Design by Committee

Kevin LeebroderickUser Experience LeadTribune Company

July IXDA 2012 @ Tribune Company

DESIGN BY COMMITTEEMaintaining Sanity in an Agile Environment

Pradeep NayarFormer UX PrincipalTribune Company

Tuesday, July 31, 12

We are a

MEDIACOMPANY

23TV STATIONS

8NEWSPAPERS

50+WEBSITES


160years

oldTuesday, July 31, 12


5

PRIOR UX WORK


L.A. TIMES IPAD APP


L.A. TIMES WINDOWS

PHONE 7 APPTuesday, July 31, 12

CRIME L.A.ANDROID

APP


CHICAGO TRIBUNE

WINDOWS 8APP


Mobile

Social

Tablet

TV

Web

Strategy

CONCEPTS

10


PRIOR UX WORK

11

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

RESPONSIVE


“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE”PARTICIPATORY DESIGN

OUR GOAL

12


Redesigning the Stop sign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYngTuesday, July 31, 12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYng

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WE’RE AGILE!...almost


AGILE = COLLABORATION

15


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LET’S BRAINSTORM


Brainstorm meetings

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Lack focus

Progress too quickly to a solution

without exploring options

Most powerful, loud and/or

obnoxious person wins!

People get excited about an existing solution

rather than solving the problem

Some solutions are not cohesive

with the overall experience

CHALLENGE


“Brainstorm” in isolation

19

SOLUTION

Have a designated facilitator

Embrace divergent thinking;

conduct individual exploration

Conduct a design studio, not a BRAINSTORM MEETING!!!


THE CREW


THE CREW

STAKEHOLDERS

DEVELOPERS

PRODUCT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEAM UX


THE CREW

STAKEHOLDERS

DEVELOPERS

PRODUCT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEAM UX


SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

STAKEHOLDERS

DEVELOPERS

PRODUCT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEAM UX


TEAM UX


You are a design facilitator

25

SPOILER ALERT

In an agile environment...


Not enough time

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CHALLENGE


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SOLUTION

STARTSKETCHING!!!


NO EXCUSES!


SOLUTION

PRESENTinternally

CRITIQUEnot gut reaction

PROTOTYPETest it!

many ideas

SKETCH

rinse & repeat


Believe in your solution

30

You can’t sell it if you don’t believe it.


Never go aloneAlways tag team.

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SPOILER ALERT

VISUAL DESIGNER UX ARCHITECT

+


PRODUCT MANAGER


They are your closest ally but...

33

There is a grey area - work it out!


Let’s do what the N.Y. Times does...

34

CHALLENGE

“Follow the leader” approach.


Explain why it may not workTime to show your expertise on interface design.

35

SOLUTION

Look at other examples to force a conversation.

Focus on the problem you are trying to solve

and question the solution.


They might try to design the interface

36

CHALLENGE

Let them sketch ideas.


Be open to various forms of communication

37

SOLUTION

Remind them that your job is to make them look good.


They help push hard features forward

38

It’s important to maintain daily communication with them.


PROJECT MANAGER


They are usually the scrum master

40

A good project manager can make or break a project.


Over promises on deliverables

41

CHALLENGE

Trying to please an impatient stakeholder.


Be upfront and realistic about estimates

42

SOLUTION

Build on existing trust and confidence.

There is no such thing as over-communication.


DEVELOPERS


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Best friend or worst enemyThey make your ideas come to life.


Like reuse of code & efficiency

45

CHALLENGE

Solutions oriented around technology

rather than the needs of users.


46

Reality of agile developmentStuff always changes.


It’s all about building a better product

47

SOLUTION

Walk-through the interface using specific scenarios.

Take the time to explain the thought behind your design.

Thank them for a job well done!

Try to include them early in a solution.


QUALITY ASSURANCE


If UX is the quarterback...

49

QA is the receiver.


QA only tests functionality

50

CHALLENGE


Set expectations & keep in touch

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SOLUTION

Need to emphasis how important

they are to the project.

The success of the project depends on them.

Talk about a holistic testing approach.

Conduct occasional walk-throughs with them.


STAKEHOLDERS


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Talk to them in a language they understandTalk about customers, not users.


UX also needs to think about the business

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SPOILER ALERT

User needs + business needs = $$$ for everyone.


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CHALLENGE

Dealing with an alpha personality


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Let’s face it.You’re not going to win, but...

SOLUTION

Figure out what makes them tick.

Find an influencer and become their buddy.

Don’t be scared - they’re not going to bite.


57

Always present your workNever email a deliverable and assume

they understand your lengthy email.

SPOILER ALERT

SELL


58

Selling the ideaConsider making it a experience.

PresentationExperience



Give them options, but lead them to your choiceAlways tell a story.

Solution A

Normal

Solution B

Better

Solution C

What they should want


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What are you selling?

TRUST & CONFIDENCE


It’s not a war

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FINALLY!

We’re all in this together.


Thanks!

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Get in touch with questions, comments

or other feedback

Pradeep Nayar

[email protected]

designonmymind

Kevin Leebroderick

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Special thanks to

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Kim Ruelo

Adam Jankowski

Kate Rosendale

Andre Alforque

Trent Sherrell
