Build Effective UX Teams for SaaS Products

The Different Roles in UX Design

Wondering who does what on a UX team? It's a common question. With all the different types of designers, Product Owners, Product Managers, and CPOs, it's easy to get confused. Is a Web Designer a UX Designer? Mystery… (hint: no!). To shed light on these essential roles, we invite you to check out our article that breaks it all down.

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk strategy: how do you build and evolve your UX team for a successful SaaS startup?

First things first, agility and efficiency are key in a startup. Building a high-performing UX team, even with limited resources, is essential for rapid, sustainable growth. Here's how different UX roles interact and collaborate, depending on the company's growth stage.

Strategy and Research Phase: Validate the Idea and Find Your Market Quickly

• The CPO (often the founder themselves in the beginning) defines the product vision and initial strategy. This is about finding the right product-market fit.
• The Product Manager, if one exists already, focuses on validating the idea and acquiring the first users. Experimentation is key.
• The UX Researcher, often internalized within other roles, conducts quick user tests and interviews to validate assumptions and iterate rapidly.

Design Phase: Building an Effective MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

• The Product Manager and the Product Owner (sometimes the same person in small teams) define the essential features of the MVP. The goal is to maximize impact with minimal resources.
• The Product Designer (a versatile profile often preferred in startups) designs the UX and UI of the MVP. Speed, efficiency, and good collaboration with the front-end developer are essential.
• A basic Design System is put in place by the Product Designer to ensure visual consistency and establish a solid foundation, even with limited resources.

Development Phase: Develop, Test, Iterate

• The Front-End Developer implements the MVP designs. Close collaboration with the Product Designer is essential for rapid iterations.
• The Back-End Developer builds the necessary technical infrastructure. Scalability is a major concern from the outset.
• Ideally, user testing is integrated into the development cycle to validate choices and continuously adjust.

Growth Phase: Adapting the Team to its Needs

• As the startup grows, the UX team can specialize. Dedicated roles for UI, UX research, UX writing, or Design Systems may emerge.
• The focus remains on agility and constant adaptation to market and user needs.

How to Build the Ideal UX Team for your SaaS?

Building the ideal UX or Product team for your SaaS is a strategic decision that directly impacts your product's success. The choice of profiles depends on several factors, including your company size, product complexity, budget, and development stage. Here are some tips to guide you:

The Product Designer: The Swiss Army Knife for Startups and Agile Projects

For startups and early-stage companies, or for small-scale projects, a versatile Product Designer is often the ideal solution. Able to handle both UX and UI, they offer excellent value and increased speed of execution. This role can often be easily outsourced. They are particularly well-suited for:

• Small teams: When resources are limited, a Product Designer can cover a broad spectrum of skills.
• Agile projects: Their versatility allows them to adapt quickly to changes and iterations.
• MVP (Minimum Viable Product): They can design the entire user experience of the MVP, from ideation to mockup creation.

Complex Projects: Specialized UX and UI Designers

For more mature companies with complex products and larger budgets, building a team with specialized UX and UI Designers can be a wise choice. This approach allows for:

• Specialized expertise: UX and UI specialists bring in-depth expertise in their respective fields, resulting in optimal design quality.
• Better scalability: The team can grow more easily based on project needs.
• Greater consistency: UI specialists can focus on creating and maintaining a robust Design System, ensuring visual consistency across all products.

Key Factors to Consider

• Company size: Startup or large company?
• Product complexity: Simple application or complex platform?
• Budget: Limited resources or substantial budget?
• Development stage: MVP, growth, maturity?

Other Roles to Consider

Don't forget other key UX roles, like the UX Researcher, the UX Writer, or the DesignOps Specialist, which can add significant value to your team, depending on your needs.

The ideal team is the one that matches your goals and resources. Feel free to adapt this advice to your specific context and call on experts if needed to help you build your dream UX team.

Conclusion

Building a high-performing UX team for a SaaS startup is an iterative process. Adapt your team to your needs and growth, often starting with a versatile Product Designer (even outsourced), then gradually integrating specialists (UI, UX, Research, etc.) as you develop. The key is to remain agile and prioritize collaboration.