Discussing Design Without Losing Your Mind - Converge SE 2016

This talk explores critique as both an activity and an aspect of any communication or collaboration.

Attendees will walk away with:
A clearer understanding of critique is and why asking for “feedback” is problematic.

Methods for gathering useful feedback from clients and teammates.
Ideas on how to introduce team members to the idea of critique and get everyone using it.

An understanding of where critique fits within the design processes and how to incorporate it into projects.

Transcript

1. DISCUSSINGDESIGN Without Losing Your Mind AARON (aka Ron) IRIZARRY DIRECTOR OF USER EXPERIENCE #discussingdsgn
2. #discussingdsgn Conversations can hurt.
3. #discussingdsgn
4. It’s laid out too much like [popular service]. We should be different. The new Spotify design is perhaps even worse than the old Spotify design. The visual hierarchy and underlying IA are terrible. No. That won’t work. What if we do it this way... This is terrible. The wireframes are still not answering our problem and are not providing enough an easier solution for the page. Change the order of the screens so that the 3rd and first one are switched. It doesn't have enough spunk. What kind of company shuts down a much-loved service like Google Reader but keeps the vegetative Google Plus? We're disappointed in this solution. We're going to have our own designers come up with one. Looks ugly. Make it pretty. What. The hell. Is this? I would never use this. I don’t like the layout. We should make that a dropdown instead of radio buttons. None of this is what I asked for. This is terrible. I have no idea what the lines mean. I like the paper form better. I'm just not feeling it. I don't know what, but it isn't right yet. Just needs to be more innovative. Make it look more like SharePoint. Here is a rewrite. My intention is to sharpen the language, make it more precise. #discussingdsgn
5. The new Spotify design is perhaps even worse than the old Spotify design. The visual hierarchy and underlying IA are terrible. No. That won’t work. What if we do it this way... Change the order of the screens so that the 3rd and first one are switched. What. The hell. Is this? We should make that a dropdown instead of radio buttons. None of this is what I asked for. Here is a rewrite. My intention is to sharpen the language, make it more precise. #discussingdsgn
6. feedback #discussingdsgn
7. #discussingdsgn
8. Reaction #discussingdsgn
9. “ Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! Reaction #discussingdsgn
10. “ Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! Reaction Direction #discussingdsgn
11. “ Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! “You should have made all of those radio buttons a drop down [,because…] Reaction Direction #discussingdsgn
12. criticalthinking #discussingdsgn
13. critique #discussingdsgn
14. “Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! “You should have made all of those radio buttons a drop down because… Reaction Direction #discussingdsgn
15. Critique “Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! “You should have made all of those radio buttons a drop down because… Reaction Direction #discussingdsgn
16. “ If the objective is for users to seriously consider the impact to their bank balance before making a purchase, placing the balance at the bottom of the screen at the same size as all the other numbers isn’t effective because it get’s lost in all of the other the information. Critique “Sweet fancy Moses! That looks like you vomited 1996 all over the internet! “You should have made all of those radio buttons a drop down because… Reaction Direction #discussingdsgn
17. Design Reviews Standalone Critiques Collaborative Activities #discussingdsgn
18. We need tools & a plan. #discussingdsgn
19. What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? How effective were their choices? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
20. What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? How effective were their choices? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
21. How did they try to achieve it? What was the creator trying to achieve? How effective were their choices? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
22. How did they try to achieve it? What was the creator trying to achieve? How effective were their choices? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
23. How effective were their choices? What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
24. How effective were their choices? What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? Why is or isn’t what they did effective? #discussingdsgn
25. Why is or isn’t what they did effective? What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? How effective were their choices? #discussingdsgn
26. Why is or isn’t what they did effective? What was the creator trying to achieve? How did they try to achieve it? How effective were their choices? #discussingdsgn
27. Giving & Receiving #discussingdsgn There are two facets to critique, at their foundation is
28. Giving critique with the wrong intent is #discussingdsgn
29. Giving critique with the right intent is objective focused. #discussingdsgn
30. When giving critique... Use a filter. Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context. #discussingdsgn
31. When giving critique... Don’t assume. Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints, or other variables. #discussingdsgn
32. When giving critique... Don’t invite yourself. Get in touch and ask to chat about the design. #discussingdsgn
33. When giving critique... Lead with questions. Show an interest in their process and learn more about their objectives. #discussingdsgn
34. When giving critique... Talk about strengths. Critique isn’t just about the things that aren’t working. #discussingdsgn
35. #discussingdsgn Receiving critique with the right intent takes humility & restraint.
36. When receiving critique... Remember the purpose. Critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement. #discussingdsgn
37. When receiving critique... Think before responding. Do you understand what the critics are saying? #discussingdsgn
38. When receiving critique... Participate. Analyze your proposed solution alongside everyone else. #discussingdsgn
39. When receiving critique... Set the foundation. Use prior agreements and objectives to get everyone on the same page. #discussingdsgn
40. #discussingdsgn Things to keep in mind…
41. #discussingdsgn Critique is a skill. You need to practice. Things to keep in mind…
42. #discussingdsgn Critique is a skill. You need to practice. Start small. Things to keep in mind…
43. #discussingdsgn Critique is a skill. You need to practice. Think before you speak. Start small. Things to keep in mind…
44. Critique is a skill. You need to practice. Choose who you critique with carefully. Think before you speak. Start small. #discussingdsgn Things to keep in mind…
45. Rules of critique #discussingdsgn
46. Avoid problem solving. Rules of critique #discussingdsgn
47. Avoid problem solving. Everyone is equal. Rules of critique #discussingdsgn
48. Avoid problem solving. Everyone is a critic. Everyone is equal. Rules of critique #discussingdsgn
49. Avoid problem solving. The designer is responsible for next steps. Everyone is a critic. Everyone is equal. Rules of critique #discussingdsgn
50. #discussingdsgn Setting the right foundation is crucial.
51. Set your foundation with... Personas User archetypes that describe their average behaviors, goals, expectations, knowledge, etc. #discussingdsgn
52. Set your foundation with... Goals Desired, measurable outcomes of the user interacting with the product or service. Can be user oriented, business oriented or both. #discussingdsgn
53. Set your foundation with... Principles Statements, often worded as rules, that capture the desired qualities or characteristics of the final solution. #discussingdsgn
54. Set your foundation with... Scenarios Short narratives that the describe the desired behaviors, thoughts, emotions, etc. of the user as they move through a use case. #discussingdsgn
55. Design Reviews Standalone Critiques Collaborative Activities #discussingdsgn
56. Synthesize Observations Create or Refine Observe & Evaluate #discussingdsgn
57. Synthesize Observations Create or Refine Observe & Evaluate #discussingdsgn
58. Critique is about iteration and improvement. So long as you’re looking to improve on whatever it is you’re doing, you’ve got an opportunity for critique. #discussingdsgn
59. #discussingdsgn Who get’s an invite to the dance?
60. #discussingdsgn The key is to start things off on the right foot.
61. Facilitating critique #discussingdsgn
62. Facilitating critique Critique Goals #discussingdsgn
63. Facilitating critique Critique Goals Active Listening #discussingdsgn
64. Facilitating critique Critique Goals Round Robin & Quotas Active Listening #discussingdsgn
65. Facilitating critique Critique Goals Round Robin & Quotas Direct Inquiry Active Listening #discussingdsgn
66. Facilitating critique Critique Goals Round Robin & Quotas Direct Inquiry Six Thinking Hats Active Listening #discussingdsgn
67. Facilitating critique Critique Goals Round Robin & Quotas Direct Inquiry Six Thinking Hats Facilitators Active Listening #discussingdsgn
68. #discussingdsgn Yes,you will have to deal with difficult people.
69. #discussingdsgn What comes next?
70. Design Reviews Standalone Critiques Collaborative Activities #discussingdsgn
71. #discussingdsgn Design reviews have their challenges.
72. Solving the review problem #discussingdsgn
73. Take control. Solving the review problem #discussingdsgn
74. Take control. Pretend you’re dealing with difficult people. Solving the review problem #discussingdsgn
75. Take control. Pretend you’re dealing with difficult people. Recap objectives. Solving the review problem #discussingdsgn
76. Don’t rely on them for critique. Take control. Pretend you’re dealing with difficult people. Recap objectives. Solving the review problem #discussingdsgn
77. Design Reviews Standalone Critiques Collaborative Activities #discussingdsgn
78. #discussingdsgn The ever popular brainstorm.
79. #discussingdsgn
80. #discussingdsgn
81. Divergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
82. Divergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
83. Divergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
84. Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
85. Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
86. Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking #discussingdsgn
87. Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking Critique #discussingdsgn
88. Critique is at the core of collaboration. #discussingdsgn
89. Thank you Aaron Irizarry Director of User Experience Discussing Design Improving Communication & Collaboration Through Critique 
 Available from O’Reilly Media and Amazon. @aaroni aaron@thisisaaronslife.com