Creating Products 101

Stage #1: Conceptualize Your Idea First

I would normally start by creating a mind map for ‘testing’, and all other pieces that are considered ‘good’ would just naturally come out from that exercise. It should be edited as many times as possible within the timeframe you have. It is the creative's prerogative to judge when a project is ready for production — or whatever — to move the project forward.

I believe there's no harm in sharing, even if idea is just in the initial stages. As the saying goes: Ideas are cheap, execution is everything. If you believe you're onto something that could positively impact a business process or an aspect of people's lives, do thorough research of your industry of interest and the existing market players. Most importantly, reach out to potential users to better understand their needs. These are primary steps to ensure that you're creating a solution to a real and existing problem.

My ideas typically arrive because of subconscious research rather than the other way around. I consume a ton of content every day, whether it’s newsletters, articles, or podcasts, and useful thoughts naturally brew in my head to the point where it hits me and then I act on them as fast as I can. Take my project 8px, for example. It was the result of months of other work: writing articles, helping organize events. I naturally landed at the reasonable question: “Hey, why don’t I just host my own articles?” From there, it spiraled into the interview series it is now.‍‍‍‍

Stage #2: Is Prototyping Necessary? Not really

Bryan Lazatin
Founder, Design Director at VZKO Digital

For the most part yes, but from experience, FIRST you have to envision the outcome you're looking to achieve without worrying about any possible constraints, then reverse engineer the processes you would have to go through in order to get to that vision you initially have. Every creative is different and has different ways to come up with a multitude of solutions.

‍Mirela Prifti
Сo-founder at MATECHS

Better show than tell. I've heard of startups that have received funding by simply presenting a static prototype. Developing a project is a continuous learning process, and the sooner you start thinking in practical terms, the more chances you have for improvement. Just make sure you pick the right tool for the job, so you don't end up losing focus and wasting time trying to learn all the no-code tools out there :)

Luis Ouriach
Design Advocate at Figma

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I’d ask ‘should a creator do anything by themselves?’ It really comes down to your own skill set, and how much you value your own time. If it’s going to take you six hours to build this prototype because you lack the skills, while you could hire someone who could do it in one, shouldn’t you spend those five hours on more impactful projects that could probably have a more significant impact on your revenue?

Stage #3: Collaboration Is Not About a Paycheck

Bryan Lazatin
Founder, Design Director at VZKO Digital

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Of course, many creators function through deep emotional passion for whatever it is they love doing. People will do things without pay if it invigorates their mind and soul through the work they produce.

‍Mirela Prifti
Сo-founder at MATECHS 

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Focus your efforts and energy on things that make you feel good and satisfied on any level. Keep the enthusiasm high! Keep the compensation for your collaborative work high, too.

Luis Ouriach
Design Advocate at Figma 

I wish this was the case. The amount of times I’ve tried to work on free projects with people only for them to fail fast is amazing. In my experience, this has been the case particularly for engineers. With a skill set in such demand, why would you work for free? I’d love to have a network of creators who want to work on something with a longer term goal, I just haven’t found them yet.

Stage #4: About Investors

Bryan Lazatin
Founder, Design Director at VZKO Digital

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Networking has been the key to my success. Word of mouth through friends, co-workers, and past clients have also helped me to be seen in the industry I'm in. 

‍Mirela Prifti
Сo-founder at MATECHS 

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Showing practical business use cases makes the difference in moving the conversation forward with investors. Depending on the project goals and the development stage, startups can apply for an incubator or accelerator program or pitch to VCs or private investors

Luis Ouriach
Design Advocate at Figma 

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This naturally lands at the importance of community in building anything. If you’re networking in person or on social media, you will already have a receptive audience when you start building something. It’s this audience that can be helpful in terms of further connections and investment opportunities. 

Stage #5: Attracting Users

‍Bryan Lazatin
Founder, Design Director at VZKO Digital

As a creator, I let my own work speak for me. If my work is designed or created beautifully, then it should need no further explanation. It should be able to tell its own story without me having to tell it myself.

Mirela Prifti
Сo-founder at MATECHS

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Community building is essential in getting to know your users better and exploring ways to improve their experience with your product or solution. For example, build-in-public is a strategy followed by many startup projects recently. It’s about creating awareness and a community around your project before launching it. I suggest searching the #BuildInPublic hashtag on Twitter to learn more about it.

Luis Ouriach
Design Advocate at Figma

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Before you’ve even written the first line of code, think about how you can build your own network of potential customers and fans. Having a well-known story or journey is helpful as you start to transform your vision into something tangible. Rather than going and spending six months on building a tool based on your own hunches, speak with your target market and test or validate your concepts with them as you build.

Rather than going and spending six months on building a tool based on your own hunches, speak with your target market and test or validate your concepts with them as you build.

Extra: Pro Tip on Being a Modern Creator

‍Bryan Lazatin
Founder, Design Director at VZKO Digital

I consider myself a ‘lean’ creative as I never follow any rules or guidelines. It is a risk that I always welcome as it keeps me motivated and organically open to coming up with solutions without boundaries.

Mirela Prifti
Сo-founder at MATECHS

Celebrate your accomplishments and move on. Use that good energy for the next steps necessary for future achievements and make sure everything you do is aligned with your final goal.

Luis Ouriach
Design Advocate at Figma

Create a process that works for you, rather than blindly following guidelines set by others in different situations and industries.

Entrepreneur’s opinion

Soft Skills Are Essential for Creators

I can say with confidence that soft skills are precisely what I've developed while building FlowMapp. The ability to endure. The ability to achieve the intended goals, despite the constant failures and numerous obstacles. The ability to stay hopeful in the most hopeless situations. These are essential things that will help you lead your team forward.

Top-3 Common Mistakes to Avoid

The main problem of every founder is themselves. Mistakes that I advise that you fight continually:

• Self-confidence
• Relying on personal beliefs, the desire to go faster instead of researching deeper
• Ignoring the opinions of team members.

Be consistent and patient. Listen to your surroundings. It will allow you to avoid the mental traps of your mind.

Would you like to share your own experience of building an innovative product? Send your stories and tips to serafima@flowmapp.com with the subject 'Building products on your own’ or comment on the post with this interview on Facebook or LinkedIn!‍‍

Author: Marsel Tukhvatshin