Do you have a startup idea that could change the world? Great. Almost every day, we meet entrepreneurs with amazing ideas who, unfortunately, can’t answer basic questions that describe their concept. That’s exactly why we’ve compiled 26 key questions you should be able to answer before meeting with a UX/UI design agency.
You’ve refined your idea, spoken with all the relevant stakeholders, and you’re ready to get started. To ensure the UX agency you work with can truly get inside your head and understand how to turn your idea into reality, you need to be able to answer several questions related to your project’s purpose.
We recommend preparing a document with the relevant questions and your answers. This way, you’ll come prepared to every meeting and be able to clearly communicate the thinking behind your idea, your goals, and your business objectives.
We’ve divided the questions into four main categories:
- Goals & Objectives
- Measuring Success
- The User
- Product Design
Goals & Objectives
The most important questions to ask are about the project’s goals: What is the purpose of the product? What problem does it solve? What value does it provide?
Answering these questions will help clarify the overall concept and also highlight the challenges and issues you may face in the future.
Sample questions:
- What is the goal of the project?
- What problem does it solve?
- Are there other projects in the same field?
- What could cause this project to fail?
- How much time do we have to launch the product?
Measuring Success
Defining success criteria is key to your project’s success. This allows you to see whether the team, the product development process, and ultimately the project itself are meeting the goals you set at the start.
Answering these questions will help the UX and design teams focus their market and user research.
Sample questions:
- How will we define the project’s success?
- What are your ideal outcomes?
- Which KPIs do you hope to impact?
- What are you aiming to achieve with this project?
The User
All user-related questions will help the UX/UI agency balance business goals with user needs. The aim is to deliver the best possible product experience. Defining user personas will help create accurate user stories and solve problems that may arise during product use.
Sample questions:
- Who are the users/customers of the product?
- What problem does the project solve for them?
- Are we targeting existing customers, innovators, or both?
- Are users from different countries or cultures?
- What are the users’ core values?
- What is their age range and digital proficiency?
Product Design
A meeting with a UX/UI design agency is the first step in defining and designing your product.
Try to understand the process or journey your user will go through while using your product. This is also the time to discuss accessibility—how will you make your product accessible to as many users as possible?
Sample questions:
- What basic actions will the user perform?
- Which platforms will the product support? (Mobile/Tablet/Web)
- What special features should the product include?
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Even if you’ve reviewed and answered all the questions above before your meeting, new questions will always arise that you may not know how to answer.
Don’t hesitate to ask and consult with the agency you’re working with. If they’re a professional company with experience, they’ll be able to offer recommendations based on their expertise and provide valuable input for your project.
In Summary
It’s perfectly reasonable to spend a month or two reading, checking, and researching all the answers related to your project. Once you do this, you’ll be able to present your idea clearly and concisely to any company you want as a partner in your project.
