Use this checklist to prepare for design and prototyping. Completing this helps ensure everyone’s on the same page — so you can move fast, test smart, and design with clarity.
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Note: You don’t need to complete every section to get started. Section 1 covers the essentials. The rest adds helpful context. The more you provide, the faster the process — but collaboration can begin at any stage.
📦 1. Define Project Scope & Goals
Clarify what you’re building, why, and for whom.
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- What is the project about?
- What type of product, service, or experience are we designing?
- What are we hoping to achieve with the design?
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- What is the core problem or user need we are addressing?
- List your top 1–3 user/business problems driving this project.
- What solutions are we offering? How are they unique?
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- Who are the primary users or customer segments?
- What do they need or want?
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- How are we better or different from competitors?
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- What must the product be able to do?
- What features are essential for launch (MVP)?
- Are there features that are nice-to-have, but not critical?
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- What business outcomes are we aiming for?
- What are the key success metrics?
- How else will we define success for this project?
- How does this fit into the overall product strategy?
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- What platforms are we designing for? (e.g., web, mobile)
- How will customers discover or access the product?
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- What’s the project timeline?
- What are the expected deliverables?
- What’s the budget?
- Are there known constraints (technical, business, regulatory)?
🧠 2. Understand the Target Audience
Get inside your users’ heads — goals, needs, and behaviors.
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- Describe your key user types in depth. For each:
- What are their goals, needs, and pain points?
- What are they trying to do? What frustrates them?
- How will this product help them succeed?
- What factors influence behavior that are relevant to your product or service?
- Describe your key user types in depth. For each:
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- Have we talked to users directly?
- What did we learn?
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- What does the user’s current journey look like?
- What parts of their experience does the product support or transform?
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- Create personas based on research insights:
- Demographics: Age, location, profession, education
- Behavioral traits: Tech comfort, purchasing patterns, online habits
- Goals and tasks: What are they trying to do day-to-day?
- Pain points: What consistently gets in their way?
- Personality and context: Attitudes, work/life situation, values
- Include a quote or statement that captures their mindset
- Create personas based on research insights:
🔍 3. Research the Competitive Landscape
See what others are doing and where you can stand out.
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- Identify 3–5 direct or indirect competitors
- Summarize their strengths, weaknesses, and value propositions
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- Explore competitors as a user
- Note friction points and standout design decisions
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- What gaps or unmet needs can we address?
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- Create a side-by-side view of key features
- Highlight usability, interaction patterns, and differentiators
🎨 4. Provide Context & Examples
Share examples, style references, and existing assets.
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- List brands, apps, or websites you admire — and why
- Share mood boards or references (Figma, Pinterest, etc.)
- Note any visual styles or tones to emulate
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- Show UI layouts, flows, or interactions to reference or avoid
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- Personas, user flows, strategy decks
- Analytics or research summaries
- Brand guidelines or design systems (if any)
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- What’s already built or tested?
- Are there legacy screens or prototypes to reference?
🧩 5. Define Design Elements & Requirements
List key screens, features, and technical considerations.
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- What specific screens or flows need to be designed?
- Are there reusable components that should be included or extended?
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- Will real content be provided or should designers use placeholders?
- Any key messages, CTAs, or legal copy?
- Tone/voice guidance?
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- Platforms (e.g., web, iOS, Android)?
- Any framework, CMS, or system limitations?
- Accessibility or localization needs?
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- Should this follow an existing design system or help create one?
- Any naming conventions or tokens to use?
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- How should empty, error, and loading states behave?
- Any animations or interactive elements?
- Are there third-party integrations?
🤝 6. Communication & Feedback
Set expectations for collaboration, tools, and reviews.
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- Main point of contact
- Stakeholders and decision-makers
- Other collaborators (e.g., developers, marketing)
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- Communication tools (e.g., Slack, Notion, Figma)
- Where design files and documentation will live
- Frequency of updates
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- When and how will feedback happen?
- Who gives final approval?
- Turnaround time for responses?
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- How to handle scope changes or new requests
- Preferred feedback format (e.g., comments, Loom videos)
- How to resolve unclear or conflicting input
You’re ready to move into rapid design and prototyping once this checklist is complete.
🎉 Badge unlocked: Design Strategist — Foundation complete!
Resources
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