and emphasize iterative processes to create user-centric, yet business-oriented products.
Product stategy
Analyzing customers, markets and technologies to define unique, desired features and embed them into feasible, viable business models.
- Value Proposition Canvas
- Business Model Canvas
- Disruptive innovation
- Job-to-be-done
- Design Thinking
- Vision & mission statements
- Team workshops
- Design planning
- Ideation
- MVP Definition
UX & UI design
Creating efficient, usable, and appealing interactions between the product and its users, optimized to their needs and behaviors.
- Personas
- Costumer journey maps
- Use cases
- User flows
- Information architecture
- Prototyping
- Wireframes
- Visual mockups
- Design systems
- Lean UX
- Agile development
- Design Studio
UX research
Generating and evaluating qualitative as well as quantitative customer and user feedback to ensure solid decisions on strategy and design.
- Customer interviews
- Usability testings
- Surveys
- Concept testings
- Ad testing
- Expert reviews
- Fake door testing
- Focus groups
- Usability heuristics
- Card sorting
- Desk research
- Stakeholder interviews
Tools
Pen and paper
Figma
Adobe XD
Sketch
InVision
Miro
HTML5
CSS3
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
SurveyMonkey
Process
Depending on the specific design discipline, different process models can be applied. In terms of methodical mechanics, I have come to learn that their least common denominator is the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop, popularized in Eric Ries’ book The Lean Startup.
The lean method aims to enable startups and small projects to efficiently use their resources and to effectively build successful products. Essentially, the loop revolves around conducting experiments to decrease uncertainty in product discovery and avoid wasting investments. Casually said, it is about getting out in front of real customers as early as possible, showing them a tangible representation of the idea, and gathering their feedback to continue or adapt the approach.
But the model describes a loop. Where should a project start? As the internet provides us with an abundance of information, it makes sense to start most projects by learning about the initial business environment and available resources about customers and technology.
The following will explain the approach I prefer as a Learn-Build-Measure feedback loop, for reasons of clarity worded as an Evaluate-Prepare-Conduct loop.
Evaluate
Whether it is based on initial desk research with existing material or drawn from the measured data from one's own experiment, the Evaluate (Learn) phase generates insights into the customer’s understandings, needs and behaviors (desirability), technological opportunities (feasibility), and financing mechanisms (viability) of a product or business model. It is at this point that teams decide on holding, adapting, or even pivoting the direction of their product development and next experiments.
Prepare
Preparing an experiment (Build) always starts with transforming an assumption, most likely the riskiest one, into a precise hypothesis, summarizing the assumed outcome, the type of experiment, and the suitable metric with a threshold to verify or falsify.
The central part of the experiment is the object to be tested and may differ greatly from type to type. In UX & UI Design, the most common test object is a paper, digital or even coded prototype.
Conduct
In the Conduct (Measure) phase, it is time to gather feedback as qualitative or quantitative data. And although the term “Measure” implies a technical approach, many research methods require human moderation.
Some parts in a business model need to be validated with experts. But only real customer feedback enables us to assess desirability, usability, and overall user experience. Finally, the loop starts anew, incrementally decreasing risk and increasing the fidelity of the next experiment.
“Oliver demonstrated an extremely comprehensive and outstanding level of expertise, which he always used very confidently and successfully to accomplish tasks. He familiarized himself with the project within a very short time and pursued the objectives sustainably and with greatest success. He carried out all tasks independently, extremely carefully, and well-planned.”
Marcin Titikowski
Head of Product at YARA Digital Farming
Tell me your challenge
Elevate your product with expert services in Strategy, Design, and Research. Reach out today to discuss your project goals.