In which design step do designers collaborate to develop the product's appearance?

The design step where designers collaborate to develop the product's appearance is the design phase. During this phase, the focus is on translating research insights and user needs into visual representations and prototypes. Designers work together to establish the look and feel of the product, including elements such as color schemes, typography, iconography, and overall layout.

This phase is crucial because it lays the foundation for the user interface and user experience. By collaborating, designers can share ideas, provide feedback, and work towards a unified vision that aligns with the objectives identified in the research phase. Creating visual prototypes in this stage helps clarify concepts, making it easier to identify potential issues early on and refine designs based on collaboration and testing.

In contrast, the other steps have distinct focuses: research is about understanding users and gathering insights, testing involves evaluating designs with real users to gather feedback on usability, and implementation is where the final product is developed based on the designs. Each step has its unique contribution to the design process, but developing the product's appearance specifically occurs during the design phase.