Communication-Driven Design@ahmed_badran
What’s Make Good Design Good ?
simplicity
Good use of spaces
When you can’t remove anything else…
We mean Web/ Mobile products NOT Wall Art
Solve Problem
Easy for users
Supported by Everyone
A Shift Toward Products
Attitudes have changed To understand how designers fit into corporate culture, we have to understand the changing shift and attitudes toward design as something more than just an art. When our job was to make the company look good, it didn’t matter as much who got their way on the final design. Now that we’re solving problems that affect the bottom line, everyone has an opinion on the best way to solve it.
Digital Experiences are Real Life Great UX will create a great product. A great product will sell, be easier to support and maintain.
So Everyone in the organization will try to help in solving the problem and creating the best product.
The problem is that only one of these players is a
designer.
Why UX has gone mainstream
Social media has changed how people view digital products
Personal devices have changed how people view digital products
Start-up culture has changed how people view digital products
This is why so many people have an opinion about our work
Great Designers are Great Communicators
Your ability to be thoughtful about a problem and articulate any solution is more important than your ability to design the perfect solution every
time.
Why ?
The new reality that designers are at the forefront of the digital product business can be a real
challenge.
● Too Many Chiefs in the Kitchen.● Everyone is a Designer!● The CEO Button ● Homepage Syndrome (Features Bloat)
What Problem does this solve?
How does this affect the user?
Why is it better than the alternative?
The Best Ideas [Don’t Always] Win Your design might be revolutionary, but an aggressive and well-spoken salesperson is more likely to get his way if he can convince your boss that he’s right and you’re not.
Our inability to speak up and articulate your side will often land us in the position of making changes that won’t yield the best results.
Successful Meeting
Understand
Listen Respond Follow-up
Understanding
● See their perspective ● Remove distractions ● Anticipate reactions
See their perspective
Executives or Managers
Because they value… • Concise information • Growing the business • Solving problems
You should focus on… • Getting to the point • Accomplishing goals • Describing the solution
Developers or Engineers
Because they value… • Building it once and minimizing re-work • Efficiency and maintainable code• Understanding the effort involved
You should focus on… • Understanding all of the use cases up-front• Maximizing existing scope and re-using UI patterns• Communicating the value for the users or business
Product Owners
Because they value… • Innovation and creativity • The big picture, long-term roadmap• Meeting business goals
You should focus on…• Finding new approaches to solving problems• How your design moves them forward • Connecting your designs to the business objectives
Remove Distractions
When you’re in a meeting to get approval for your designs, staying focused is critical.
It very easy for design discussions to go off on a tangent or be taken in an unexpected direction because of one small thing.
Anticipate Reactions
Listening
● Let them talk. ● Uncover the (real) problem ● Convert ‘Likes’ to ‘Works’● Ask for examples
Let Them TalkPeople like to hear themselves talk and they need enough space and time to be sure
they’ve expressed themselves without feeling rushed.
Uncover The Real Problem Be sure to uncover the real problem they’re trying to solve.
Often, They see a need that isn’t being met with our designs and they may express it with a suggestion that isn’t the right solution.
So don’t focus on what they think needs to be changed or the specific words they use, but instead on the underlying problem they’re trying to solve by suggesting that change.
Convert ‘Likes’ to ‘Works’The most important way we can do this is to help our clients move from talking about
what they like and don’t like (which are their preferences) to what works and what doesn’t (which is the effectiveness of the design).
Ask for examples
Respond Tactics● Propose an alternative● Show a comparison● Represent the user● Research and showing Data● Give them a choice● Postpone the decision
“ The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. “
Mark Twain
Don’t Say
● “You’re wrong”
● “From a design perspective…”
● What you like or don’t like
Designers Aren’t Always Right
Knowing When We’re Wrong
● The problem still exists● Users don’t get it● Everyone is against us
Thanks
ReferencesThe main topic written by Tom Greever at his book Articulate Design Decisions
More references Communication: The Cure for Common UX Design Challenges (Article)Uxmag : http://bit.ly/28WfkIU
You’re Not the Best Unless Your Customers Say So (Article)http://bit.ly/1SwsCcg
4 Bottom-Line Questions for Avoiding Feature Bloat (Article)http://bit.ly/28Zwqsp