Relevant Tools, Standards, and

Engineering Constraints
 UML Tools
• Unified Modeling Language (UML) tools help
create diagrams such as:
- Use Cases
- Class Diagrams
- Sequence Diagrams

• Examples: Visual Paradigm, Enterprise Architect,

StarUML
• Benefits: Capture requirements and structure
software systems clearly.
 Wireframing Tools
• Wireframing tools enable creating low-fidelity
UI sketches with interactivity:
– Examples: Balsamiq, Figma, Sketch
– Benefits: Prototype, test UI designs, and
communicate with stakeholders.
 Prototyping Tools
• High-fidelity tools to simulate user experience
(UX) and data flow:
– Examples: Adobe XD, InVision, Axure
– Benefits: Validate designs and demonstrate
features to stakeholders.
 Code Generation Tools
• Tools that generate source code from higher-
level representations:
– Examples: CodeSmith, GenMyModel, Xcode
– Benefits: Save time, ensure consistency, and
improve code quality.
 Testing Tools
• Testing tools for functionality, performance,
and reliability:
– Examples: JUnit, Selenium, Postman
– Benefits: Detect bugs, improve software quality,
and enhance user satisfaction.
 Documentation Tools
• Tools for creating and managing software
documentation:
– Examples: Markdown, Sphinx, Read the Docs
– Benefits: Facilitate maintenance and evolution of
systems.
 What are design standards and codes?

• Design standards and codes are sets of rules,

guidelines, and best practices that govern how software
design should be done, documented, and
communicated.
• They can be defined by organizations, communities, or
regulatory bodies, and they can cover various aspects of
software design, such as architecture, patterns,
components, interfaces, testing, security, performance,
and documentation.
– Examples of design standards and codes are
ISO/IEC 25010, IEEE 1016, UML, and COBIT
 What are design constraints?

• Design constraints are limitations or restrictions in the

design process imposed by internal and external factors.

• These constraints impact the final product, so it’s critical

that everyone in the organization is aware of them and
considers these limitations before every project.
 Common types of design constraints

• Technical constraints: how a product’s tech stack and engineering

team limit design
• Financial constraints: departmental and project budgets
• Legal and regulatory constraints: laws design teams must follow
• Organizational constraints: culture, structure, policies,
bureaucracy
• Self-imposed constraints: each designer’s workflow and creative
decision-making
• Talent constraints: designer skills and experience and professional
shortcomings
• Project-specific constraints: limitations relating to the project,
including time, budget, available team members, etc.
 Technical Constraints

Technical constraints significantly impact design projects

because they dictate how far designers can push creative
and innovative boundaries.
Some examples include:
• Device and operating system limitations: iOS and Android
constraints, screen sizes, processing power, etc.
• Accessibility constraints: how voice control and screen
readers impact design decisions.
• Performance constraints: the impact of user bandwidth/Internet
connectivity, product servers, and tech stacks.
• Integrations and APIs: limitations from external services and API
requirements.
• Tech stack constraints: how front-end and back-end tech impact the
design .
 Financial Constraints
Financial constraints impact many areas of the design process,
including human resources, tools, user research, project scope, and
technology. While many see financial constraints as a roadblock, they
often drive creative thinking and design innovation through
bootstrapping and workarounds.

Some ways financial constraints impact the design process

include:
• Limiting the scope of each discipline (research, wireframing,
prototyping, interviews, testing, etc.)
• Limits the number of iterations and testing rounds
• Specifies what tools designers use
• Determines the size and skill level of the design team
 Legal and Regulatory Constraints
Legal constraints impact content and user data the most
regarding UX projects. These laws change depending on
the country, so designers rely on advice from legal counsel
and stakeholders.
Some examples of how legal constraints impact design
include:
Privacy laws: dictate what data designers collect, how they collect
it, the legal notices they give users, and how they get permission–
notably.
Legal and Regulatory Constraints – cont.
Accessibility laws: what designers must do legally to make user
interfaces accessible for users with various impairments– for example,
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States.

Intellectual property laws: copyright for original works, including

text, images, video, etc. Additionally, designers must consider whether
they infringe on competitor/brand IP, trademarks, and other legal
protections.

Industry-specific regulations: some industries, like financial

and healthcare, have laws about privacy and security that significantly
impact design–for example, login and authentication procedures.
 Self-imposed Constraints

Self-imposed constraints come from the designers,

relating to the choices and options during the design
process, like which design tool they use, the time it takes to
complete tasks, and whether they use the product’s design
system.
 Talent Constraints
Talent constraints relate to the skills and specialists available to
the design team. It’s important to know every designer’s skill set and
expertise so that managers can assign people who complement one
another. Understanding talent constraints enables managers to
source the right people and when to hire specialist contractors for
specific design projects.

Suppose an organization is working on a complex digital

product redesign or a new application interface. The demand for
talented UX/UI designers is high due to the project’s scale and
complexity. However, the organization struggles to find and hire
enough qualified designers within the required timeframe.
 Project-Specific Constraints
Project constraints create design problems that otherwise don’t
exist or are rare to an organization. For example, designers might
have to complete a project in a shorter timeframe than they’re used
to, resulting in adapting workflows or switching tools to accomplish
the desired outcome.

Imagine a scenario where a company decides to overhaul its

existing website to align with a rebranding initiative and improve
user experience. The marketing team has planned a major product
launch, and the redesigned website needs to be ready before the
launch date, which is only a few weeks away.
 How to Overcome Design Constraints
• Define the problem: what challenge are you trying to solve? This
could be reducing time-to-market or increasing designer productivity.
• Identify the constraints: list the constraints related to this problem,
i.e., budget, resources, time, technical, etc.
• Prioritize the constraints: determine which limitations are most
consequential and prioritize accordingly.
• Brainstorm solutions: meet with appropriate experts, team
members, and stakeholders to brainstorm solutions. Create a list of
possibilities.
• Evaluate the solutions: consider the pros and cons of each idea
and determine which has the highest feasibility with the most
significant potential impact.
Thank you!