Businesses is inherently risky. We've all heard that statistic about 9 out of every 10 startups failing in the first year. Among the primary reasons why failure is so common is lack of product market fit. In other words, a product went into distribution without getting the foundation right.
That foundation is exactly what an MVP is. It's a tool to gauge market response, before you get the opportunity to waste budgets down the drain.
Without further ado, let's get into the article.
Understanding the MVP: More Than Just a Prototype
An MVP, or minimum viable product, is not just a skeletal version of your dream application. It's a functional product that delivers just enough value to validate assumptions, gather user feedback, and begin the product development process. Many startups fall into the trap of building a version of a product that only includes the technical minimum but ignores the user experience (UX) entirely.
The purpose of creating a minimum viable product isn't just to test if your idea works — it's to test whether users will use your product, enjoy it, and come back for more. This is why UX design plays a foundational role in MVP development.
Role of UX for MVP Development
Below, is one of the most helpful charts we know of to understand what UX is. Contrary to popular belief, UX is now how it works, while UI — how it looks. UX entails three core aspects: utility, usability and desirability.
Now here's something else that's not exactly intuitive. MVP doesn’t lie purely in the utility sphere. It’s a slice of the whole circle. Now that's especially true in competitive saturated markets. Utility is typically easy to replicate. Usability and desirability — not so much. Usability isn’t a luxury. It’s a basic expectation.
In other words, you can’t get away with abysmal usability and poor usability simply by calling your product an MVP.
Aside from these considerations, good MVP is essential, because
- First impressions determine whether users return;
- Fixing poor UX after launch is more expensive and time-consuming;
- A user-friendly MVP increases the chances of gathering meaningful feedback.
Yes, you will inevitably have to make UX tweaks post-launch. But you do need to step your best foot forward before you go live.
It's also worth mentioning that on top of MVP's there's also a concept of MLP's (minimum lovable product). We will not focus too much on MLP's in this article, but the key difference between an MVP and an MLP is focus on the UX. MLP's do their utmost to win users over by a lovable experience, which doesn't necessarily imply superior utility.
MVP UX Design Principles: Solving Real User Needs
Designing an MVP starts with a clear understanding of user needs. If your MVP doesn’t solve a core feature problem, users won’t care about it. Successful MVPs always prioritize pain points that are critical to the user.
Key methods include:
- User research: interviews, surveys, or direct observation.
- Competitor benchmarking.
- Community discussions and forums.
If you want to build an MVP that gains traction, listen more than you code. Design isn’t a gamble — it’s a process rooted in evidence.
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The typical research would include two phases: the qualitative and the quantitative one. In a nutshell, you first talk to a relevant people i.e. potential users. Then, once you notice enough patterns, you stop the interviews. The patterns will inevitably help you form hypotheses. And then you can see what percentage of your users resonate with these hypotheses via quantitative methods.
Lean UX and MVP: A Natural Fit
Lean UX is especially powerful for startup UX and small product teams looking to deliver quickly without compromising on user value. It aligns perfectly with minimum viable product development. Lean UX and MVP are both focused on iteration, validation, and minimizing time and resources.
Using the lean methodology, teams can build hypotheses, create quick prototypes, and validate ideas rapidly. The MVP UX becomes not just a tool for testing functionality but also for gauging emotional response, ease of use, and satisfaction.
The MVP UX Design Process
The high-level design process is deceptively simple. First, you flesh out a viable idea. Then, you flesh a viable execution. And then you have a foundation that's ready to scale.
In reality it's more complex than that. But let's cover each step in a little more detail.
1. Get Your Idea Right
Before touching Figma or any design tool, or, god forbid, code, ensure your product idea has legs to stand on.
- Talk to real people. People that you have a personal relationship with don't count. Yes, talking to your friends is a good starting point, but you need more input.
- Look at competitors and the market as a whole. What are the major players? How similar or different are they? What are the online reviews? Where do the competitors seem to gain their users from?
- Think deeply about what people actually need. You need a solid idea of your value proposition, to understand which features are fundamental, and which are bells and whistles.
The trouble with only talking is that people don't always do what they think they would do. When asked hypothetical questions, people give hypothetical answers.
In other words, if someone tells you they'd be ready to pay for your product, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will. This means that you should seek further validation. More on that later.
2. Get Your MVP Design Right
This is where UX designers, UI specialists, and researchers come in. If you have none, that's ok as well. The core principle is this: start simple and iterate often.
- Start with wireframes. A wireframe is a rough sketch of a digital solution. It needs just enough detail to get quality feedback from potential users;
- Test with low-fidelity prototypes. Unlike a wireframe, prototypes aren't static. They're clickable. This is the best way to simulate actual usage to get actionable feedback. You don't need a prototype for the whole product. Just the flows the are central to your value proposition. We do our prototypes in Figma. However, there other tools out there for you to test.
- Run quick rounds of user feedback. The industry standard here is usability testing. In a nutshell, usability testing requires the following components:
- A flow to test. You don't need to cram lots and lots of interactions into a session. At Excited, we prioritize important flows or unconventional design patters.
- Then, you need at least 5 users. Typically, that's enough to spot recurring patterns and major usability issues.
- You should record and analyze these sessions. Then, adjust your prototype accordingly.
3. Scale Intelligently
Once you've validated your digital product, start refining. Add new features based on feedback, but never lose sight of the initial problem you set out to solve.
No matter how viable the idea or execution, a product or service needs a steady stream of users to grow. Aside from the more traditional means of marketing, you should also see if there's potential to utilize Product-Led Growth principles (PLG).
Below, we've added the basic steps a user goes through within a PLG framework. This framework helps turn random passer-by's into paying customers who also help your product grow by referring even more customers.
In short, PLG builds a product which is designed to attract new users. For instance, think of mechanics that encourage customers to share the product with friends.
Common UX Mistakes When Creating a Minimum Viable Product
Launch First, Design Later
Many product managers or founders rush to launching an MVP, only to find it unusable. Don’t treat design as an afterthought. You’re building a product that delivers real value, not just testing a wireframe.
The urge to launch asap is understandable. And we do share the sentiment. However, again, you need to step your best foot forward and launch a usable product.
Adding Features That Don’t Solve Core Problems
Your MVP should reflect the essence of your product needs. Extraneous features dilute that focus and take the time better spent on other things. An the MVP stage, it may be too soon to cram your backlog with features.
Skipping Validation Due to Time Constraints
No matter how brilliant your idea is, skipping user feedback is the fastest route to failure. Gather feedback for future iterations.
Thinking About the Final Product From Day One
A good MVP will also serve as a foundation for your end product. That means maintaining a balance between agility and scalability. Thinking about the final product too early can lead to overbuilding. Think ahead, but focus now.
MVPs and Design Trends
While design trends may tempt you to build flashy interfaces, remember: clarity trumps aesthetics in MVP design. That said, thoughtful UI design goes a long way in increasing trust and usability.
In other words, don't jump on a visual trend for the sake of it.
Designing for MVP Success: Principles to Follow
UX and UI must work hand in hand. Your MVP is the first real encounter users have with your brand. Make it count. Follow these design principles:
- Keep navigation intuitive. Pre-launch, usability testing will help you figure out how intuitive it is. Post-launch, you also have analytics to serve as a clue.
- Use clear feedback mechanisms. Launching your MVP to radio silence is also a scenario. You need a plan for that as well.
- Design for accessibility. Successful MVP's are usable MVP's. Accessibility is very much a part of usability.
- Optimize for mobile. While the percentage may vary industry-to-industry, there's a longlasting trend of most traffic turning mobile.
- Limit cognitive load. This is especially true if you're using unconventional design patterns.
Iteration: The Key Ingredient in Product Development
Iterative design is at the heart of lean UX design. Build small, test fast, learn deeply, and improve. The MVP process is a loop, not a line. You will have to make changes.
Every iteration gives you insights. You improve your UI, your user experience, and even your product management strategy. You collect feedback for future product development and reduce the risk of building the wrong actual product.
The Design Team's Role in MVP UX
A collaborative design team includes not just designers but also engineers, marketers, and product owners. All stakeholders need to understand what to include in your MVP. Good product design is interdisciplinary.
This is where design thinking and cross-functional teamwork shine. Design isn’t linear; design is a process that evolves with every round of testing.
Final Thoughts on UX Design for MVPs
Whether you're a startup founder, a UX designer, or part of a growing team, mastering MVP UX design will determine the trajectory of your product. Building a product with just enough to satisfy early users, gather insights, and improve is an art. But without a focus on UX, it’s a shot in the dark.
Always return to the user. Design around their problems. Validate with real data. And remember, your MVP is not just a technical prototype — it's your first impression. Make it a good one.
