Understanding Ambiguous Design Requirements: A Developer’s Dilemma

Navigating vague project directives can be a challenging aspect of development work. Recently, I encountered a situation that highlighted the importance of clear communication and the potential pitfalls of assumptions when interpreting project requirements.

The Scenario

I was assigned a task with a very minimal instruction: “Create the brand’s look and feel.” Unfortunately, there was no accompanying Figma file, design mockups, screenshots, or visual references—only the company logo was provided. Naturally, I interpreted this as a request to develop the visual identity elements, including colors, typography, and overall aesthetic consistency. To accomplish this efficiently, I crafted a dynamic theming system that utilized configuration parameters to manage global styles, ensuring easy updates and scalability.

The Unexpected Turn

Later in the week, after presenting my initial implementation, I was informed that the actual goal was to enhance the visual appeal specifically for the login screen using the brand’s colors. I suggested extending the theming logic to cover this specific screen as well, aiming for a unified look across the application. However, I received little feedback, and shortly thereafter, I was notified that I was being removed from the project.

The experience was further complicated by some unprofessional remarks from the project manager during daily standups, which felt dismissive rather than constructive.

Reflecting on the Situation

This experience raises important questions for developers and project managers alike:

• How do you approach tasks with minimal or ambiguous instructions?
• Was my focus on developing a scalable, global theming solution misguided in this context?
• What strategies can be employed to clarify expectations and prevent misunderstandings?

Conclusion

Ambiguity in project requirements can lead to misaligned deliverables and potentially impact team dynamics. When faced with vague directives such as “create the brand’s look and feel,” proactive communication and validation become essential. Clarifying scope, requesting visual references, or confirming specific goals early on can save time and prevent misunderstandings.

Have you encountered similar situations? How did you handle them? Sharing your experiences can help others navigate the complexities of design and development collaboration more effectively.