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Improvised IAHow Improv Allows Everyone to Craft Products

World IA Day 2016, Richmond

David Farkas @dafark8

#ImprovIA

February 2016

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WARM UP

THE BALL TOSS

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Target Practice

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INTRO TO IMPROV

WHAT IS THIS ANYWAYS?

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What is Improv? (A Brief History)

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Improv and UX

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Rules of Improv

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Rule 1 – Everything is True

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Rule 2 – Stop Trying to Make Funny Happen

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Rule 3 – Failure is OK

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Rule 4 – Listen to the Scene

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Rule 5 – Support Your Players

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Rule 6 – Location, Location, Location

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Rule 7 – Raise the Stakes

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Rule 8 – Yield to the Strongest Offer

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Rule 9 – You are NOT the Star

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Rule 10 – Remember Everything

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Improv ≠ Unprepared

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Preparation ≠ Planned

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Audience Participation

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QUESTIONS (THE GAME)

HANDS ON

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QUESTIONS (THE GAME)

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IMPROV AND IA

WHY DOES THIS EVEN MATTER?

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IMPROV IN SALES

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Improv as Icebreaker

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RFP – Requirement Gathering

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Sales Presentations

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IMPROV IN PRESENTATIONS

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We Already Perform

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Communicate Findings

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Presenting Concepts

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IMPROV INIDEA GENERATION

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Affinity Diagramming

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Taxonomy & Structure

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Participatory Design

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Whiteboarding/Brainstorming

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IMPROV INPRODUCT VALIDATION

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Technical Issues

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Participant Variables

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Secret – Don’t Call it Improv!

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BODYSTORMING

HANDS ON

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BODYSTORMING

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ResourcesNo Parking Playerswww.noparkingplayers.ofpgh.org/?page=1

Rules of Improv Encyclopedia (Rules & Games)improvencyclopedia.org/references/Rules_of_Improv.htmlimprovencyclopedia.org/games

Gamestorming (Improv For Us)gamestorming.com

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Personal Favorites • Bodystorming & Only Questions (performed today)• Yes Lets• Speed “Dating” (Sketching)• Thunderdome Collaboration• Murder Mystery• Metaphors• Foreign Movie

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QUESTIONS

THE Q&A TYPE