From Problem to Solution: How We Design with Intention 

When people think of UX design, the first things that usually come to mind are visually appealing screens, clean interfaces, or modern components. However, the true value of user experience design lies not in aesthetics, but in its ability to solve real problems through functional, thoughtful, and user-centered solutions.

At Switch’s UX Studio, we approach every project from a strategic perspective. We know that a beautiful interface isn't enough if it’s not built on a solid foundation designed to make users' tasks easier. That’s why one of the key stages in our process is ideation and structuring—where we turn insights and findings into viable, effective solutions.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how we go from problem to solution using a collaborative, iterative, and human-centered approach.

Understand before you design

The first step toward the right solution is to fully understand the problem. This might sound obvious, but it’s not always easy. Often, the real problems aren’t where we first assume—they only become visible when we observe real user behavior, analyze workflows, or dive deeper into data.

That’s why, before jumping into ideation, we go through a research and analysis phase that helps us uncover the true needs, friction points, and opportunities. During this phase, we work closely with business and tech teams—and, when possible, with end users.

Through interviews, heuristic evaluations, process reviews, experience maps, and other techniques, we identify the critical points in the system or product we’re tackling. This gives us a clear picture of the current state and allows us to form improvement hypotheses that align both with business goals and user experience.

Ideation is not improvisation

Once we understand the context and the problem, it’s time to ideate. For us, ideation isn’t chaotic brainstorming or just a creative phase. It’s a methodical process rooted in concrete data and enriched by diverse perspectives to elevate design thinking.

In this stage, we run collaborative working sessions that combine techniques like rapid sketching, Crazy 8s, affinity voting, idea prioritization, and building ideal user flows. Often, we involve key client team members to co-create solutions, which we later refine based on technical feasibility and user desirability.

Ideating as a team offers two big advantages: it helps generate more and better alternatives, and it also fosters alignment among all stakeholders involved in the project.

Structuring: Giving shape to the solution

With ideas on the table, the next step is to structure them. This means defining how information is organized, how users navigate the solution, which tasks are prioritized, and how user needs are addressed.

Structuring involves making key decisions about information architecture, content hierarchy, and navigation flows. It’s the point where strategic thinking meets practical experience, and where every component, step, and interaction has a clear rationale.

At this stage, we start working with low- and mid-fidelity wireframes, navigation maps, flow diagrams, and clickable prototypes. These tools help us quickly visualize how the solution will work and validate concepts before moving into visual design.

Moreover, structuring things well from the beginning makes everything that follows easier: it gives development teams a clear guide, reduces rework, and shortens validation timelines.

Validate before moving forward

Before moving into visual design, we always recommend testing wireframes or prototypes with real users—when the project allows. Early validation is crucial to identify necessary adjustments, confirm that flows are intuitive, and ensure that decisions made work in practice.

Often, a simple testing session with three or four users can provide key insights that prevent costly mistakes down the road. It also helps us prioritize improvements and continue iterating with greater focus.

When testing with users isn’t feasible, we rely on internal reviews using heuristic criteria and cross-checking among team members with different specialties to ensure the solution is coherent, clear, and usable.

Designing with intention

Ideation and structuring are quiet stages that may not be visible when presenting the final design. But they are the heart of our methodology. That’s where the real value of the experience is defined—in how we solve, simplify, organize, and shape something that was once complex, confusing, or inefficient.

At Switch’s UX Studio, we don’t design from a visual standpoint—we design from intention. Every button, every interaction, every piece of content has a reason. And that reason is born in this process, where we move from problem to solution with method, empathy, and collaboration.

Because for us, designing isn’t just about building screens. It’s about thinking, validating, structuring, and ultimately translating all that into an experience that makes sense—for the people who use it and for the business that provides it.

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