---
title: 5 Modes of UX Design
description: How and why we move from Discover to Draft to Build to Test to Analyze when crafting the product experience.
---

[Home](https://mutuallyhuman-pr-605.herokuapp.com/)

- [Team](https://mutuallyhuman-pr-605.herokuapp.com/team)
- [Work](https://mutuallyhuman-pr-605.herokuapp.com/work)
- [Blog](https://mutuallyhuman-pr-605.herokuapp.com/blog)
- [Contact](https://mutuallyhuman-pr-605.herokuapp.com/contacts)

# 5 Modes of UX Design

By [Lori Mackson](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/author/lori-mackson) on 10 08 2016

At Mutually Human, our UX design process includes time spent in the following modes:

- Discover
- Draft
- Build
- Test
- Analyze

Two reasons I called them “modes” instead of “steps” or “stages”

1. UX design isn’t a linear process. We don’t follow rigid steps. We use our tools in a continual iterative process. Therefore, you could be operating in multiple modes simultaneously on different features.
2. Each mode has multiple tools and different ways to work within that mode. I like to think about UX as a toolbox. For each project, we pull out a unique combination of tools based on the needs and goals of the phase of the project.

## Discover

The first mode in the UX process is gathering and evaluating information. In  
 discovery, you should have more questions than answers. Keeping an open  
 mind is crucial. The more you think you know going into a project, the less you  
 are going to learn.

Some of the tools we use in the discover mode include:

- Stakeholder interviews
- Qualitative user interviews
- User observations
- Online surveys

## Draft

Next, we take what we have learned and begin to put the information in useful  
 tools that help us make decisions. As an architect would begin building a house  
 with a blueprint, we build software by drafting the relationship of information  
 and interactions. Who will use this and what do we know about them? When and  
 how will they interact with this tool? What screens will be included? How will  
 it be structured? We are compiling information that tells us who will live in  
 the house, what rooms are included, and how they will typically walk through  
 their home.

Some of the tools we use in the draft mode include:

- Personas
- Design principles
- User flows
- Screen maps

## Build

Now that we know the basic structure, we can begin to add elements to each  
 room. As a bathroom needs a sink and a toilet, a screen in your application  
 may need content, images, buttons, forms, etc. Referencing the tools created in  
 the draft stage, we begin to bring our software to life. Interaction design  
 requires divergent thinking, good design sense, attention to detail, and the  
 ability to make things easy to use.

Some of the tools we use in the build mode include:

- Design studio
- Wireframes (interaction design patterns)
- Prototypes

## Test

We’ve done our homework and built something that we hope meets the needs of our  
 users. But guess what? The only way we will build something our users will love  
 is by putting our ideas in front of those users to find out what is working  
 and what is not. This is why it is important to never marry yourself to a  
 particular design. As with discovery, if you come in “knowing your  
 design is awesome” you aren’t going to learn how to actually make your design  
 awesome.

Some of the tools we use in the test mode include:

- Usability testing
- User feedback sessions
- User diaries
- Heuristic evaluations

## Analyze

If you’ve done your testing well, you’ve learn some important things. Now it is  
 time to analyze your results, prioritize your learnings, and revise your design  
 as needed.

Some of the tools we use in the analyze mode include:

- Testing reports
- User design workshops

## What Modes Do You Need?

Most successful UX Design will require some time spent in each mode. Based on  
 the milestones and budget of a project, a UX designer will work with the key  
 stakeholders to form a plan that utilizes a mix of tools that best meet the  
 objectives of the project.

### Related Topics

- [Uncategorized (106)](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/topic/uncategorized)
- [User Experience (20)](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/topic/user-experience)
- [Ruby (11)](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/topic/ruby)
- [Interaction Design (10)](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/topic/interaction-design)
- [JavaScript (9)](https://resources.mutuallyhuman.com/test/topic/javascript)

### Related Posts

### About Mutually Human

Mutually Human is a custom software design and development consultancy specializing in mobile and web-based products and services. We help our clients design, develop and bring to market innovative products and services based on insightful research and strategy aligned with business objectives. We’ve helped Fortune 500 companies, state governments, and startups.

- [Home](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com)
- [Team](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/team)
- [Work](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/work)
- [Blog](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/blog)
- [Contact](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/contacts)

logo

[Mutually Human Grand Rapids: 401 Hall St. SW Suite 430 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 USA](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/contacts#grand-rapids)

[Mutually Human Columbus: 243 N. Fifth Street Suite 300 Columbus, OH 43215 USA](https://www.mutuallyhuman.com/contacts#columbus)

+1 616 475-4225

[hello@mutuallyhuman.com](mailto:hello@mutuallyhuman.com)

<https://twitter.com/mutuallyhuman/><https://www.linkedin.com/company/mutually-human-software> <https://www.facebook.com/mutuallyhuman/> <https://github.com/mhs>

© 2017 Mutually Human