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
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160years
oldTuesday, July 31, 12
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PRIOR UX WORK
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L.A. TIMES IPAD APP
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L.A. TIMES WINDOWS
PHONE 7 APPTuesday, July 31, 12
CRIME L.A.ANDROID
APP
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CHICAGO TRIBUNE
WINDOWS 8APP
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Mobile
Social
Tablet
TV
Web
Strategy
CONCEPTS
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PRIOR UX WORK
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CHICAGO TRIBUNE
RESPONSIVE
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“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE”PARTICIPATORY DESIGN
OUR GOAL
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Redesigning the Stop sign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYngTuesday, July 31, 12
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WE’RE AGILE!...almost
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AGILE = COLLABORATION
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LET’S BRAINSTORM
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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
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“Brainstorm” in isolation
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SOLUTION
Have a designated facilitator
Embrace divergent thinking;
conduct individual exploration
Conduct a design studio, not a BRAINSTORM MEETING!!!
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THE CREW
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THE CREW
STAKEHOLDERS
DEVELOPERS
PRODUCT MANAGER
PROJECT MANAGER
QUALITY ASSURANCE
TEAM UX
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THE CREW
STAKEHOLDERS
DEVELOPERS
PRODUCT MANAGER
PROJECT MANAGER
QUALITY ASSURANCE
TEAM UX
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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
STAKEHOLDERS
DEVELOPERS
PRODUCT MANAGER
PROJECT MANAGER
QUALITY ASSURANCE
TEAM UX
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TEAM UX
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You are a design facilitator
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SPOILER ALERT
In an agile environment...
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Not enough time
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CHALLENGE
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SOLUTION
STARTSKETCHING!!!
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NO EXCUSES!
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SOLUTION
PRESENTinternally
CRITIQUEnot gut reaction
PROTOTYPETest it!
many ideas
SKETCH
rinse & repeat
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Believe in your solution
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You can’t sell it if you don’t believe it.
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Never go aloneAlways tag team.
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SPOILER ALERT
VISUAL DESIGNER UX ARCHITECT
+
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PRODUCT MANAGER
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They are your closest ally but...
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There is a grey area - work it out!
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Let’s do what the N.Y. Times does...
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CHALLENGE
“Follow the leader” approach.
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Explain why it may not workTime to show your expertise on interface design.
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SOLUTION
Look at other examples to force a conversation.
Focus on the problem you are trying to solve
and question the solution.
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They might try to design the interface
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CHALLENGE
Let them sketch ideas.
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Be open to various forms of communication
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SOLUTION
Remind them that your job is to make them look good.
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They help push hard features forward
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It’s important to maintain daily communication with them.
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PROJECT MANAGER
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They are usually the scrum master
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A good project manager can make or break a project.
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Over promises on deliverables
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CHALLENGE
Trying to please an impatient stakeholder.
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Be upfront and realistic about estimates
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SOLUTION
Build on existing trust and confidence.
There is no such thing as over-communication.
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DEVELOPERS
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Best friend or worst enemyThey make your ideas come to life.
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Like reuse of code & efficiency
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CHALLENGE
Solutions oriented around technology
rather than the needs of users.
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Reality of agile developmentStuff always changes.
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It’s all about building a better product
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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.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE
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If UX is the quarterback...
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QA is the receiver.
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QA only tests functionality
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CHALLENGE
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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.
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STAKEHOLDERS
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Talk to them in a language they understandTalk about customers, not users.
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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.
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Always present your workNever email a deliverable and assume
they understand your lengthy email.
SPOILER ALERT
SELL
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Selling the ideaConsider making it a experience.
PresentationExperience
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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
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It’s not a war
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FINALLY!
We’re all in this together.
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Thanks!
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Get in touch with questions, comments
or other feedback
Pradeep Nayar
designonmymind
Kevin Leebroderick
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Special thanks to
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Kim Ruelo
Adam Jankowski
Kate Rosendale
Andre Alforque
Trent Sherrell
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