Master Design HSLU’s Post

I am not a developer, but after listening to this insightful video breaking down Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, statement that the end of the SaaS is at hand, I wondered how this would affect the UI/UX industry. It's a bold statement being made and yes, there is nuance not captured in the thumbnail. Considering however the push to integrate AI into every aspect of the web, it is obvious that the need for developers, along with UI/UX designers, will be reduced. This is an exciting opportunity, but I understand that this also means new skill sets are required in order to keep up with this threat to SaaS. For example, how does a UI designer's skill set and experience translate to a Gen AI model? For a CX designer, will we still need to understand target audiences, or map journeys? If a user can now create their own experience, how does a UX designer's craft remain relevant? Do you think Nadella is just rocking the boat, or is there stormy weather ahead for the status quo?

After almost 15 years, I bought a Windows laptop again. Sadly, not much has changed. For the last hour and a half, I've been battling it to stop installing things I don't want. Five reboots later, the argument continues. There's a fundamental principle in product design: the time between buying something and starting to use it should be as short as possible. Every pointless question you ask turns a user's excitement into sheer frustration. You'd think Microsoft, with all its resources and smarts, would get it by now. Apparently not! Maybe bros should put AI on hold and tackle some UX basics first. --------------------- Hi, I am Maheep. Follow me for a candid, fun, and cynical perspective on tech and business.

Why most MVPs fail the “first-use test.” Reasons: -> Overloaded features -> Poor user experience -> Solving problems no one cares about Here’s a step-by-step guide how to avoid it: 1. Validate the problem – BEFORE you build: -> Talk to at least 10 users to uncover specific pain points. -> Use surveys to confirm demand. -> Test prototypes (even sketches) to gather early feedback. Why? You’ll avoid wasting months building something no one needs. 2. Your MVP should solve ONE problem really well. Ditch the rest. -> Write down every feature idea, > then ask: Which one solves the main problem? -> Build only what delivers immediate value to users. Everything else can wait. -> Test with a beta group and refine based on real feedback. For example: Dropbox launched with only file storage and sharing—and went viral. 3. Make user experience is good: -> Prioritize intuitive design – users shouldn’t need a manual -> Simplify onboarding. Help users achieve their first success -> Test usability by watching real users interact with your MVP 4. Launch quickly – perfect later: -> Don’t aim for unicorn. Launch a small, functional product. -> Collect feedback and iterate rapidly. Treat your MVP as a process, not a one-time event. 5. Set success metrics and track them religiously: -> Define KPIs like activation rate, retention, and time-to-value. -> Use tools like Mixpanel or Amplitude to track user behavior. Your MVP’s first use is more than a test. What’s ONE step from this list you could implement today?

Creating the "Aha!" moment for a product starts with first principles thinking: breaking down a problem into its fundamental truths and building up from there. 1. Understand What Users Really Need: Forget assumptions and get to the core of what your users truly want. 2. Find the Key Interaction: Focus on the simplest, most important action that will wow the user. 3. Make it Easy: Remove any hurdles or complications that get in the way of the key value. 4. Test and Improve: Keep testing with real users, gather feedback, and make improvements until that "Aha!" moment shines through. For example, Dropbox created its "Aha!" moment by understanding that people needed an easy way to store and access their files from anywhere. They identified seamless file synchronization as the key interaction, making the process as simple as saving a file in a folder on your computer with automatic syncing in the background. Dropbox continuously tested the service, gathered user feedback, and refined the experience to ensure smooth and reliable syncing. This approach resulted in a product that users love and rely on daily. Just by focusing on these foundational steps, you can create a product experience that delights users and drives engagement. #Productmanagement #Ahamoment #Firstprinciples #Userexperience 

Elevate your REST API game with industry best practices! Dive into Microsoft Docs for expert insights on building robust, scalable APIs. From design principles to performance optimization, these best practices are essential for delivering top-notch user experiences. Don't miss out – click the link below to access Microsoft's comprehensive guide and ensure your APIs are primed for success! #RESTAPI #BestPractices #DeveloperTips https://lnkd.in/dVd7WS-k

The concept of Minimum Viable Product goes for a toss when you are building the same legacy product with different tech stack, or, moving from on-prem to SaaS solution etc. It gets difficult to find early adopters to a below-par, less featured, new UX software. Paid customers rarely have enough time and patience to give 'feedback'. For example most of the people kept switching back to legacy Microsoft Teams when then new one crashed, did not have a feature, or was too slow. Only when it had enough features and robustness to match the legacy that most of us switched. Just that Microsoft made it easier for users to switch back and forth with just a toggle....

Preparing for System Design Interviews at Top Tech Companies.Here are some of the most common system design challenges asked at these companies: 🛣️ Design Uber’s Ride-Sharing System: How do you match riders and drivers, handle real-time location tracking, and optimize routes? 📍 Real-Time Location Tracking: How would you build a system to accurately track vehicles in real time? 💳 Distributed Payment System: Design a system to handle secure transactions between riders and drivers at scale. 📝 Collaborative Document Editing (like Google Docs): Multiple users editing a document in real time – think version control, conflict resolution, and sync. 🌍 Content Delivery Network (CDN): Optimize how assets are distributed globally, ensuring low latency and efficient caching. 🎥 Digital Asset Management: Design a system to store and manage a large volume of media files effectively. 💬 Real-Time Communication System (like Teams/Slack): Handle real-time messaging, notifications, file sharing, and user presence across channels. 🔗 URL Shortener Service: How do you generate unique URLs, manage high traffic, and avoid collisions? ☁️ Cloud File Storage (like OneDrive): Build a scalable file storage system with features like sharing, syncing, and version control. #SystemDesign #TechInterviews #SoftwareEngineering #Uber #Adobe #Microsoft #LinkedInTech #CareerGrowth #InterviewPreparation

Working with the Google Design Sprint (2/5) In the second post, we'll cover day 2 of this task to design a product, feature, or pivot for your business. Check my post from yesterday to start from the beginning. 𝐃𝐚𝐲 2: 𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 On this second day, the goal is to generate and define ideas for solutions to the problem identified on day 1. 1. 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐬 (60 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬) Each member of the team should individually research other existing solutions to this problem. Once each person is ready, take 3-5 minutes each and discuss the company and their solution. 2. 𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (2 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬) The team should split up and perform the following tasks: - (20 minutes) review notes about the problem from day 1. - (20 minutes) come up with rough, quick solutions to the problem. - (10 minutes) come up with 8 variations on the possible solution. - (70 minutes) pick a favorite solution and dive deeper into it, exploring user interaction. 3. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 Spend some time scheduling calls for Day 5; picking people who you can demo your final prototype to. And that's day 2 under wraps! Don't forget to take breaks. I'll cover days 3, 4, and 5 during the rest of this week. While you're waiting, check out NanoAPI | Techstars '24 #design #sprint

In everything, even bad experiences, we can always take away valuable lessons and learn things! Today, we can all learn something from Microsoft's dismal Feedback Portal as to what NOT to do to engage with your users & get feedback. This is the prime example of what not to do. This is the type of thing that should be taught in business school as 'what not to do' if you actually value your clients/users. So, learn from Microsoft's mistakes on user engagement! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/giYa2W5j

Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit will be 10 years old next year. "Exclusion happens when we solve problems using our own biases. We seek out exclusions, and use them as opportunities to create new and better experiences." Check the Cognition Guidebook