· By Ans Ali
Design Process
Before the First Frame
summary
The best place to start a design project usually isn't Figma.
I used to think the exciting part of a project started when I opened Figma.
These days, I spend more time understanding what I'm supposed to design before touching anything visual.
A founder might come with a reference website, a product idea, or a list of features. Those are useful starting points, but they don't always explain the actual problem.
Asking Better Questions
Who is this for? What should someone understand in the first few seconds? What feels unnecessarily complicated?
I find that a few thoughtful questions can save hours of designing in the wrong direction.
Sometimes the answer isn't another section or a better animation. It's a clearer explanation of what the product actually does.
Finding the Direction
I still collect references, experiment with layouts, and explore visual ideas. But I try not to get attached to something just because it looks good.
The design has to make sense for the product and the people using it.
The first frame matters. The thinking that comes before it matters more.
Starting something new?
If you're shaping a product or website and want to think through the problem before the pixels, I'd be glad to do that with you.
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