Problem Statement 🚩 Prompts

SUMMARY

Purpose: Problem Statement (also called Problem Framing) defines the core user need or design opportunity based on insights, not assumptions.

Design Thinking Phase: Define

Time: 45–60 min session + 1–2 hours analysis

Difficulty: ⭐⭐

When to use:After completing initial user researchWhen prioritising problems to solveBefore ideating or scoping new features

What it is

Problem Framing is a critical UX methodology used to articulate clear, user-centred problem statements. Rather than jumping straight into solutions, teams define what problem is worth solving and for whom — with a tight focus on real needs backed by evidence. It's a foundational step in human-centred design and enables truly relevant innovation.

📺 Video by NNgroup. Embedded for educational reference.

Why it matters

Framing the right problem ensures your team isn't wasting time solving for symptoms or internal assumptions. A well-formed problem statement aligns design, engineering, and product with a shared understanding of what matters most to users. When it's done well, it prevents feature bloat, reduces rework, and grounds innovation in real behaviour and lived experience.

When to use

• After foundational research efforts — interviews, usability tests, survey synthesis
• As part of a design sprint or UX discovery initiative
• When stakeholder assumptions begin to dominate roadmap discussions

Benefits

• Rich Insights: Helps uncover user needs that aren’t visible in metrics.
• Flexibility: Works across various project types and timelines.
• User Empathy: Deepens understanding of behaviours and motivations.

How to use it

Use this step-by-step guide to facilitate a structured problem framing session:

• Step 1: Assemble your team — include UX, PM, and engineering voices.
• Step 2: Review insights from research. Use quotes, themes, or journey maps.
• Step 3: Ask: What is the core user need we’re solving? Push for evidence, not assumption.
• Step 4: Draft a problem statement template using this format:"[User type] needs a way to [do what] because [insight]."
• Step 5: Test alternative framings. Check for scope, clarity, and relevance.
• Step 6: Align stakeholders on the chosen problem before ideation begins.

Example Output

Problem Statement: “Busy parents need a way to quickly verify food allergy information when shopping, because current labels are inconsistent and hard to scan under time pressure.”

Supporting Insight: From 12 diary studies and 5 in-store shadowing sessions, 8 participants expressed anxiety when choosing packaged foods. Label checking disrupted their flow and prolonged visits by 10+ minutes.

Common Pitfalls

• Jumping to solutions: Teams often frame solutions ("Add a filter") as problems. Reorient to the user need.
• Too broad or vague: Avoid framing catch-all problems—stay focused and actionable.
• Stakeholder bias: Ensure the problem reflects actual user needs, not internal pressure or legacy goals.

10 Design-Ready AI Prompts for Problem Statement – UX/UI Edition

How These Prompts Work (C.S.I.R. Framework)

Each of the templates below follows the C.S.I.R. method — a proven structure for writing clear, effective prompts that get better results from ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or any other LLM.

C.S.I.R. stands for:

• Context: Who you are and the UX situation you're working in
• Specific Info: Key design inputs, tasks, or constraints the AI should consider
• Intent: What you want the AI to help you achieve
• Response Format: The structure or format you want the AI to return (e.g. checklist, table, journey map)

Level up your career with smarter AI prompts.Get templates used by UX leaders — no guesswork, just results.Design faster, research smarter, and ship with confidence.First one’s free. Unlock all 10 by becoming a member.

Prompt Template 1: “Frame a Clear UX Problem Statement”

Frame a Clear UX Problem Statement

Context: You are a UX designer synthesising findings from a recent discovery phase for a mobile app. 
Specific Info: You have interview data from [7 users], usability pain points, and a prioritised insight cluster focused on [navigation confusion and trust signals]. 
Intent: Help me create a validated problem statement that reflects the core issue, supported by real user insights. 
Response Format: Return a suggested UX problem statement using the format “User needs a way to [action] because [insight]”, with 1-2 sentences of rationale based on the findings.

Ask clarifying questions about the user type or behaviours if any data seems incomplete.
Then, offer one potential reframing variation to provoke discussion.