My Process

Steps to Execution*

  • Understand

  • Iterate

  • Validate

  • Deliver

  • Rinse and repeat

*Modify as needed — every project is unique and requires flexibility

Establish a Goal

Every project should start with a measurable end goal in mind to direct progress. If a clear goal is not agreed upon there will be wasted time, duplicated effort, and misalignment.

Understand

Knowing exactly where a product falls short or stands out in its market is essential to developing clear design priorities and strategy. Learning potential risks and limitations early on also helps prevent wasted effort down the line and establishes good alignment with product strategy and engineering.

My research process includes mapping out user journeys and pain points as well as developing a deep understanding of the market.

Flowchart of existing purchase paths
High level view of market research across multiple devices and brands
User journey breakdown and analysis

Iterate

My iterative process uses the convergent - divergent thought process. Starting at a low fidelity and exploring every avenue possible before gradually narrowing in on high fidelity deliverables helps drive value, creates opportunities for cross-collaboration, helps direct design strategy, and allows for better prioritization of time and effort.

No design should happen in a black box — I am always making sure my work is shared so that everyone is able to understand and participate in design decisions.

Iterations from low to high fidelity

Validate

User research should always be an ongoing part of the design process to ensure user needs and business goals are aligned and the team is working on the correct priorities. By validating work early and often the whole team reduces risk, shortens development timelines, and delivers more value.

Scattering of 10 plus iterations on the grief counseling landing page
Digital whiteboard of sticky notes and summaries for user interviews

Deliver

I always work closely with product and engineering teams to quickly and efficiently bring designs to life and drive value. The best feedback comes from live users and enables continual improvement for the product.

© Charlotte Cunningham 2025