Flowchart

The concept of flowcharting dates back to the 1920s, initially used in engineering and manufacturing to improve processes. As the field of UX design evolved, flowcharts became integral to the design process, helping teams communicate effectively and align on user flows.

Flowcharts can be simple or complex, depending on the process being represented. They are often used in conjunction with other UX design tools such as wireframes and prototypes to create a comprehensive picture of the user experience. By capturing both high-level overviews and detailed steps, flowcharts facilitate better decision-making and design choices.

Mapping out user journeys.

Identifying decision points and user actions.

Collaborating with team members to align on processes.

Documenting system workflows for future reference.

Testing and validating user flows through iterations.

Enhances clarity in understanding complex processes.

Facilitates communication among team members and stakeholders.

Helps identify potential user pain points and areas for improvement.

Supports better decision-making in design iterations.

Provides a visual reference for documentation and future projects.

Consider an e-commerce website where a flowchart is used to map the checkout process. The flowchart would illustrate each step a user takes from adding items to their cart, selecting payment methods, to receiving an order confirmation. By analyzing this flowchart, designers can identify where users might abandon their carts and make necessary adjustments to streamline the process.

Designing user onboarding processes for applications.

Creating customer service workflows for support teams.

Mapping out the steps in a multi-step form submission.

Visualizing the navigation structure of a website.

Documenting the process of a product or feature launch.

Flowcharts can become overly complex and difficult to follow if not kept simple.

They may not capture all nuances of user interactions without additional context.

Creating flowcharts can be time-consuming, especially for intricate processes.

Misinterpretation can occur if symbols are not used consistently.

Lucidchart - for creating detailed flowcharts collaboratively.

Microsoft Visio - a comprehensive diagramming tool.

Miro - for collaborative visual brainstorming and flowchart creation.

Draw.io - a free online flowchart tool.

Figma - for integrating flowcharts into UX design projects.