Three design strategies for a successful MVP

At Osedea, no two projects are exactly alike. We work with clients at all stages of business growth, from startups with a fresh idea to established companies needing to redesign complex solutions. A key part of our process is guiding clients through the Discovery Process to create a user-focused Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We achieve this by running tailored prioritization workshops that help identify the product's core needs.

Why we prioritize

Prioritization workshops bring stakeholders together, deepen our understanding of business goals, and ensure we focus on the features that matter most to end-users. By prioritizing, we take an iterative approach that allows us to quickly begin designing and developing, reducing time to market and enabling scalable, cost-effective product growth over time.

Choosing the right prioritization method

Our expertise lies in selecting the right prioritization method for each project. We tailor our strategy to your unique situation. Our approach also depends on which of the four phases of the Discovery Process we are in: 

1. Understand: We identify the exact problem your product aims to solve by diving deep into your business and talking directly to your users.
2. Ideate: We create a blueprint for the solution, brainstorming ideas to solve the identified problems.
3. Shape: Once we’ve validated our solutions, we bring them to life through user interface designs, working on screens, design system components, and prototypes. ‍
4. Plan: In this phase, we hand over the roadmap and recommendations, setting you up for success in the next steps.

Real-world success: applying prioritization to drive results

Now, let's look at how we used three prioritization methods during our Discovery Process to help three clients in the health industry create strategic development roadmaps.

Example 1: prioritizing for impact for a startup with high-level features

How we used the impact-complexity matrix to prioritize features for a high-fidelity prototype.

The client
A neuropsychologist-led startup developing a tool to manage patient files and automate reporting using AI (freeing up time for patient care). 

The goal
To design a high-fidelity prototype that highlights key features and impresses investors, securing funding for development.

Discovery context

Early in the Discovery Process, we generated more ideas than we could explore within our 7-week collaboration. We conducted a vision workshop, experience mapping, and validated functionalities as user stories. With a clear understanding of the product vision, we were ready to begin ideating but needed to focus our efforts to ensure a high-impact prototype by the end of our design work.

Prioritization workshop and methodology

We used an impact-complexity matrix to prioritize high-level features and encourage focused ideation. This visual tool maps out the relative user value against the complexity of implementation, helping us focus on high-impact, low-complexity features first. We assess ideas based on their impact (the value they bring to the end-user) and their complexity (the effort needed to create, such as the number of screens and interaction complexity).

Using this matrix, we divide ideas into four categories:

• Quick wins (high-value, low-effort)
• Big bets (high-value, high-effort)
• Money pits (low-impact, high-effort)
• Fill-ins (low-impact, low-effort)

Outcome

This prioritization exercise helped the client understand which parts of the app were quick wins and which were big bets that could set them apart from competitors. The matrix guided us in planning the prototype to provide maximum value for end-users and showcase the product's potential to investors. We entered the ideation phase with clear objectives, and the client had a prioritized backlog of features for future development.

Example 2: prioritizing opportunities for an established business redesign 

How we used the “How Might We?” method to prioritize opportunities before focusing on solutions.

The client
An established health sector business specializing in psychometric assessments.

The goal
To modernize the user experience of their existing tool and re-develop it as a web app, addressing the client’s growing business needs.

Discovery context

After completing a Vision workshop, UX audit, experience mapping, and user flows, we identified four areas for improvement: 

• Essential UX focuses
• Main feature opportunities
• Ongoing personalization
• Growth strategies 

Unlike the first example, the problems we wanted to solve were not fully defined during our Understand phase. We needed to remain open to different solutions instead of settling on an answer too quickly.

Prioritization workshop and methodology

Being comfortable with uncertainty is a key part of the Design Thinking process. At this stage, we focused on high-level themes and pain points before brainstorming solutions. We used the "How Might We" (HMW) method to reframe problems into opportunities. This method encourages teams to phrase challenges as questions starting with "How might we...?," which opens up space for creative solutions.

For example, within the main feature opportunities, our client highlighted challenges with managing user assessments. Some guiding questions were:

• How might we make assessment scheduling more flexible?
• How might we make assessments less intimidating?
• How might we make it easier to find assessments and participants?

These questions kept us open to various solutions and ensured we addressed the right problems. 

Once we had reviewed the list of HMWs with our client, we were able to discuss which opportunities would be most valuable to explore in the Ideation phase. We prioritized these opportunities into three buckets: Must Have, Should Have, and Nice to Have.

Outcome

From the 82 opportunities we identified during our Understand phase, we narrowed the “Must Have” focus to about half. This approach allowed us to generate solutions that addressed real user problems without limiting ourselves early on, leading to a radically different approach to the user experience of their existing product. Only after landing on the right answers to our problems did we refine our solutions to turn into high fidelity mockups in the Shape phase.

Example 3: story mapping a development roadmap for a product redesign 

How we adapted the MoSCOW prioritization method to propose an MVP that retained existing features while introducing new ideas.

The client
Veterinary anesthesiologists with a self-built tool adapted for various complex workflows in veterinary clinics and university research centers.

The goal
To conceptualize a new version of their web-based tool, creating a comprehensive development roadmap that builds on their existing solution.

Discovery context

At the end of the Shape phase, we had defined the core user flows, delivered high-fidelity mockups, and created a clickable prototype for key areas of the app. To estimate the effort needed to develop the app, we embarked on our Plan phase. Our developers reviewed all the design work and proposed strategies for approaching the development of the work completed during the Discovery Process.

Prioritization workshop and methodology

We created a detailed list of 129 user stories from the high-fidelity mockups and used the MoSCoW analysis to prioritize features. MoSCoW analysis is a popular prioritization method, created by Dai Clegg, that groups items into four categories:

• Must have: Essential to the project
• Should have: Very important, but not essential
• Could have: Nice to have
• Won't have: Not needed at this stage

Prioritizing an entire product can be challenging, especially when determining the effort needed for each category. We guide our clients through these discussions and suggest strategies for creating a development roadmap.

Outcome

Our stakeholders had an additional concern: their product was already in use, and they were worried about removing features in the new MVP that their users relied on. This led us to add an extra element to our matrix: whether a feature already exists in the current app.

Anything marked as “exists in app” was crucial to include as a “Must Have” in the MVP roadmap. The prioritization workshop provided a clear "to-do list" for our design team to estimate the remaining work and for developers to assess the technical effort. This served as a solid foundation for our Project Manager to deliver a detailed proposal with estimated costs for building the app, helping stakeholders present their plan and to secure funding.

Building for success with thoughtful prioritization

Effective prioritization is essential for turning complex ideas into successful digital products. It ensures that we make informed, strategic design decisions that lead to the right MVP for your business goals and user needs. Our tailored prioritization workshops empower clients to navigate the complexities of product development, from startups seeking to make a mark or established companies reimagining their solutions. 

Through thoughtful analysis and strategic planning, we deliver products that meet market demands and stand out in a competitive landscape. Our commitment to precise prioritization helps clients achieve their vision, accelerate their time to market, and ultimately drive business success.

Whether you're a startup aiming to make a mark or an established business looking to innovate, our prioritization workshops can guide you to the right MVP. Reach out to us to discuss how we can help you navigate the complexities of product development and accelerate your journey to market success.