2024⼁Mobile⼁UI/UX design⼁By Hengqing

Streamlining Savr’s Recipe Instructions for Stress-Free Cooking

Followed Google Venture Design Sprint Process

Duration

5 days

My Role

Designer

Collaborator

Williams Praise (Mentor)

Methods

Google venture (GV) design sprint process, “expert” interview, affinity map, competitor research, sketch, storyboard, prototype, usability testing.

Overview

Next

Setup

5 min

Timer

Start cooking!

+1 Min

Problem

Savr is a recipe app for home chefs. They had seen negative reviews that users struggled with instructions, timing, dirty-hand interactions, etc.

Solution

I redesigned Savr’s cooking instruction flow, streamlined it with hands-free controls, parallel timers, and prep-stage prompts.

Result

The testing showed significant improvements in user satisfaction:

  • 100% completion during tests.

  • Majority positive responses regarding clarity and ease of use.

My Learning (Read more)

  • Value of bold, rapid experimentation.

  • Be flexible with the design processes.

8

Day 1: Understand/Map

—Defining the Problem

Challenges got from the company

design constraints

“Expert Interviews” (User Voices)

Savr is a new startup that provides hundreds of recipes and cooking tips for home chefs. They have an active community of users who rate and review recipes.

But lately, they've been seeing negative reviews about recipes that involve many steps, or more advanced techniques.

Thus, Savr's goal is to help users accurately and easily follow cooking instructions to enhance their cooking experience. They brought me on board to run a design sprint and quickly test out a possible solution.

Through “expert” interviews—based on stories & experience of seasoned Savr users, some key moments of friction can be highlighted:

With all stories in hand, I quickly created an affinity map to distill recurring themes from the interviews. This step turned qualitative feedback into structured, actionable insights:

Currently, recipes are written as text, in ordered steps from start to finish.

Your solution should be designed as a feature for the Savr Recipes native mobile app.

Focus on creating a better experience for users when it’s actually time to cook it! (Users have expressed positive feedback about finding quality recipes)

A lot of times I make a few small mistakes, and feel like everything is downhill from there in terms of timing and flavor.

Maria

I like to be ready for the next few steps. Sometimes I’ll be standing around waiting, and it’s not until later that I realize I could’ve saved 20 min by starting on something else.

Dan

I think it would be easier if the steps can be lay out like, you can do this while the meat is cooking.

Silvia

I know the basic definitions - like, what minced garlic should look like. But a lot of times I see techniques that I am totally unclear on.

I googled image, search or youtube it, which kind of throws everything off - and, means needing to drop what I’m doing to use my phone.

Anthony

I like to be as prepared as I possibly can be before I start cooking things that I can’t undo.

Ron

Timing everything together can be stressful for more complex recipes or meals.

Alessandro

Affinity Mapping (Synthesizing Insights)

Before Cooking

  • Inaccurate Recipe Timings: Recipe listed timings were often off.

  • No Preparation Stage: Savr didn't clearly communicate tasks users could perform before cooking, causing avoidable delays.

During Cooking

  • Interaction Difficulties: Users struggled with interacting or referring back to their phones while cooking due to messy or wet hands.

  • Lack of Ability to Work Parallel: Many experience waiting times that could be used for preparing future steps to avoid rushing later.

  • Unclear Techniques: New or unclear techniques mentioned in the instructions created stress and frustration mid-cooking.

When Mistakes Occurred

  • No Midway Check-ins: Users often wondered if they were still on the right track during cooking.

  • Unclear Mistake Recovery: Users didn't know at which step they went wrong after a dish turned out unexpectedly, preventing learning and improvement.

By the end of Day 1, I had a clear user problem map of the cooking experience on Savr. With these insights, I was ready to explore solutions that could restore ease and joy to home cooking on Day 2.

Day 1 of the GV Design Sprint is all about understanding the problem space, empathize with the users, and mapping out the core challenge to tackle during the sprint.

Day 2: sketch

—From Inspiration to Concept

Having defined the core problems on Day 1, I entered Day 2 ready to ideate solutions. My goal was simple yet challenging: rapidly drawing inspiration from real products, sketching my own ideas, and crafting a refined concept about the Savr’s cooking flow.

With a foundation of notes and eight rough ideas on paper, I selected one and sketched a three-panel storyboard to make sense the flow, rather than just capturing a single snapshot.

After absorbing the lightning demo insights, I conducted a Crazy 8s sketch to brainstorm quickly. This fast sketching not only sparked creativity but forced me to think past obvious solutions and explore a wide range of approaches for the most critical screen: the instruction interface displayed when the user is cooking.

To kick off ideation, I set a time limit and reviewed some different recipe apps to understand their instruction flow or the cooking mode. I explored both English and Chinese markets—Kitchen Stories, Mealime, MeiShiJi (美食杰), Lanfan (懒饭), and XiaChuFang (下厨房).

Step 1: Finding Inspiration (Lightning Demos)

Step 2: Crazy 8s Sketch for the Most Critical Screen

Step 3: Create a Solution Sketch

To broaden my thinking, I also studied indirect competitors, such as fitness and exercise apps that guide users step-by-step through complex routines.

(Crazy 8s sketches – eight quick interface ideas in ~8 minutes, each exploring a different way for the instruction screen based on user pain points.)

(Solution storyboard – a three-panel sketch illustrating the user’s journey through the preparation, cooking, and completion stages.)

Before starting to cook

Main cooking instruction screen

Completion screen

By the close of Day 2, I had some clear concepts and directions to pursue, with each tackling the problems revealed through Day 1. The next step would be to decide and refine one of the concepts.

Day 2 of the GV Design Sprint is all about diverging on ideas and visualizing them.

(Option 1 – video guidance)

(Option 2 – integrated timer)

(Option 3 – voice control)

Day 3: Decide—Choosing the Path Forward

I began Day 3 by analyzing different solution sketches for the instruction screen based on the problems identified from Day 1. My goal was to decide on the most viable solution and create a storyboard to illustrate the user flow step-by-step and used as a sketch wireframe plan for the prototype.

Option 2: Set the timer as a background thread while continuing with the main flow

Option 1: Rely heavily on videos

Option 3: Introduce the voice control based on the option 2

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Easiness to Interact With

Ability to Work Parallel

New Techniques Support

Halfway Mistakes Prevention

After Mistakes Correction

Other restrictions

/

(If using GIF)

/

(If using GIF)

  • Does not meet the initial project constraints that recipes are written as text in ordered steps.

  • Extra costs on renting voice recognition & processing services and significant engineering effort needed for setup and customization.

  • Difficult to test the voice related features through prototypes.

The decision of the instruction screen was made after evaluating each option against user problems, project constraints, testing & implementation feasibility with the engineering costs.


Based on the analysis and the discussion with the mentor, I decided to proceed with Option 2: Set the timer as a background thread while continue with the main flow.


It offers a balance between solving key problems and being swift to test and iterate.

Making the Call: Why Option 2?

(Storyboard – visualizing the chosen solution step-by-step, demonstrating how the integrated timer supports users throughout their cooking journey.)

Storyboard

Followed the Option 2, I created a detailed storyboard for the entire instruction flow.

By the close of Day 3, I chose the Option 2 as the current best path. This decision set a clear direction for prototyping and testing—balancing problem-solving with practical execution. With the entire storyboard now mapped out, I was energized to translate this concept into a tangible, testable prototype on Day 4.

Facing a Turning Point (Three standout options)

Evaluating Options (Balancing Innovation & Feasibility)

Day 3 of the GV Design Sprint is all about evaluating solutions critically, choosing the most promising direction, and going forward with it.

This option would greatly clarify any unfamiliar techniques, a big pain point from users like Anthony who often paused to search YouTube.

This option directly addressed multiple user pain points identified in Day 1, such as Dan's frustration with waiting unnecessarily between steps.

This ambitious option introduced hands-free, voice-controlled navigation to eliminate messy hand interactions. I was very excited by this idea—innovative and user-friendly.

The sprint is great for testing risky solutions, so skip those easy wins in favor of big, bold bets.

——Jake Knapp, creator of the GV Design Sprint methodology

Day 4: prototype
—Bringing Solutions to Life

Design Rationale (Crafting a User-Centered Prototype)

I’ll walk through some of the key design choices and elements that shaped the cooking instruction flow. These decisions all focus on tackling the pain points identified earlier in the sprint, and enhancing the ease of use during the cooking process.

If you’d like to interact with the prototype, scroll down to the link at the end of this section.

Feature 1: Dual CTA (Call-to-Action) Buttons

Problem: Users like Lindsey and Anthony both described that it’s frustrating to touch the screen with dirty or wet hands. While constantly washing hands to interact with disrupts the cooking flow and becomes a major inconvenience.


Solution: Since voice control wasn't a feasible option, I focused on simplifying the interaction to its core. My solutions?

Setup

15 min

Timer

Next

Overview

Next

Show

Step 3

Setup

5 min

Timer

Done

Hands-free next

Advanced to the next instruction without touching your screen with icky fingers. Hold your hand over the top of your screen until it goes black, then remove (it doesn’t work in the prototype).

CONTINUE

9:41

Large touch area

Large control button area that can be touched from various parts of your hands or even arms, avoiding touching the screen with icky fingers.

CONTINUE

9:41

  1. Utilizing smartphone’s light sensor to move to the next step—by covering over the screen.

  1. Introduced two large CTA buttons placed at the bottom of every step and dialog screen. These buttons:

    1. Are large enough to be tapped with elbows, knuckles, or wrists. Without requiring clean fingers or precision.

    2. Eliminate the need to scroll throughout the instruction flow.

    3. Leverage strong color contrast for instant clarity: orange = main action, blue = flexible option.

    4. Offer only the “must” actions.

Feature 2: Parallel Workflow with Timers

Problem: Another major frustration was poor use of downtime in cooking. Users like Silvia and Dan both mentioned that they wanted to make better use of waiting periods—but the app didn’t provide the feature or structure to do so.


Solution: Inspired by the computer operating system concept of multi-threading, countdown timers were introduced.

3

/ 12

Stir the mixture when boiling, cover the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low.

Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, 15-18 min.

Once done, remove from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

Setup

15 min

Timer

Next

9:41

When a step includes a wait (e.g., boiling or simmering for 10 minutes), users can setup a timer, so:

  • They can continue doing other tasks.

  • This frees them from constantly watching the food or clock.

This approach lets users work parallel (Up to 3 background timers): just like multi-threading in code, setting a timer opening a background thread while the user continues the tasks in the main thread.

Once the timer ends, a dialog pops up, offering the next instruction tied to the just-completed step.

Impact:

  • Reduces downtime and increases time efficiency by allowing to do multiple works in parallel.

  • Reduces cognitive load—users don’t need to remember when the pot needs checking.

  • Minimizes stress about timing, helping users focus on current tasks.

  • Increases flexibility—users stay in control, not locked into linear waiting.

Display xlarge

Display large

Display medium

Display small

Outfit

Body large

Body medium

Body small

Body xsmall

Avenir

Button text large

Button text small

Oswald

Style Guide (Clarity Under Pressure)

I defined a simple style guide—high-contrast colors, legible fonts, and oversized touch targets. Designed to keep users focused on cooking while consistent with Savr’s brand.

For Typography

Headers/Display

Button Text

Body Text

Clean and modern look fits well with the app’s visual style.

Compact and bold form enhances clarity in small spaces.

Highly legible, as users need to quickly refer to step-by-step instructions while cooking

Outfit

Oswald

Avenir

Use Case

Type

Reasons

For Color Pallette

  • I maintained the app’s primary white and secondary orange (#FF8700),

  • A tertiary blue (#3393FF) was introduced, which is used only for one of the two CTA (Call-to-Action) buttons, leveraging contrast for clarity.

  • Instruction text is in black for readability.

Day 4 of the GV Design Sprint is where ideas become tangible. It’s the time to convert the winning storyboard into an interactive prototype, essential for conducting usability tests and validating the proposed solution.

There are some parts I don’t enjoy though... like, constantly needing to wash my hands so I can refer back to my phone.

——Lindsey, Savr user

12

/ 12

cup

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

5 min

2

:

26

+1 Min

Once done, remove the rice from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

Show

Step 3

Cancel

Timer

9:41

Impact: Why dual CTA buttons design works?

Product Usability Dimensions:

  • Utility: Features that solve real problems.

  • Learnability: How quickly users grasp the interface.

  • Memorability: Easy recall after breaks.

  • Efficiency: Minimal steps to complete tasks.

  • Error Prevention: Design that avoids mistakes.

  • Satisfaction: How enjoyable using the product.

  1. It alleviates user pain points (Utility), by eliminating precision taps and scrolling, reduced the interaction stress.

  1. It consolidates and streamlines all actions (Learnability, Memorability, and Efficiency), with current 8 different action combinations for varied scenarios, there is one consistent way to navigate.

  1. It provides great engineering benefits (Stakeholder support).

    1. Reducing cost: reusable component = faster builds.

    2. Preventing errors: fewer customized code & one component to debug.

    3. Boosting scalability and maintainability: future iterations can be easily added by modifying button functions or making new combinations without requiring new components or disrupting the base design.

I think it would be easier if the steps can be lay out like, you can do this while the meat is cooking.

——Silvia, Savr user

Sometimes I’ll be standing around waiting, and it’s not until later that I realize I could’ve saved 20 min by starting on something else.

——Dan, Savr user

Testable Prototype (Start Cooking!)

Within only one day, I put together this interactive prototype, which simulates the redesigned cooking instruction flow. It was used in the usability testing the next day to gather feedback and validate the design.

Click “START COOKING!” button below to play with the prototype.

Day 5: test

—Putting Prototype in Users’ Hands

On the fifth day, I conducted usability tests with four participants and walked them through a simulated cooking session using the prototype. With only four days of work behind us, this was the moment to learn: Did our prototype actually make cooking easier?

Besides the open-ended context questions, each participant began at the recipe overview page and was asked to “imagine you’re about to cook this recipe for the first time—just follow it to the end.” I wanted to observe how naturally users could move through the new flow.

Testing Setup

Outcome

What Could Be Improved

Day 5 of the GV Design Sprint is about validation. The goal wasn’t to test perfection—it was to observe reactions, uncover sticking points, and determine whether the solution held promise.

Despite the resource limits, the test results were rich. All 4 participants completed the task without needing intervention or major blockers. The core features and flow proved usable, intuitive, and empowering. Here are some of the key observations:

  • Recipe page gave confidence upfront: Users appreciated the prep summary, instruction overview and visual clarity before jumping into the steps.

  • Timers reduced stress: The ability to “set it and forget it” while preparing the others saved time and helped create a calmer cooking experience. 3/4 of participants adopted this concept easily and liked it.

This is something I’d actually use in real life.

——Damei, test participant

I really like the design that there are 2 timers which tracking different tasks.

——Qingge, test participant

  • Desire for video/GIF instructions: 2/4 of participants preferred more video or GIF-based guidance. (Currently, videos are only used on the recipe page to demonstrate any special cooking techniques.)

Spicy Tuna Sushi Stack with Sticky Rice & Avocado

4.6

Save

Share

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

35 min · 2 servings

2

1

avocado

1(6 oz) can

chunk light tuna in water

1/2

English cucumber

1 cup

jasmine rice

1/2

red bell pepper

1 tsp

chili-garlic sauce

2 tsp

mayonnaise

1/4 tsp

salt

1 tsp

rice vinegar

1 tsp

sesame seeds

1 tsp

soy sauce

1/2 tsp

toasted sesame oil

Cookware

chef’s knife

cutting board

mixing bowls

measuring cup

measuring spoons

small saucepan

stirring spoon

strainer or colander

baking sheet pan

Cooking Techniques Used

Homemade roasted red peppers

1:11 min

How to thicken a sauce

48 sec

Instructions

1

Using a strainer, rinse the rice under cold, running water, then drain and transfer to a small saucepan.

Add water and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

2

Wash and dry the fresh produce.

3

Stir the mixture when boiling, cover the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low.

Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, 15-18 min.

Once done, remove from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

4

Trim and discard the ends of the cucumber; halve the cucumber lengthwise, then cut in 1/2-inch cubes. Add to a bowl.

5

Cut the bell pepper into quarters lengthwise; remove the seeds and white membranes.

Small dice the pepper. Add to the bowl with the cucumber.

6

Season vegetables with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Add sesame seeds and stir to combine.

7

Halve and pit the avocado; cube the flesh into 1/2-cubes while still in the skin.

Scoop out the flesh and set aside.

8

Drain tuna, add to a new bowl, and flake with a fork.

Add water and boil over low heat for 3-5 min.

9

Wait until the rice are fully cooked.

Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork.

Add vinegar and salt and stir to combine.

10

Wait until the tuna are fully cooked.

Add chili-garlic sauce and mayo and stir to combine.

11

Using a 1 cup measure, fill up to the 1/3 mark with veggies and avocado, then to the 1/2 way mark with tuna, and finally the rest of the way with the rice.

12

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

Start cooking!

  • Interruption by timer completion dialogs: 3/4 of participants felt interrupted when the time-up dialog pops up. From observations, their first reaction tended to directly dismiss the dialogs to back on their current steps.

Texts should only be necessary or useful for the quantitative reference.

——Qingge, test participant

Videos or GIFs carry the message better. Texts should only support them.

——Qingge, test participant

I want to quickly dismiss the dialog. I need to refer back to the current task asap, I’m frying something.

——Effie, test participant

Why I cannot dismiss the dialog? Only way to dismiss is to click the bottom buttons? But I just want to back to the current page, cuz I’m halfway reading it.

——Cathrine, test participant

Oh I mistakenly closed the dialog, it seems it won’t remind me or show up again? I forget what it said.

——Qingge, test participant

1

Using a strainer, rinse the rice under cold, running water, then drain and transfer to a small saucepan.

Add water and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

2

Wash and dry the fresh produce.

3

Stir the mixture when boiling, cover the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low.

Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, 15-18 min.

Once done, remove from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

4

Trim and discard the ends of the cucumber; halve the cucumber lengthwise, then cut in 1/2-inch cubes. Add to a bowl.

5

Cut the bell pepper into quarters lengthwise; remove the seeds and white membranes.

Small dice the pepper. Add to the bowl with the cucumber.

6

Season vegetables with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Add sesame seeds and stir to combine.

7

Halve and pit the avocado; cube the flesh into 1/2-cubes while still in the skin.

Scoop out the flesh and set aside.

8

Drain tuna, add to a new bowl, and flake with a fork.

Add water and boil over low heat for 3-5 min.

9

Wait until the rice are fully cooked.

Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork.

Add vinegar and salt and stir to combine.

10

Wait until the tuna are fully cooked.

Add chili-garlic sauce and mayo and stir to combine.

11

Using a 1 cup measure, fill up to the 1/3 mark with veggies and avocado, then to the 1/2 way mark with tuna, and finally the rest of the way with the rice.

12

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

9:41

Leave

Cooking

Mode

Continue

cooking

1

Using a strainer, rinse the rice under cold, running water, then drain and transfer to a small saucepan.

Add water and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

2

Wash and dry the fresh produce.

3

Stir the mixture when boiling, cover the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low.

Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, 15-18 min.

Once done, remove from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

4

Trim and discard the ends of the cucumber; halve the cucumber lengthwise, then cut in 1/2-inch cubes. Add to a bowl.

5

Cut the bell pepper into quarters lengthwise; remove the seeds and white membranes.

Small dice the pepper. Add to the bowl with the cucumber.

6

Season vegetables with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Add sesame seeds and stir to combine.

7

Halve and pit the avocado; cube the flesh into 1/2-cubes while still in the skin.

Scoop out the flesh and set aside.

8

Drain tuna, add to a new bowl, and flake with a fork.

Add water and boil over low heat for 3-5 min.

9

Wait until the rice are fully cooked.

Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork.

Add vinegar and salt and stir to combine.

10

Wait until the tuna are fully cooked.

Add chili-garlic sauce and mayo and stir to combine.

11

Using a 1 cup measure, fill up to the 1/3 mark with veggies and avocado, then to the 1/2 way mark with tuna, and finally the rest of the way with the rice.

12

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

Leave

Cooking

Mode

Continue

cooking

  • Overview page provided flexibility: 2/4 of participants liked the navigation provided by overview page. One strongly preferred scrollable interaction, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability during cooking.

It’s easier and faster for me to scan through by scrolling up & down between steps.

——Damei, test participant

Sometimes I like to jump around depending on how the cooking’s going.

——Qingge, test participant

  • Confusion with timer action: Some participants were a bit confused about the "Show Step X" button when the time-up dialog pops up and expected the dialogs to remind them of the timer's purpose.

  • Feedback timing felt premature: 2/4 of participants noted that they wouldn’t want to give feedback immediately after cooking and preferred a simpler or later feedback mechanism.

12

/ 12

cup

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

Add to your favorites

Give feedback

Done

9:41

  • Unclear step interactivity: One participant initially thought the steps on the overview page weren’t clickable, which caused a moment of hesitation.

1

Using a strainer, rinse the rice under cold, running water, then drain and transfer to a small saucepan.

Add water and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.

2

Wash and dry the fresh produce.

3

Stir the mixture when boiling, cover the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low.

Cook the rice until the liquid is absorbed, 15-18 min.

Once done, remove from the heat and let it stands, still covered, for 5 min.

4

Trim and discard the ends of the cucumber; halve the cucumber lengthwise, then cut in 1/2-inch cubes. Add to a bowl.

5

Cut the bell pepper into quarters lengthwise; remove the seeds and white membranes.

Small dice the pepper. Add to the bowl with the cucumber.

6

Season vegetables with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Add sesame seeds and stir to combine.

7

Halve and pit the avocado; cube the flesh into 1/2-cubes while still in the skin.

Scoop out the flesh and set aside.

8

Drain tuna, add to a new bowl, and flake with a fork.

Add water and boil over low heat for 3-5 min.

9

Wait until the rice are fully cooked.

Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork.

Add vinegar and salt and stir to combine.

10

Wait until the tuna are fully cooked.

Add chili-garlic sauce and mayo and stir to combine.

11

Using a 1 cup measure, fill up to the 1/3 mark with veggies and avocado, then to the 1/2 way mark with tuna, and finally the rest of the way with the rice.

12

Once the stack is complete, flip the measuring cup onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the cup to loosen the stack.

Serve immediately, 2-stacks per person. Enjoy!

9:41

Leave

Cooking

Mode

Continue

cooking

In just five days, I turned real user frustrations into a tested, interactive prototype that addressed key cooking challenges like multitasking, timing, ease of use. This sprint gave Savr a clear, validated direction for enhancing their app.

If I had more time —

next steps

Deeper Exploration of User Preferences

  • Begin by defining key success metrics, such as:

    • Time spent per step

    • Total recipe completion time

    • Error rate during cooking

    • Total number of interactions

  • Recommend Savr provide GIF-based step instructions and explore how it impacts the cooking experience.

  • Investigate one pain point that we didn’t cover in this sprint—How might we help users recover from mistakes mid-recipe?

  • Conduct field study, observing users cooking real meals with the app to validate the design in context and guide future roadmapping.

Insight —

Learnings

Adopting a New Design Process

A 5-day sprint showed me again the value of bold, rapid experimentation—it forced quick decision-making and prioritization.


Coming from the tech industry, where fast-paced execution is often the norm, I know this intense timeline actually mirrors the real-world demands of product development. Speed doesn’t necessarily compromise quality—rather, it pushes creativity and sharpens decision-making.

Flexibility During the Design

While frameworks like the design sprint, double-diamond, or Stanford design thinking process offer structured, linear approaches, they are abstractions of the process.


Real-world projects rarely follow such a neat, linear path. More often, it’s about selecting the right tools for the job, quickly testing ideas, and iterating as necessary. Stay flexible in the process is key. It’s crucial to master a broad toolkit of methodologies and remain agile in applying them. Depending on the context and goals, bending the ‘rules’ to get the best outcome, and that’s okay.

Thanks for reading!

2024⼁Mobile⼁UI/UX design⼁By Hengqing

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