Lean UX vs Agile UX — same destination, different routes.
Lean UX starts with uncertainty.
Agile UX starts with execution.
Lean UX asks:
“Should we build this at all?”
Agile UX asks:
“How do we build this better, faster, and repeatedly?”
Lean UX shines when:
• You’re exploring a new problem
• Assumptions are risky
• User needs are unclear
• Learning matters more than speed
Agile UX shines when:
• Direction is already set
• Teams need rhythm and velocity
• Incremental value matters
• Shipping consistently is critical
Where teams struggle is not choosing one —
but skipping the transition.
They jump into sprints
without learning.
Or keep researching
without ever shipping.
The strongest teams know when to:
→ Slow down to learn
→ Speed up to deliver
Lean UX reduces risk.
Agile UX increases momentum.
Real product maturity is knowing when to switch gears.
Does your team spend more time validating ideas or executing decisions — and is that balance actually intentional?
