Developing a digital product is a complex process, and getting early user feedback is one of the most important parts. That’s where a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) comes in. It allows us to test the product with users and get valuable feedback on the design and technical aspects, which is crucial for making sure the product is on the right track.
What is an MVP?
An MVP is a basic version of a product that helps us check if our ideas hold up. We create it after stakeholders sign off on the wireframe, so we can see how people actually use it. Even though the product isn’t finished, we want to understand how it will work. Showing people only a wireframe isn’t enough — they might think it’s already done and give feedback based on that wrong assumption.
When to use a design system
When we move from the basic layout to the final design, we consider things like the brand style and how everything should look. That’s where a design system comes in.
What does a design system do?
A design system makes the development process faster and more consistent. Instead of starting from scratch each time, we have pre-made components to use. These components are already tested and follow our brand and accessibility rules. We put them together according to our layout and the standards of the Danfoss Mosaic Design System.
How does it help?
Using the Mosaic design system and Figma, we built a simple version of the product for users to try and provide feedback. Testing helped us confirm our ideas and uncover things we hadn’t considered. For example, we added a tool called Product Finder to help customers quickly find products. Feedback showed that customers used it not only to search by part number but also to find product categories easily.
Based on the feedback, we improved the prototype and created a basic version of the product with all the necessary features. The Mosaic design system sped up development because we didn’t have to create elements from scratch.
Benefits of using a design system
- Faster MVP and development: A design system helps us create the MVP quickly and smoothly transition from design to development.
- Consistency across products: By using the design system’s components, we save time and ensure all our products have a similar look and feel.
- Easy to use: The components follow accessibility standards, with clear instructions and guidelines.
- Scalability: The design system is a collection of components we can use for all our products. It helps us grow and add new things when needed.
What’s next
Russell L. Ackoff, a systems thinking pioneer, once said: “A system is never the sum of its parts. It is the product of the interaction of its parts.” That interaction between components and users is what matters.
We have plans to keep enhancing Mosaic, adding new features such as a digital newsletter template for communication at Danfoss. Everyone using the system automatically receives updates.
By using MVPs and design systems together, we can develop products faster and make sure they look and work well.