When starting a new product or redesign project, one of the biggest hurdles isn’t design skill — it’s communication.
Even the most talented UI Designer can only create great work if they clearly understand what problem the design is solving and who it’s for. Yet, this is where many projects stumble: in the very first step — giving requirements.Let’s explore the most common mistakes teams make when briefing UI designers, and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Explaining How the Product Works Technically
Many project owners begin their briefing by explaining the system — how the backend functions, how data flows, or what the API endpoints do.
While those details matter for developers, they don’t help a designer create an intuitive interface.
UI design isn’t about what happens under the hood — it’s about how people interact with the product.
✅ What to do instead:
Explain the user’s journey, not the system’s architecture.
Instead of saying:
“The admin can pull data from the database and update the table.”
Say:
“The admin logs in to quickly check today’s new sign-ups. They should be able to filter or sort results easily and export data if needed.”
This gives context — what the user wants to achieve and why — so the designer can shape the interface around those goals.
Explain the user’s journey, not the system’s architecture
Mistake 2: Giving Feature Lists Without Stories
A list of features is not a design brief.
When designers receive requirements like “Dashboard, Settings, Reports, Notifications,” they have no idea how or why those features matter.
Designing interfaces is storytelling.
Every button, color, and layout choice comes from understanding the story behind the task.
✅ What to do instead:
Describe scenarios — short stories of how real people will use the product.
Example:
“Sarah, a small business owner, logs in every morning to see how many orders were shipped overnight. She prefers a quick summary rather than complex charts.”
This helps the designer visualize Sarah’s priorities — speed, clarity, and overview — which guide layout and hierarchy decisions better than a feature list ever could.
Image Credit: by Freepik
Mistake 3: Using Technical Jargon Instead of Human Language
Designers thrive on clarity and context, not acronyms and system terms.
When requirements include sentences like “Implement UI for OMS sync API with JWT token validation,” the designer is left guessing what the user actually sees or does.
✅ What to do instead:
Speak in the user’s language.
For example:
“The user can connect their online store to this tool. Once connected, they’ll see their orders and customer details appear in real-time.”It’s still accurate — but now it’s understandable.
The designer can imagine what the user sees, not what the code does.
Mistake 4: Ignoring User Personas
Without clear personas, a designer doesn’t know who they’re designing for — a beginner? a tech-savvy admin? a busy doctor?
When the target user isn’t defined, design decisions become generic. The interface might look polished but fail to resonate with real users.
✅ What to do instead:
Explain who the user is, what they need, and what frustrates them.
Example:
“Ravi is a field sales executive. He uses his phone more than his laptop. He needs quick access to customer info even when offline.”
This gives the designer direction: mobile-first design, simplified navigation, larger tap targets, and offline-friendly UI decisions.
Mistake 5: Missing Emotional Context
Design isn’t only about function — it’s about feeling.
How should users feel when they use your product? Confident? Calm? Energized?
Without this emotional direction, designers can’t align visual style with brand intent.
✅ What to do instead:
Describe the emotional goal.
Example:
“We want the onboarding to feel welcoming and easy, like someone is guiding you step by step — not overwhelming with too much text.”
This small addition gives your designer a powerful creative anchor.
The Golden Rule: Tell the Story, Not the System
When giving requirements, think like a storyteller:
- Who is the main character (user persona)?
- What problem are they trying to solve?
- What frustrates them today?
- How will your product make that easier?
When designers understand the story, they can design solutions that feel natural — not just functional.
Tell the Story, Not the System
Final Thoughts
A great UI Designer doesn’t just make things look pretty — they translate human stories into visual experiences.
To help them do their best work:
- Speak in simple language.
- Share user stories.
- Describe goals and emotions, not just features.
Because when you give requirements as a story, you’re not just briefing a designer — you’re building a shared understanding of your users.
And that’s where great design truly begins. 🎨✨
