The Pitfalls of Assumption-Based Design: How to Avoid Them

Intro

In today's competitive business landscape, standing out is crucial for success. One way to achieve this is through the power of good design. Design is not just about making things look pretty; it plays a significant role in shaping how customers perceive your brand and directly impacts your bottom line. This article explores six ways good design will benefit your business.

1. Enhances Brand Identity

A well-designed brand identity is essential for creating a solid and memorable impression on your target audience. Every aspect of your brand should reflect your values and personality, from your logo and website to your product design and marketing materials. Good design helps you establish a cohesive and visually appealing brand identity that resonates with your customers and sets you apart from competitors.

2. Builds Trust & Credibility

Customers are more likely to trust a business that looks professional and well-established. Good design communicates a sense of professionalism and attention to detail, which instill confidence in your customers. Whether it's a well-designed website or a thoughtfully crafted product, investing in good design shows that you care about quality and positively impact your reputation.

3. Improves User Experience

User experience (UX) is critical in determining how customers interact with your products or services. A well-designed user interface makes it easy for customers to navigate your website or product, find the necessary information, and complete desired actions. By prioritizing usability and intuitive design, you enhance the overall user experience and increase customer satisfaction.

4. Drives Sales & Conversions

Good design has the power to influence customer behavior and drive sales. A visually appealing and user-friendly product makes it more likely for customers to purchase. Through strategic use of color, typography, and layout, you guide customers toward desired actions and create a seamless buying process that encourages conversions.

5. Differentiates from Competitors

In a crowded marketplace, differentiation is critical. Good design helps you stand out from competitors by creating a unique and memorable brand experience. By understanding your target audience and crafting a design strategy that speaks to their needs and desires, you position your business as the preferred choice in customers' minds.

6. Increases Customer Engagement

Engaging with customers is crucial for building strong relationships and fostering loyalty. Good design plays a significant role in capturing and retaining customer attention. Good design attracts and engages customers through visually appealing social media graphics, engaging product features, or well-designed marketing campaigns, driving long-term loyalty and advocacy.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, good design is not just a nice-to-have; it is a powerful tool that positively impacts your business in multiple ways. From enhancing brand identity and credibility to driving sales and fostering customer engagement, investing in good design is an investment in your business's success. So, take the time to prioritize design and watch your business thrive.

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My flexible pricing model

Working with traditional freelancer/agency pricing can get complicated. My pricing model is simpler.

Simply hire me by the month at a fixed cost.

Need to pause the work? That’s fine. Since there aren’t any long-term contracts, we can pick things up later when the time is right.

Schedule a consultation call to discuss my specific rates, go over any questions you have, and walk through the next steps.

Prefer email instead? Reach out to me at hello@timhaskins.studio

A little about me

With deep roots in brand, design, and technology, I specialize in delivering best-in-class UX & UI. I've done this for hundreds of companies around the globe over the past 25 years.

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Client history

I've worked with many types of clients worldwide. From small startups all the way up to Nike, Adidas, Xerox, Williams-Sonoma, and Lowe's — to name a few.

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My purpose

Everything I do is centered around helping people live fuller lives — a driver for what gets me up each morning. That can take many shapes, such as pro-bono work for non-profits, mentoring other designers, or designing products that impact lives.

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Life-altering moment:

In 2016, I suffered a life-altering traumatic brain injury and lost my ability to do much of anything. Without the ability to fully comprehend language, living with constant vertigo and depression, and the loss of my creative problem-solving skills — my life was turned upside down.

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Fast-forward to today. I consider myself one of the lucky few who fully recovered from an injury like that. I have a deeper appreciation for life now; from mundane tasks to relationships to my craft — which shows in the quality of my work.

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My superpowers

Translating strategy into a marketable product, simplifying the complex, pinpointing a person's hidden pain, and breathing new life into outdated UIs.

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Additional facts:

I live in Portland, Oregon, once had a 30-person design agency for over a decade, launched my own SaaS products, and am raising 3 boys (the latter being the hardest but most rewarding!)

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FAQ

How do we know we're a good fit?

I’m very selective with the companies I work with, and I admit I’m not the right fit for everyone. Here are a few indicators that I’m not the right fit:

1. If you seek full-time hires: I’m not for those seeking permanent, full-time roles; I specialize in fractional, high-impact engagements.

2. If you prefer in-house solutions: If you believe all expertise should come from within your existing team, I won’t be the right fit.

3. If you micro-manage: I'm a seasoned expert who thrives on driving outcomes and high autonomy. I’m very collaborative, but if you want to hand-hold/dictate, I won’t be the right fit.

4. If you’re only looking for quick fixes: While I can often deliver quick wins, I focus on sustainable growth and long-term impact.

5. If budget is your only concern: My value lies in the elite talent and strategic expertise I bring; if cost-cutting is your sole priority, I may not meet your needs.

What is your pricing model?

My pricing model is based on a monthly engagement rather than an hourly rate or a long-term contract. As you’ve likely experienced, multiple changes, discoveries, and pivots can occur when building a product, requiring a flexible pricing model that can ebb and flow with you.

Within my model, I offer four pricing tiers, starting at $1,500/month (USD). Clients choose from one of the monthly pricing tiers depending on the amount of work needed.

‍Example scenarioIn Month 1, a new client chooses my lowest tier to get things started and trial my services. Month 2 requires more work and they’re getting value, so they choose the second pricing tier. Then, they pause for a few months as their team implements my design. After that, they return for another month to have me audit and refine what the developers have implemented.

My clients love my model because they don’t get nickel-and-dimed for changes or feel beholden to a contract written months ago that’s woefully outdated compared to their current situation.

Can you work within a fixed budget amount?

While my model is based on a monthly engagement to optimize my client’s budgets, I have made exceptions in the past. Some of my clients have had fixed budgets that they need to work within, and in certain cases, I can work within that structure. Let’s talk more about your situation and see if it will work.

How happy are your clients?

What tells me my clients are happy (and see value in my work) is that I have 100% client repeat rate — something I strive for — which is reflected in my approach, style, and work ethic.

This means that every client has come back a second time to continue our work together. They wouldn’t do that if they didn’t see value or weren’t happy.

I also survey my clients every quarter, and each one has repeatedly given me a 5-star rating.

Do you have a team of people, or is it just you?

It’s just me. My ideal client prefers working with an individual rather than an agency or team. They want someone experienced who focuses on their project and communicates directly with them — without the bureaucracy or cost of an agency.

If you choose to work with me, I will be your main point of contact. I will be the one designing your product; fully grasping your product, strategy, and business needs.

How do you manage projects?

I use a platform called ClickUp to manage and communicate project updates to clients. It also hosts documentation, Gantt charts, and Kanban boards.

Slack is the primary communication tool for me and my clients. I can either add your team to a private Slack channel in my account or, if you already have your own (or Teams), I can join yours instead.

Often my clients have their own platforms, like Jira, Monday, or Trello. I’ve used those and many others and am happy to explore what it would look like for me to use your tool.

What do you deliver?

What I deliver can vary depending on your needs. The most common deliverables are flow diagrams, wireframes, and dev-ready Figma design files (including Design System documentation.) Secondary deliverables include things like interactive prototypes, animated UI concepts, custom icons, audits/user research documentation.

Do you specialize in our industry?

Over the past 25 years, I have worked in dozens of industries versus specializing in just one. My ideal client values this because they want fresh ideas and someone thinks differently. They want their product to be unique and innovative, not follow the same tired strategies.

When we collaborate, I take a deep dive into your business and industry, understanding it thoroughly. This way, I can provide insights that significantly enhance your product's design and user experience.

We need designs yesterday — can you help us?

I hear this often and I totally get it. You have a real sense of urgency and could already be behind on your goals due to one factor or another.

As you’ll see, I can turn around designs very quickly and we can get some quick wins if need be. But to make a product that really stands out, one that meets your goals, and users love, takes time, thought, and research. And while I do have a thorough process for getting us there, my process is designed to be flexible for getting quick wins and long-term success.

Why wouldn’t we just hire a cheap designer from one of those freelancer sites?

Sure, you can hire a designer on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, but they likely won’t meet your expectations and you’ll typically get what you pay for.

Some clients I've spoken to tried that route before working with me. They found that the design quality was not up to par, and the designers mainly followed instructions without offering innovative ideas. It’s a gamble.

My clients need someone who will deeply engage with their project, show enthusiasm for their product, and propose creative solutions, rather than simply executing tasks as instructed.