Learn more about our current job openings and benefits of working at FSL.
Detailed reviews and feedback from past and current clients.
Get to know the Management Team behind FullStack Labs.
Our step-by-step process for designing and developing new applications.
Writings from our team on technology, design, and business.
Get answers to the questions most frequently asked by new clients.
Learn about our company culture and defining principles.
A high level overview of FullStack Labs, who we are, and what we do.
A JavaScript framework that allows rapid development of native Android and IOS apps.
A JavaScript framework maintained by Facebook that's ideal for building complex, modern user interfaces within single page web apps.
A server side programming language known for its ease of use and speed of development.
A lightweight and efficient backend javascript framework for web apps.
An interpreted high-level programming language great for general purpose programming.
A JavaScript framework maintained by Google that addresses many of the challenges encountered when building single-page apps.
A JavaScript framework that allows developers to build large, complex, scalable single-page web applications.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
View a sampling of our work implemented using a variety of our favorite technologies.
View examples of the process we use to build custom software solutions for our clients.
View projects implemented using this javascript framework ideal for building complex, modern user interfaces within single page web apps.
View projects implemented using this framework that allows rapid development of native Android and IOS apps.
View projects implemented using this backend javascript framework for web apps.
View projects implemented using this high-level programming language great for general purpose programming.
View projects implemented using this server side programming language known for its ease of use and speed of development.
We have vast experience crafting healthcare software development solutions, including UI/UX Design, Application Development, Legacy Healthcare Systems, and Team Augmentation. Our development services help the healthcare industry by enhancing accessibility, productivity, portability, and scalability.
We offer a range of custom software development solutions for education companies of all sizes. We're experts in Education Software Development and specialists in enhancing the learning experience across web, mobile, and conversational UI.
We're experts in developing Custom Software Solutions for the Logistics Industry. Our work offered a whole new and more efficient way for Logistics companies to manage their crucial operations.
We partner with various construction industry organizations to build custom software development solutions. Our Construction Software Development Services allow construction companies to manage projects, resources, and documentation.
We have vast experience crafting healthcare software development solutions, including UI/UX Design, Application Development, Legacy Healthcare Systems, and Team Augmentation. Our development services help the healthcare industry by enhancing accessibility, productivity, portability, and scalability.
We offer a range of custom software development solutions for education companies of all sizes. We're experts in Education Software Development and specialists in enhancing the learning experience across web, mobile, and conversational UI.
We're experts in developing Custom Software Solutions for the Logistics Industry. Our work offered a whole new and more efficient way for Logistics companies to manage their crucial operations.
We partner with various construction industry organizations to build custom software development solutions. Our Construction Software Development Services allow construction companies to manage projects, resources, and documentation.
Learn more about our current job openings and benefits of working at FSL.
Detailed reviews and feedback from past and current clients.
Get to know the Management Team behind FullStack Labs.
Our step-by-step process for designing and developing new applications.
Writings from our team on technology, design, and business.
Get answers to the questions most frequently asked by new clients.
Learn about our company culture and defining principles.
A high level overview of FullStack Labs, who we are, and what we do.
A JavaScript framework that allows rapid development of native Android and IOS apps.
A JavaScript framework maintained by Facebook that's ideal for building complex, modern user interfaces within single page web apps.
A server side programming language known for its ease of use and speed of development.
A lightweight and efficient backend javascript framework for web apps.
An interpreted high-level programming language great for general purpose programming.
A JavaScript framework maintained by Google that addresses many of the challenges encountered when building single-page apps.
A JavaScript framework that allows developers to build large, complex, scalable single-page web applications.
A progressive JavaScript framework known for its approachability, versatility, and performance.
A dynamic programming language used in all sorts of web and mobile applications.
A cross-platform programming language designed to run robust applications on any device.
A UI toolkit used to build natively compiled applications from a single codebase.
A functional programming language that’s ideal for scalability, maintainability, and reliability.
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that seamlessly integrates with your business operations.
A high-performance programming language that makes it easy to build simple, reliable, and efficient software.
View a sampling of our work implemented using a variety of our favorite technologies.
View examples of the process we use to build custom software solutions for our clients.
View projects implemented using this javascript framework ideal for building complex, modern user interfaces within single page web apps.
View projects implemented using this framework that allows rapid development of native Android and IOS apps.
View projects implemented using this backend javascript framework for web apps.
View projects implemented using this high-level programming language great for general purpose programming.
View projects implemented using this server side programming language known for its ease of use and speed of development.
Designing digital products is always an exciting but challenging task. When you begin the journey, there is always a set of steps as parts of the initial phase of the design process. Those steps are there to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, every time you finish and start a new adventure, there is always a piece of information that you can not find in the manual. Let's dive into some of those lections I have gathered during my time working as a Product Designer at Fullstack Labs.
When a project starts, sometimes you fool yourself by thinking the path will be the same every time. However, it changes and reveals different obstacles because of the unique requirements every project has.
Here, I share a list of activities and conclusions that I hope come in handy for you to get over all those challenges. The purpose is to understand what the list of the functional requirements should include as a description of all the views and features that will be integrated into our digital solution. Let's get started!
The first step in a digital design of a product is to understand what your client wants. To do that, the first thing to do is to have a kickoff meeting. Its purpose is to have a basic overview of the project. Also, it is crucial to demonstrate to the stakeholders that you are capable and truthful in the design phase. Don't struggle by trying to understand all the details of the project during this step. That is what the whole discovery phase is about!
A few pieces of advice for the kickoff meeting:
Conduct the session as a pleasant conversation with the stakeholders. There, you could ask them a few questions such as:
Of course, the information you find there should not be written in stone. It will just be the initial guide that will take shape over the next steps.
This step is about having a set of interviews with each of the stakeholders of the project. Its purpose is to have a detailed understanding of the idea of the project that each of them has. And, very importantly, how aligned they are.
To do those, the first thing you should do is to make a plan. Meet with your team if you have one. Define the main goals each of the team members want to find out from the stakeholders. If you are working alone, sit down and think about the main objectives of the interview and what information you want to collect during the sessions.
Once you establish the goals, start writing the questions. Those should begin with a set of general ones to be asked to everyone interviewed. Their purpose is to have an overall context of the project. By asking the stakeholders the same set of questions, you have the chance to compare between them and understand the similarities and differences they have within the project definition. Alignment!
Additionally, you have to prepare a set of specific questions. Those should vary depending on the type of stakeholder. Stakeholders’ types could be:
Therefore, the specific questions should focus on gathering the information that only each kind of stakeholder should know.
Once you conduct all the interviews, document and analyze all the information and share it with the team. This information should also include the initial list of features and sections that should be part of your digital product.
Begin writing down a list of them as an initial draft. By following the next steps, that draft should evolve into a more complete and accurate version. For now, you could say that it represents the voice of the business.
Having a look at what is going on out there is a crucial step. Do not feel comfortable only by having the version of the product the client has in mind. If that was all, they wouldn’t need your services.
Make sure that during the user interviews, you ask about the main competitors of the product. Write down a list of two or three of them. Include other unrelated products as a sort of inspiration. It will help you think out of the box.
Once you have them, take a close look at each product. Focus on:
Do not forget to document this information. I suggest not to waste your time creating fancy presentations. Collect the data as fast and easily as you can. The presentation is going to be forgotten over time.
The result of this should be a list of features to complement your first draft. With that, you can feel out new features and ideas that the stakeholders did not have in the account at first. Make sure they understand that and value them.
Now you have included the voice of the market in your solution.
This step of the discovery process is the most important one. Here, you take the time to talk with representatives of the target group of your product. You should have that information from the stakeholder interviews. Also, you should document them as User Personas. But explaining that is not the purpose of this article, you can learn more in our detailed Design Playbook.
The importance of interviews is to validate the ideas you came with during the understanding of the voice of the business and the voice of the market. You should prepare the sessions similarly as you did with the preview interviews we discussed above. When preparing your question, make sure you validate the ideas of features and sections you already have listed.
Find out the pain points the user experiences that should be relieved with the product you are designing. It is important to understand the real problem you want to solve and if there is a need to create a product for it.
By talking with real people that represent users of a product, you will have the chance to adjust the vision of the product you are designing. Also, you can then verify if the list of features and sections you have should be modified, and what else is missing.
With this step, you have a complete list that evolved from the initial draft. Now, it is a completed list that includes:
I know this is not the end of the process, but it is the end of this article.
Writing the Functional Requirements is one of the most important milestones of the design process. That is because it is an indicator of the end of the Discovery and UX phase and the beginning of the UI phase.
Here’s a quick summary of what you need to write the functional requirements:
By doing that, you should better understand the steps the user should follow when interacting with your product. Also, it helps you a lot with landing and shaping all the list of ideas you have.
Now you should start listing all the views that your digital product is going to have. Describe in detail what the user should find and do in each view of the product.
Finally, share the list with your client to verify if it represents the product that they want. You could also ask them to prioritize each view. That way you will know better where to begin the UI Design Phase.
The design process could be an entire journey, where you initially follow a path and collect information and learnings as you go further. However, it is essential not to listen only to your voice but to others as well. The business, the market, and the user voices will whisper to you how to write more empathetic functional requirements that balance everyone's point of view. Also, this will be the guide for you to follow during the rest of your crossing. A guide that will take you one step closer to designing a successful digital product.
We’d love to learn more about your project.
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