# Using Viability and Feasibility to Guide Ambiguous Design Projects

DevFeed: [Using Viability and Feasibility to Guide Ambiguous Design Projects](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/turning-ambiguity-into-opportunity-how-8th-light-designers-innovate-from-the-unknown-33273.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://8thlight.com/insights/human-centered-design-clarity>)

Author: Agustin Sanchez

Published: 2025-07-25T05:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [8th Light Insights](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/8th-light-insights.md>)

Topics: [iteration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/iteration.md>), [Testing](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/testing.md>), [Users](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/users.md>)

Tags: [experiential-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/experiential-design.md>), [experiment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/experiment.md>), [human-centered-design](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/human-centered-design.md>), [iteration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/iteration.md>), [onboarding](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/onboarding.md>), [value](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/value.md>)

## AI overview

This article presents human-centered design as a way to navigate ambiguous projects. It explains how defining business objectives and measurable outcomes establishes viability, while testing ideas early and iterating helps assess feasibility and reduce risk.

## Source excerpt

Updated 7/25/2025. Originally published 12/10/2024 Ambiguity in design isn't a roadblock -- it's an opportunity. Design ingenuity thrives in the gray area where rules haven't been written, and solutions are waiting to be discovered. So how do you turn "I have no idea where to start" into breakthrough ideas that actually work? At 8th Light, our approach is anchored in the three pillars of human-centered design: viability, feasibility, and desirability. These are the tools that transform chaos into clarity and make ambiguity your ally, not your enemy. Viability: Define Your Destination Before Picking the Route The truth is, you don't need to know the "how" right away. However, you absolutely need to know the "why." Viability ensures your team stays aligned with business objectives, reducing costly detours and keeping your efforts focused on delivering measurable value. Picture this: You're tasked with fixing an outdated customer onboarding process. The details are vague, but the goal is crystal clear -- reduce the time it takes for new users to find value. Once you've mastered the "why," the rest becomes an experiment. Early setbacks are simply data points, guiding you toward smarter decisions. Viability keeps you aligned with business objectives, ensuring that every test and rapid iteration thereafter, serves a purpose. Pro tip: Start every ambiguous project with these two questions: What are we trying to achieve? Why does this matter? -> Takeaway: Before starting a project, define clear business objectives and measurable outcomes. Use these as your north star to guide every decision. Feasibility: Stop Guessing, Start Testing With your goals in place, it's time to embrace the unknown and start experimenting. Feasibility minimizes risk by validating ideas early, reducing the chance of expensive missteps, and accelerating your path to market-ready solutions, encouraging you to iterate effectively to reach the solution. It answers the question: Can we actually build this?