Lessons Learned as a UX Designer on an Agile Project
Agile methodologies have become a key element in modern software development. I was certified in SAFe® Agile methodology in 2024 and as a result I’ve gained valuable insights into how UX designers can succeed in this fast-paced environment.
Here are some essential lessons learned about UX design on an agile project.
Collaboration is Key
One of the most important lessons learned from working in agile projects is the need for close collaboration among all team members. Unlike traditional waterfall models where design phases are separate, agile promotes teamwork and communication throughout the entire project.
As a UX designer, this means working directly with developers, product managers, and stakeholders from the start and throughout each sprint. Open communication ensures that designs are refined in real time and that user feedback and requirements are consistently incorporated into the product.
Flexibility and Adaptation are Essential
Agile’s iterative approach, with its frequent sprint cycles, means that designs need to be flexible. At the start of a project, we might have a clear vision for the user experience, but that vision will likely change as new insights are discovered or priorities shift. UX design must adapt to these changes while staying focused on the user's needs.
This required me to shift away from perfectionism toward "good enough for now." In agile, it's about getting feedback early and often to ensure designs meet real user needs.
User Feedback Drives Continuous Improvement
In agile design, feedback loops are frequent, and personally, I found that a huge advantage for UX design. The design process becomes a cycle of creating, testing, learning, and refining. After each sprint, gathering user feedback is critical to validate whether the design decisions from the last cycle were effective or need adjustments.
The beauty of agile is that this feedback loop allows for constant improvement, ensuring the user experience evolves in response to actual usage and feedback, not just assumptions.
Time Constraints Can Be a Blessing or a Challenge
As a UX designer in an agile environment, I found it important to prioritize features based on user impact and business goals. Time-boxing design tasks forces focus on what truly matters and helps eliminate unnecessary complexity. The key is to work closely with your team to ensure that the essential user flows are well-designed, even if the full design is not fleshed out in every detail.
Aligning UX with Business Goals
One of the biggest lessons I learned is how essential it is to align UX design with the broader business goals of the project. In agile, priorities can shift, and features may be re-prioritized based on new business needs. As a designer, staying in sync with stakeholders and the product team is crucial to ensure that the design supports the overall goals, even as they evolve.
Prototyping and Testing Over Perfection
Tools like Figma made this process easier, enabling UX designers to create high-fidelity prototypes that can be tested with real users. This iterative cycle of prototyping and testing speeds up the design process and ensures that design decisions are based on real user interactions.
Final thoughts…
The iterative nature of agile projects requires flexibility, rapid prototyping, and continuous user feedback, all of which help create products that evolve based on user needs. By staying closely aligned with cross-functional teams, iterating designs quickly, and embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, I found that as a UX designer I can thrive in the agile framework and ultimately create more user-centered products that meet both user and business goals.
With more than 20 years of hands-on project experience, Derek has developed into a highly skilled UX professional.
To explore his project case studies or learn more about his work, visit his portfolio at derekcarruthers.net