3 UX Design Tips Every Startup Should Follow
Design insights from Samia Saleem - a 20yr veteran in UX design
Samia Saleem brings over 20 years of UX design experience, having led teams at companies like Unity Technologies, Nike, and various startups. Currently, she advises both early and late-stage startups on design strategy. We asked her to share her top three tips for startup founders looking to build successful products—here’s what she had to say:
1. Talk to Users Early and Often
It sounds simple, but many teams skip this step because they’re too attached to their ideas. Get out of your comfort zone:
Reach out to friends, your network, or even friends-of-friends who resemble your target users.
Ask for 15-20 minutes of their time and, if possible, offer a small gesture like coffee or a gift card.
Start with basic questions:
What’s your first impression of my app or website?
What would you click on first?
Would you share this with a friend?
Look for patterns in the feedback. If three or more people highlight the same issue, it’s worth addressing.
2. Define User Personas and Journey Maps
Understanding your users is key to building better products. Start by:
Creating User Personas: Personas are fictional characters that represent your target users. For example, Jake, a front-end developer, might:
Have 5 years of experience.
Enjoy experimenting with new React projects.
Mapping the User Journey: Chart your user’s experience before, during, and after using your product. Tools like FigJam or Miro work well for this. Involve your team and, if possible, real users to validate assumptions.
Journey maps expose gaps, opportunities, and pain points, helping you prioritize solutions in your product roadmap.
3. Perfect Your Onboarding Experience
The onboarding process is your first impression—it must be seamless and intuitive. Pay attention to:
How many steps are required to sign up.
Error messages, validations, and the clarity of instructions.
Usability testing: Ask users to walk through your onboarding flow and provide feedback.
Investing in onboarding can dramatically improve user retention and satisfaction.
By applying these tips, startups can create user-centered products that not only meet user needs but also drive growth. Remember: Small, thoughtful steps can make a huge difference!
Upcoming Lynx Collective Events
(Jan 7) Inside: Forum Ventures W/ Olivia O'Sullivan - Forum Ventures is the leading early-stage fund, accelerator and venture studio for B2B SaaS startups. Founded in 2014, we’re on a mission to make the B2B SaaS journey easier, more accessible, and successful for early-stage founders. In this talk you'll hear from Olivia O'Sullivan about all the ways they invest in early stage startups.
(Jan 15) Connect & Capitalize: Investor-Founder Mixer - Come hang out at Connect & Capitalize: Investor-Founder Mixer, part of our monthly series bringing startup founders and VCs together. This is a chance to meet the investment teams at NextwaveNYC, Flybridge, BenchsrengthVC and select angel investors!
(Jan 22) Fundraising Founders + Investors Dinner - Join fellow founders currently in the fundraising process for an intimate, casual dinner with 3 VC investors.