Product teams working for startups sometimes work with constrained budgets and tight timelines. They are charged with developing new goods using the few resources that are available to them, even when there is no feedback, users, or feature requests.
Using a development framework for a minimum viable product (MVP) is one method to handle unpredictability, keep your attention on the end customers, and yet deliver your product on time and within budget. The term “minimum viable product” refers to an unfinished prototype that has the bare minimum of functions required to solve the most urgent problems faced by end users.
MVP App Development may assist product teams in gaining a deeper understanding of their target demographics while also reducing the amount of time spent on the design and development processes. They also reduce the risk associated with design by providing designers with the opportunity to test out their assumptions at an early stage.
In this article, we will define four phases that are necessary to master the MVP development process and master how to master the MVP development process.
Table of Contents
Strategies for Getting the Most Out of the MVP Development Process
1. Define the Most Valuable Player When using a PRD
Using a document that details the needs of the product, the first stage in the process of developing an MVP is to determine the product’s aims, functionality, features, and behavior.
This is done with the assistance of a document. It is the PRD that serves as the single point of reference, bringing the demands of the user to the attention of all of the project teams. It should include the following:
- The objective (statement of the issue).
- Details on the concept, including user personas, user tales, and user personas, as well as epics.
- Analysis (including assumptions about limits, success metrics, and other assumptions).
- Objective
Problem Statement
The real problem that a consumer is having that the product is intended to remedy is what is referred to as a “problem statement.” It shouldn’t be any more than a single phrase and it should ensure that the reader understands the purpose of the product.
User Personas
A user persona is an individual user who is a fictional character who represents a certain sort of user and acts in a certain way during a scenario. The problem that was outlined in the statement of the problem may be partially resolved with the help of each persona.
The usage of personas in MVP App Development and design helps teams better understand and connect with the end-users, which in turn allows them to better design their products to meet the needs of the end-users.
2. Organize the Information Architecture of the MVP
Labeling and categorizing all of the digital material, such as sections, pages, and features, is the next step in the process of developing this MVP version of the product. The end product is referred to as Information Architecture (IA), and it is composed of the following two parts:
- Specify the Content of the App.
- The process of determining the hierarchy of content
Specify the Content of the App
To begin the process of defining a product’s content (images, music, text, videos, etc.), first analyze market trends, the competitors, and the consumers. Arrange all of the information in one central spot using mind mapping, which also helps to link related topics.
According to statistics, 35% of startups fail because of no market need. In such a situation, the importance of product discovery and the content of the app cannot be overstated.
The process of determining the hierarchy of content
The next thing you need to do is figure out how to effectively present your material, often known as how to organize it. The material may be organized in a number of ways; one of them is via the sorting of cards in which users are asked to categorize different themes into logical categories.
This ensures that the Information Architecture will be organized in accordance with the expectations of the user rather than on the basis of the assumptions made by the product team.
Examine the findings and seek for recurring motifs that are shared by a number of the various groups, as well as similarities between those recurring motifs. Because of this, product designers will have a better understanding of how users interact with their products as a result.
3. Create wireframes as well as prototypes
Make a diagram using wireframes
After the information has been clearly defined and meticulously structured, you may use wireframing tools to design the primary user interface layout for the app. Wireframing an MVP has several benefits, one of which being that it enables us to visualize the application while simultaneously reducing its size.
You should do the wireframing of the application in two stages:
- Create a drawing of the structure of each screen, including its dimensions and location.
- Develop a basic user interface component library that has menus, content blocks, and headers and footers.
Try It Out With Some Users
The approach of user testing known as “measure, learn, repeat” is used in the MVP process. This allows for the early identification and correction of friction spots that may have been generating problems.
You should run two different types of tests — moderated and unmoderated — in order to get as much input as possible in order to figure out the cause.
Create a Prototype with a High Level of Detail
After the wireframe MVP has been validated, it is required to update and construct the process of interaction-based prototyping. In contrast to the standard wireframing, high-resolution (hi-fi) prototypes make use of the greatest possible quality of pixel user interface animation and design.
Additionally, they are far more comparable to the final product in terms of both appearance and functionality. The most essential visual affirmations may be determined with their help, and real-time feedback on the MVP design can also be gathered with their assistance.
4. Finish Quality Assurance on the Design
You need to make sure that the prototype is functioning well and that everything looks as it should by traveling through it and ensuring that the following are true:
- The product’s first concept is reflected in the MVP’s design.
- The flow of the user experience is natural.
- Every conceivable application scenario was investigated.
After that, you need to summarize and submit any outstanding problems to the team that is working on development in the QAS tickets. Before the introduction of the minimum viable product (MVP), there will be one time of cooling down lasting two weeks during which these problems may be fixed.
Conclusion
In the field of product development for startups, there is a severe lack of design resources. The Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, approach assists product designers in creating user-friendly products on schedule and without exceeding their budgets.
According to statistics, nearly 78% of organizations worldwide are optimistic about their outsourcing partners. This four-step Minimum Viable Product (MVP) methodology has been helpful in making the product designs more user-centered on several occasions. By giving it a try yourself, you can ensure that the needs of the user will be prioritized throughout the design development process.
