When redesigning a user interface (UI), software vendors should consider adopting an incremental approach for delivery. As opposed to a full-scale redesign, an incremental approach allows vendors to deliver changes in steps over the course of multiple releases, building each release on the previous.
Key advantages of an incremental approach:
User feedback – user feedback is invaluable to the user experience of a software application. Incremental delivery enables continuous user feedback, providing vendors a clear direction on where to proceed next. With full-scale redesigns, it is often difficult and expensive to make changes once the product is released.
Avoid wasted effort – one of the biggest risks of UI redesigns is implementing changes that do not deliver sufficient value or, worse yet, make the product more difficult to use. By releasing in steps, recovery from such changes is easier and less costly.
Reduce product “alienation” – UI redesigns can alienate existing users from applications. Even changes that are proper from a design perspective can impact a users’ familiarity with the product. Incremental delivery allows users to adapt to changes slowly and only when they are ready.
Faster delivery – rolling changes out incrementally allows for high priority changes to be implemented right away while nice-to-have features can be considered for a future release.
The backside to an incremental approach is that it’s not easy to do. It’s certainly easier to scrap the old UI and build one from scratch, where all parts are built together and work in harmony. Incremental changes must be thoroughly analyzed before release to ensure they will provide the intended value when integrated with the existing UI.
Performing an incremental redesign:
Identify critical areas for improvement – identify areas of the application that would benefit from having improved usability. The most effective way to do this is by soliciting feedback from existing users via customer feedback sessions and internal feedback sessions.
Prototype “good enough” solutions – for the areas identified, prototype solutions that sufficiently improve the experience but no more. These solutions are not the ultimate solution, but a step that provides immediate value and can be built on. Generating prototypes to illustrate and sharing them in feedback sessions is critical to finding that middle ground.
Solicit user feedback on solutions – share the prototyped solutions in user feedback sessions to ensure the solutions will provide enough value to be worth implementing. Also find out if any changes can be omitted or deferred for now as well as any changes that can further enhance the experience.
Iterate steps 2 and 3 until all stakeholders agree on a solution.
Implement, release and repeat.
An incremental approach to UI redesigns can help software vendors deliver quality solutions faster and with more flexibility. However, it requires discipline, patience and a high level of interaction with users to ensure incremental changes are compatible with the existing UI and the end result provides sufficient value for end users.