Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Business Value and ROI ›› 6 Key Questions to Guide International UX Research ›› The Eight Most Common Mistakes Made on UX Design Projects

The Eight Most Common Mistakes Made on UX Design Projects

by Joseph Dickerson
3 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

Arrogance and seven other common mistakes can easily derail a design project. Avoid them all.

I’ve worked in the UX discipline for over a decade now, and have been on a number of projects both large and small. One of the skills I’ve picked up in that time is pattern recognition, which helps me create personas and to identify trends to design for. It also helps me notice when certain things keep happening, namely mistakes that occur over and over again on almost every design engagement. These mistakes can derail a project and, at the very least, make work more difficult than it needs to be.

Here are the eight most common mistakes designers make (in no particular order):

1. Under-Communicating

Whenever a design team “goes dark” for too long the client starts to get antsy. Keeping key stakeholders in the dark will result in anxiety and frustration. So make sure you provide “check-ins” on a regular basis to let them know how things are going and preview designs whenever possible.

2. Over-Communicating

Having daily stand-ups with the client may make sense for some projects, but not design. This often leads clients to think they can micro-manage design work at the pixel level, which is not constructive and leads to a frustrated team and stakeholders who end up focusing on the wrong things (details instead of “big picture” stuff).

How much communication is needed? Feel the client out, and do something that is obvious in hindsight: ask. That will allow you to align your schedule and approach to their expectations.

3. Over-Documenting

UX designers need to document how a design works, so the developers can understand what should be done to make the designs a reality. But design documentation are a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. The design team should document at the appropriate level to support development and testing, not write a novel.

Document at the appropriate level to support development and testing, don’t write a novel

How much is enough? Again, communication is key: talk to the users of this documentation to understand their expectations. And, of course, find out what the client’s expectations are to make sure you hit that mark.

4. Under-Documenting

You can’t just sketch out the design on a back of a napkin and hand it to a developer or a stakeholder. You have to detail screen states, control behaviors, and map out the experience. Insufficient detail results in gaps in the experience and development and deployment issues.

5. Following the Same Process for Every Client

You’ll notice that a lot of the mistakes I have cited so far involved design teams being inflexible—there’s a reason for that. No matter what IDEO or Frog will tell you, there is no single “perfect” design process. You have to look at the context of the project, the timelines, and the expectations and adjust as needed. Optimally you want to have some key activities that take place on every project, but you have to “time-box” some of the design sprints and work. It’s all about being agile and flexible about your approach.

6. Not Doing Enough (or any) Research

One of the key activities referred to above is user research: you need to talk to end users (or potential end users) to understand their needs and inform the design. If you don’t have enough time, you need to make time—it’s that important. It gives you the context and understanding you need to do good work, because you have someone you are designing for.

7. Not Using Analytics and Legacy Data

“I don’t need marketing research or analytics, I’m going to talk to users!” User research is important, but you also need to leverage any details the client has to inform your understanding about the business “space” the design is intended for. Data can help you gain understanding and potentially trigger insights and ideas. But people who think they don’t need that type of information are often exhibiting what is possibly the worse mistake a designer can make:

8: Being Arrogant

I’ve worked with several “know it all” design types with egos the size of a small planetoid. Arrogance blinds you to empathy and understanding, and this usually results in angry stakeholders and frustrated team members. UX design is vitally important but we’re not curing cancer. Arrogant designers need to have some perspective.

 

Image of arrogant bro courtesy Shutterstock.

post authorJoseph Dickerson

Joseph Dickerson
Joseph Dickerson is a writer, technologist, and user experience lead who specializes in "next-gen" experiences and products. A designer of multiple mobile and Internet applications, he has worked to make technology easier and better fo users for over a decade. The author of several books, including a primer on user experience design, Experience Matters, Dickerson is a regular contributor to many websites as well as editor of This Week in UX, This Week in Geek and The Twin Peaks Gazette. He recently completed his second book on UX, UX 101.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Related Articles

Consistency in UI/UX builds trust and efficiency — without it, users feel lost. Learn how top brands maintain it and how AI can help.

Article by Rodolpho Henrique
Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
  • The article examines the role of consistency in UI/UX design for user trust and efficiency.
  • It showcases visual, functional, and interaction consistency in creating seamless experiences.
  • The piece warns about the negative effects of inconsistency, including confusion and frustration.
  • It promotes the use of AI and design systems to ensure consistency across digital platforms.
Share:Consistency in UI/UX Design: The Key to User Satisfaction
4 min read

If Mobile-First thinking has revolutionized the UX Design industry, AI-First is promising to be an even more spectacular kick in the pants.

Article by Greg Nudelman
The Rise of AI-First Products
  • The article explores how AI-powered operating systems are changing user interactions.
  • It covers AI-driven personalization, automation, and adaptive interfaces.
  • The piece discusses challenges like privacy, over-reliance on AI, and user control.
  • It highlights opportunities to design more intuitive and human-centered AI experiences.
Share:The Rise of AI-First Products
11 min read

AI is reshaping UX, and Figma may be sinking. As AI-driven systems minimize UI, traditional design roles must evolve — or risk becoming obsolete. Are you ready to adapt?

Article by Greg Nudelman
AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
  • The article explores the fundamental shift in UX as AI-first systems minimize the role of UI, rendering traditional design tools like Figma increasingly obsolete.
  • It introduces the “Iceberg UX Model,” illustrating how modern AI-driven interfaces prioritize functionality and automation over visual design.
  • The piece argues that UX professionals must shift their focus from UI aesthetics to AI-driven user experience, emphasizing use case validation, AI model integration, and data-informed decision-making.
  • It warns that designers who remain fixated on pixel-perfect layouts risk becoming obsolete, urging them to adapt by engaging in AI-driven UX strategies.
Share:AI Is Flipping UX Upside Down: How to Keep Your UX Job, and Why Figma is a Titanic (It’s not for the Reasons You Think)
7 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

    This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and