What is the function of the 'strategy' layer in the UX design framework?

The strategy layer in the UX design framework serves a critical role in establishing a foundational understanding of both user needs and business goals. At this layer, designers conduct research to gain insights into their target audience, identifying what users want, their pain points, and their behaviors. Simultaneously, the strategy layer aligns these user insights with the overarching business objectives, ensuring that the design not only addresses user needs but also supports the goals of the organization.

This alignment is essential because it guides the design process, helping to prioritize features and functionalities that will deliver value to both users and the business. By focusing on this dual perspective, the strategy layer sets the direction for subsequent stages of the design process, ensuring that the resulting product is both user-centered and strategically sound.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of the design process. Defining the visual style and aesthetics pertains to the visual design layer, determining features and content aligns with the scope and structure of the product, and sketching layouts and user interfaces relates to the interaction and visual design stages. Each of those areas is important, but they come into play after the foundational strategy has been established.