Build a Robust UX Case Study: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Definition

Imagine a case study that reads like a thrilling adventure, taking readers on a journey from a challenging problem to a triumphant solution. It’s a powerful tool for showcasing the moral compass of design and the profound impact that design choices can have on user satisfaction and business success. At its core, a perfect case study is nothing less than an epic tale of triumph against all odds.

As a seductive investigator tasked with unraveling a UX case study.Like a masterful storyteller, you’ll dive deep into the details, analyze every incident, and mine the data to uncover the hidden truth behind the challenge at hand. Armed with your analytical powers and sharp intellect, you’ll piece together an alluring solution that will leave everyone breathless.

The Importance of UX Case Studies for Designers and Agencies

• Showcasing your design process and problem-solving approach
• Demonstrating the impact of good UX on user satisfaction and business goals
• Establishing credibility and trust with potential clients or employers
• Providing insights and learnings for the design community
• Building a strong portfolio and demonstrating design skills

Recipe Ingredients

Clarity:

Write the case study in clear and straightforward language, making it easy for the reader to understand and follow the design process and decisions.

Facts:

Include evidence of the research, testing results, and design decisions that were made, in order to support the claims made in the case study.

Impact:

Demonstrate the impact of the design on user satisfaction and business goals.

Relevance:

Ensure your illustrated design solutions are relevant to the target audience, highlighting the features and functionalities that are most important to them.

The Process:

Describe the design process and used methods to provide insights into the design thinking and problem-solving approach.

Visual:

Incorporate visual assets, such as mockups, diagrams, and videos, into your showcase to make it more engaging and to help the reader understand the project better.

Key Considerations for Crafting an Impactful Case Study — Step-by-Step Guide

1. Place your thoughts in a white paper and clearly define your objectives prior to creating the case study.
2. Divide your project into distinct phases, starting with identifying the problem and your proposed solution and ending with the added value achieved.
3. Keep it brief and straight to the point, headline and a short paragraph 2 lines max.
4. Do not add unnecessary details, just keep what highlights your role and your valuable input.
5. Provide context to the project and your design process, think about what your reader needs to know to appreciate this project as concisely as possible, and explain how you approached the problem and how you worked through it.
6. Give your case study all required efforts to make it outstanding and do not rely on how beautiful your UI design is.
7. Keep your content in the right structure:
   • Title
   • Small description
   • Highlights (phase/goal)
   • Images with captions

Template Format: Your Winning Checklist

1. Project introduction: (Project background: name and function)
2. Product position: what are the status of the project and the stockholders' objectives
3. The challenge: For an existing product, identify the challenge by describing the problem and how it affects the product’s performance. If it’s a new product, outline the main objectives and the owner’s perception. In one paragraph or two, detail how you worked through the project. Why did you choose that specific approach? Did you take a unique angle or discover any unexpected insights? Challenge yourself to ask “why” a thousand times, then answer those questions with thoroughness and clarity
4. Your role: what are you doing here? Your position and your role across the project, also your position among your team members
5. Solution: based on your analysis and your design decisions, summarize the problems and your solutions to overcome
6. Outline the process: Provide a comprehensive overview, including a timeline, of the entire process from concept to solution. This will offer your reader valuable insight into how you organized and approached your work based on a scientific method, and can serve as a useful reference for your context
7. Highlight key features: Provide in-depth elaboration on examples of problems and solutions in high-fidelity design. Create a list of points that succinctly summarize the successful outcomes as compelling success stories

Do's

• Make your case study readable in max 3 minutes
• The main cover should present the right information: {Project title}, {Work type), {Date} and {Appealing image cover}
• Include evidence to support your claims and highlight the impact of your design on user satisfaction and business goals
• Maintain the context at all cost
• Black and white is always good to highlight the content
• Maintain a theme with a design system, grids, Font sizes, icons

Don’t

• Don’t write a novel, keep it simple and straight
• Don’t drop a bunch of photos without context
• Don’t repeat your work, and don’t use the same template twice
• Don’t use overused mockups, try to find new mockups and try to create your own to give it the genuine look
• Don’t use a mix of font styles and maintain consistency
• Don’t write ten paragraphs about your UX research and empathy map. Nobody’s going to read it
• Don’t rely solely on the visual appeal of the design
• Don’t forget to proofread and revise the case study before publishing
• Don’t apply everything in the book, you don’t need to include all UX methodologies to show off your skills

Case studies you won’t miss

1. Otodom — Product Design Case Study
2. KaspiTravel — Mitya Andrievskiy
3. UX/UI design for credit card application — by Vadim Kendyukhov
4. Party House iOS App Case Study
5. Stayfit App UX Case Study — by Santosh Kumar
6. DXH UX Case Study — by Mohamed Essam
7. Sendel Send and Deliver Packages — by Fireart
8. Fae Rentals UX Case Study — by Pranav Patil