As designers or researchers, we dream of the day our project strategies come to realization precisely as planned. With the best will in the world, that will never be the case, and this is because constraints and limitations are an everyday fact of life in UX design.
<aside> ℹ️ Externally imposed constraints are one type of constraint that designers or researchers may face, including technical limitations, time constraints, budget constraints, and resource limitations.
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Technical limitations may include constraints related to the hardware or software used to develop the product, while time constraints may limit the amount of time available to design and develop the product. Budget and resource limitations may also impact the design and development process, as designers must consider how to achieve the desired outcome within these constraints.
✦ Restricted timescales
✦ Restricted budgets
✦ Gaining access to target users
✦ Technical limitations
✦ Navigating political nuance
✦ Legal limitations
✦ Software factors.
The list of potential limitations on our lovely plans can be endless.
As frustrating as they can be, constraints can be the trigger for creativity and efficiency and help you develop your expertise and craft. Being able to respond to limitations with approaches that deliver is the sign of a good designer, researcher, or strategist. To be honest, it’s a sign of a good anything!
Aside from the externally imposed constraints listed above, there may also be self-imposed constraints that you place on your process or work – and these are not to be underestimated!
For example, when designing a mobile app for a small startup, the designers may have limited resources and a tight budget. This limitation may impact the features and functionality that can be included in the app, as well as the time available to design and develop the product. The designers may need to prioritize certain features and make trade-offs in order to meet the project goals within the given limitations.