IA Summit 08: How to be a User Experience Team of One
How to be a User Experience Team of One
Leah Buley
Adaptive Path
Leah gave a lively performance detailing her experience of being a UX design team of one, and had many great ideas on how to make this situation work for you. Some may sound simple, but I think that's what makes them so powerful.
Generative Design - generate ideas... lots of them.
- the refine, pair them down to the best ideas
Not about using Dogma or a Methodology...
1. Brainstorm a lot
2. Assemble an Ad Hoc team (non UX co-workers who have a stake in the project)
3. Pick the best ideas
Using eVite.com as an example, she walked through the process of how to build a better user interface.
1. Brainstorm within constraints
Using conceptual frameworks:
- Spectrum
- 2 x 2
- Grids
Experiment with Word Associations, them mix and match words
Keep an inspiration library, grabbing screen shots of sites you like.
- good for competitive analysis
- good for warshack analysis
2. Assemble an Ad Hoc team
Make Sketchboards
Host open design sessions, giving people a pen, paper and pizza
Run template-based workshops
Decorate your space with good ideas
Don't be an artist, be a facilitator
3. Pick the Best Ideas
How?
- Business needs are good, but user needs are better
- Business needs + User needs = Design Principles (use susinct statements that summarize needs)
How to get started?
- Start sketching - force yourself to draw 5
- Schedule workshops - get other people involved
- Draft design principles
Why it Matters?
- Personal satisfaction - feel good about your ideas
Slides:
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