Do you think that UX work is a relevant step when working in low-code? Do you proceed in a different way to a traditional development project?

Jeanne : Of course,UX is absolutely essential in a low-code project because it ensures that the application fully meets user expectations and business objectives beyond mere technical functionality. Pre-designed components in tools like OutSystems accelerate development, but they are not sufficient to create a seamless, intuitive, and engaging experience without proper UX work.

Unlike a traditional project where everything is custom-built, low-code requires adapting to the constraints of available components. This emphasizes the importance of early collaboration with developers to validate technical feasibility and adjust designs accordingly.

José : UX work remains a highly relevant step in low-code development. In fact, it plays a critical role as a pre-stage phase that sets the foundation for the product’s design. This phase allows the UX team and the product owner to collaborate closely, sketching out the product’s mockups and aligning on key features before any development begins.

What makes this approach even more valuable is the enhanced collaboration it fosters between the development team and the product owner. By creating UX prototypes early on, teams can establish a quicker feedback loop, ensuring the design evolves in line with business expectations and user needs.

Knowing that the effort to develop, and specially to maintain, the UX mockups is less than the required effort when using another programming language, it not only speeds up the process of presenting a mockup but also reduces the overall time needed to iterate and refine the design.

Once the UX design is in place, whether using low-code or traditional development languages, it serves as a clear guide for the development team. This ensures that the final product is both functional and closely aligned with the vision of the business, resulting in a more efficient and streamlined development process.

From a technical perspective, how does a low-code platform like OutSystems support the integration of UX principles?

Jeanne : Platforms like OutSystems make it easier to integrate UX principles by providing comprehensive component libraries that follow design best practices. These components are easily customizable to meet the specific needs of each project while ensuring overall consistency. Additionally, all components are designed to be responsive, delivering a smooth experience across different devices. They also incorporate accessibility features, such as appropriate color contrasts, semantic tags, and keyboard navigation, ensuring an inclusive user experience that complies with accessibility standards.

José : From a technical standpoint, OutSystems offers robust support for integrating UX principles through its intuitive, visual development environment. The platform empowers developers to quickly create web and mobile applications with pixel-perfect precision, enabling seamless alignment with design goals.

One of the key strengths of OutSystems is its library of pre-built UI components, which can be easily dragged and dropped during the development process. These components significantly reduce the effort and time needed to translate UX prototypes into a functioning low-code application. For projects requiring more customization, the platform also allows developers to create new, bespoke UI elements to meet specific design needs.

The platform’s responsive design capabilities are another key advantage, allowing applications to adapt seamlessly across a variety of devices, including mobile phones, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and desktops. This ensures that the user experience remains consistent and optimized, regardless of the device being used.

In line with modern best practices for accessibility, OutSystems adheres to the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, ensuring that both pre-built UI components and the base theme are designed with inclusivity in mind. This makes it easier for developers to create applications that are accessible to all users.

How do low-code platforms enhance collaboration between UX designers and developers throughout a project?

Jeanne : Low-code platforms improve collaboration by providing intuitive visual tools that simplify communication and co-creation. Designers can create interactive prototypes directly using the component library familiar to developers, enabling developers to quickly understand and implement design intentions. With real-time modifications and a shared visual language based on components, both teams can iterate together more effectively.

José : Low-code platforms are designed to streamline the development process by automating repetitive coding tasks and abstracting technical debt, which significantly reduces the development effort. This allows developers to focus more on the creative and strategic aspects of a project. At the same time, these platforms are built with flexibility in mind, offering easy and seamless customization of front-end layouts.

This combination of automation and customization fosters real-time collaboration between UX designers and developers throughout the project. As both teams work together within the platform, they can fine-tune the user experience in a way that would be much more challenging with traditional development methods.

How do you ensure that user-centric design remains at the heart of projects, even when speed and efficiency are key priorities in low-code development?

Jeanne : Many people view the UX phase as time-consuming, but in reality, it aligns perfectly with the philosophy of low-code platforms, which prioritize speed and efficiency. By identifying user needs early and designing clear user journeys and prototypes, you provide developers with a solid foundation. This speeds up development and ensures an optimal user experience. UX doesn’t slow down the project—it makes it more efficient.

José : User-centric design and development efficiency are not opposing forces; rather, they complement each other and work together to create a more impactful product. Both principles play crucial roles at different stages of the product lifecycle. The key to balancing them lies in understanding the importance of usability and design quality, particularly when the product is intended for a wide audience. By investing more effort upfront in crafting a strong, user-focused design, you can streamline the development process in later stages, allowing for a more efficient, lean approach that stays closely aligned with business goals.

This approach is particularly effective when using Agile methodologies. By gathering feedback from the business at the end of each iteration, the team can focus on refining the core functionalities of the product, leaving less room for rework on the UX design. This allows the design to remain at the heart of the project while maintaining a fast and efficient development cycle.

What advice would you give to companies looking to embark on their first low-code project while prioritizing UX?

Jeanne : Incorporating a prototyping phase is never a waste of time or money. On the contrary, they will benefit from the speed of prototype creation through component libraries, allowing the UX designer to spend more time with users to refine the product and meet their needs. It’s also crucial for UX designers to stay involved throughout the project, testing features to ensure accessibility. Furthermore, the designer must ensure that the content added by developers is clear and understandable, which is an aspect that is difficult to fully address during the prototyping phase.

José : For companies new to low-code, the advice is clear: invest in upfront UX design, involve key stakeholders early, and ensure that the development team has a clear vision of both business needs and user expectations. By striking the right balance, you can deliver a product that meets both your business goals and user-centric standards, all while benefiting from the speed and efficiency that low-code platforms offer.