Hey,  

Back when I was a fresh-faced UI/UX designer, I was totally clueless about the UX design process. When faced with a new feature, I'd breeze through the requirements, whipping up designs based on the specs and a heap of personal assumptions. As for redesigns, I'd dive into a product's flaws, building mockups based on, you guessed it, more personal assumptions.

I'd lose myself in the design weeds for hours on end, completely neglecting the other phases of the process. Whenever it came time to "sharing the designs for feedback," I'd brace myself for what felt more like a personal critique session rather than helpful feedback to better the user experience. Don't get me wrong, I've always been great at receiving feedback, but back then, the whole purpose of design reviews went way over my head.

Each time I tackled design feedback, I took it as a personal failure, rather than a golden opportunity to level up the design game for our users. It took a hot minute to realize that addressing feedback wasn't a personal knock on my skills, but a boost toward crafting designs that truly improved the user experience.

I was also guilty of seeking to achieve design perfection at a rapid pace, and was all about that instant validation, aiming to prove to myself and the world that I was a good designer. But then, I had some wise mentors drop some truth bombs on me. They said, "Never marry your designs. Instead, see them as evolving user experiences, progressing step by step. Adjusting your designs isn't a setback; it's a stride toward excellent UX." And let me tell you, I've been living by that mantra ever since.

My Current Approach to "UI Design Iterations"
 

Three years into the field, I reached a point where I grasped the concept of design iterations. What exactly are UI design iterations?

UI design iterations involve the cyclical process of refining and improving user interface designs through multiple rounds of feedback, adjustment, and testing.

1. Setting Clear Goals for Product Design
Before diving into the design process, I prioritize understanding the project requirements thoroughly. This involves engaging with stakeholders, particularly from the product team, to gain insights into project objectives, target audience, value proposition, and key features. Additionally, I assess the existing design landscape to determine whether we can leverage previous features or if the project demands a fresh design approach. Aligning stakeholder expectations with user needs is paramount for project success, considering factors like business goals, budget constraints, and technical requirements.

2. Performing User Research
I place significant emphasis on conducting robust user research, employing methods such as competitive analysis, surveys, interviews, and data analysis. This comprehensive approach enables me to delve into user behavior, preferences, and pain points, ensuring that design and project goals are centered around user needs. Competitive analysis proves particularly valuable, especially when crafting new features, as it offers insights into industry benchmarks and user expectations.

3. Designing the Basic MVP
Upon gathering sufficient research data, I lay the groundwork by mapping out user flows and establishing information architecture to gain a deeper understanding of the product and streamline design efforts. Once initial designs are crafted, I initiate internal design reviews, soliciting feedback from diverse teams including design, product, and sometimes engineering. This phase also involves validating designs against product requirements to ensure alignment.

4. Validating Product Requirements
Following feedback from internal teams and potential changes in product requirements, I refine designs to produce a second iteration. These revised designs are then subjected to usability testing with actual users, a process that may require multiple iterations to fine-tune.

5. Validating User Requirements
Building on insights gleaned from usability testing, I iterate further to develop another set of designs aimed at validating user requirements. This iteration typically involves incorporating feedback and making adjustments to ensure the final design meets user needs effectively.