If you're learning Product Design, it can be overwhelming to know where to start and what should be in scope.

Here are some topic and materials organised by the layers of my diagram the elements of product design.

I think all designers need some ability and appreciation of each of these layers. But don't worry that you need to be an expert at everything. It's common to develop a T-shape with one layer you're strongest at.

Climbing the layers from bottom to top:

Problem Space

Solution Space > Product and service strategy

Learn how to decide where to intervene in the experience, what goals to set, and how to prioritise.

Solution Space > Conceptual modelling

Learn about information architecture. If you have an engineering background you'll have a advantage here already having to think in terms of data models: objects and relationships.

Solution Space > Interaction

  • Discipline: Usability and Usability Testing
  • Book: Don’t Make Me Think - Steve Krug
  • Book: Rocket Surgery Made Easy - Steve Krug
  • Discipline: Interaction Design — the patterns depend a bit on platform - web or native and mobile or desktop, learn the patterns for one inside out
  • Discipline: service design
  • Idea: pay attention to the apps you use - watch other people use apps, observe their struggles and try to explain why

Solution Space > Surface

Other

These are not specific to any layer. They are more like mindsets and soft skills that are helpful for ddesigners.

  • Discipline: Lean - knowing how to improve flow by monitoring and reducing cycle time of your work
  • Discipline: Agile - knowing how to deliver true value frequently to de-risk as you go
  • Discipline: Pivot Triggers - to manage risk and pivot when necessary, avoiding zombie projects
  • Discipline: Experimentation - Picking appropriate experimentation methods, e.g. A/B testing
  • Discipline: Facilitation, workshops
  • Discipline: Communication, negotiation, difficult conversations - The Mutual Learning Model and Non-violent Communication