Developers, Meet Your Users: Growing Compassion Through User Research @ Mobile + Web Dev Con 2017

Don't just develop code, participate in user research to develop empathy and compassion, and your product—and your work life—will be the all better for it.

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http://compassionatecoding.com

Presented by April Wensel at the Mobile Web Dev Conference, March 3, 2017

https://dev.to/aprilwensel/user-tests-will-make-you-a-better-developer
http://mobilewebdevconference.com/san-francisco-2017/agenda/day-three-general-conference/1115-am-c

Transcript

1. DEVELOPERS,
   MEET YOUR USERS
   April Wensel
   Founder of Compassionate Coding
   @aprilwensel
   #MWDCon
   COMPASSIONATE
   C O D I N G
   Growing Compassion Through User Research
   

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2. @aprilwensel
   

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3. Cannon & Perry. A vocational interest scale for computer programmers. 1966.
   @aprilwensel
   1966 - A vocational interest scale for
   computer programmers
   

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4. “Programmers are crazy about
   puzzles, tend to like research
   applications and risk-taking,
   and don’t like people.”
   Cannon & Perry. A vocational interest scale for computer programmers. 1966.
   @aprilwensel
   

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5. “PROGRAMMERS…
   DON’T LIKE
   PEOPLE.”
   Cannon & Perry. A vocational interest scale for computer programmers. 1966.
   @aprilwensel
   

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6. CUSTOMERS
   SUFFER
   @aprilwensel
   

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7. @aprilwensel
   

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8. @aprilwensel
   

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9. Animation by Steve Cutts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASywEuqFd8
   @aprilwensel
   

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10. http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/
    silicon-valley-has-an-empathy-vacuum
    http://onbeing.org/programs/anil-dash-techs-
    moral-reckoning/
    @aprilwensel
    

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11. @aprilwensel
    

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12. CAN WE DO
    BETTER?
    @aprilwensel
    

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13. @aprilwensel
    

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14. @aprilwensel
    

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15. @aprilwensel
    

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16. @aprilwensel
    

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17. @aprilwensel
    

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18. COMPASSION
    @aprilwensel
    

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19. “You may never have used the
    word compassion, but when you’re
    identifying somebody’s pain point
    and you’re trying to create
    something that alleviates it, that’s
    actually COMPASSIONATE
    PRODUCT DESIGN.”
    –Monica Worline
    http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/
    what_does_compassionate_workplace_look_like
    @aprilwensel
    

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20. USER TESTS
    @aprilwensel
    

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21. 1.  WHAT are user tests?
    2.  WHY should you care?
    3.  HOW can you participate?
    THE PLAN
    @aprilwensel
    

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22. Photo by Jon Rogers
    @aprilwensel
    

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23. WHAT
    @aprilwensel
    

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24. “HUMAN-CENTERED
    DESIGN is all about
    building a deep EMPATHY
    with the PEOPLE you’re
    designing for…”
    http://www.designkit.org/human-centered-design
    @aprilwensel
    

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25. “This approach enhances
    effectiveness and efficiency,
    IMPROVES HUMAN WELL-
    BEING…and counteracts
    possible adverse effects of use
    on HUMAN HEALTH…”
    https://www.iso.org/standard/52075.html
    @aprilwensel
    

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26. Study of a USER in a
    CONTEXT using TOOLS
    to perform TASKS to
    achieve a GOAL
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_7nqhQpmzg
    

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27. @aprilwensel
    

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28. WHY
    @aprilwensel
    

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29. 1.  BUILD COMPASSION FOR USERS
    @aprilwensel
    Why
    

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30. @aprilwensel
    https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/cast/
    jimmy-fallon-14931/character/nick-burns-17301
    

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31. @aprilwensel
    

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32. “If we BLAME THE CUSTOMER
    FOR BEING STUPID, we’re putting
    blame in the wrong place. WE’RE
    NOT BEING EMPATHETIC at all.
    We are the problem. We design
    the product or service!”
    –Monica Worline
    http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/
    what_does_compassionate_workplace_look_like
    @aprilwensel
    

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33. @aprilwensel
    

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34. “[T]he most valuable contribution
    of usability testing is made when
    PROGRAMMERS are forced…to
    VIEW TYPICAL USERS
    STRUGGLING with their programs.
    The programmers are SHOCKED
    and INCREDULOUS…”
    –Alan Cooper, The Inmates Are Running the Asylum
    @aprilwensel
    

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35. “Usability testing is a USEFUL
    WHACK ON THE SIDE OF THE
    HEAD for recalcitrant software
    engineers, showing them that
    THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM.”
    –Alan Cooper, The Inmates Are Running the Asylum
    @aprilwensel
    

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36. @aprilwensel
    

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37. “Our highest priority is to
    SATISFY THE CUSTOMER
    through early and
    continuous delivery
    of VALUABLE software.”
    http://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html
    @aprilwensel
    

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38. 1.  BUILD COMPASSION FOR USERS
    2.  COMMUNICATE WITH DESIGNERS
    @aprilwensel
    Why
    

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39. @aprilwensel
    

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40. @aprilwensel
    

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41. @aprilwensel
    

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42. “By including developers,
    designers, and product owners in
    the majority of decisions, it
    makes the entire design process
    FASTER and EASIER TO
    CHANGE…”
    –Laura Klein
    UX for Lean Startups
    @aprilwensel
    

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43. 1.  BUILD COMPASSION FOR USERS
    2.  COMMUNICATE WITH DESIGNERS
    3.  FIND MORE MEANING IN WORK
    @aprilwensel
    Why
    

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44. @aprilwensel
    

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45. @aprilwensel
    

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46. "Actively participating in
    work that links PURPOSE,
    MEANING, and PASSION
    to advance the greater
    good is DEEPLY
    SATISFYING."
    Shawn Murphy. The Optimistic Workplace
    @aprilwensel
    

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47. @aprilwensel
    1.  BUILD COMPASSION FOR USERS
    2.  COMMUNICATE WITH DESIGNERS
    3.  FIND MORE MEANING IN WORK
    Why
    

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48. @aprilwensel
    

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49. Low
    Medium
    High
    Kimmy
    @aprilwensel
    

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50. @aprilwensel
    

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51. @aprilwensel
    

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52. @aprilwensel
    

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53. HOW
    @aprilwensel
    

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54. @aprilwensel
    

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55. @aprilwensel
    “To be together
    with all five senses
    is irreplaceable.”
    –Gloria Steinem
    

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56. 1.  Ask them easy background questions
    about themselves to put them at ease
    2.  Explain that this is not a test of them
    but rather of the product
    3.  Ask them to speak their thoughts out
    loud as they use the product
    4.  Ask them to perform tasks
    5.  Watch and record observations,
    quotes, and interpretations* on sticky
    notes, one per note
    6.  Debrief
    @aprilwensel
    

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57. 1.  Ask them easy background questions
    about themselves to put them at ease
    2.  Explain that this is not a test of them
    but rather of the product
    3.  Ask them to speak their thoughts out
    loud as they use the product
    4.  Ask them to perform tasks
    5.  Watch and record observations,
    quotes, and interpretations on sticky
    notes, one per note
    6.  Debrief
    @aprilwensel
    

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58. @aprilwensel
    

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59. 1.  Overgeneralizing from one user
    2.  Letting user feedback too
    directly dictate designs
    Pitfalls
    @aprilwensel
    YOU  HAVE  5  
    NEW  
    NOTIFICATIONS  
    

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60. 1.  Overgeneralizing from one user
    2.  Letting user feedback too
    directly dictate designs
    3.  Letting feedback hurt your ego
    Pitfalls
    @aprilwensel
    

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61. “[Interviewing] requires that we
    interviewers KEEP OUR EGOS IN
    CHECK. It requires that we realize that
    we are not the center of the world. …
    At the heart of interviewing research
    is an INTEREST IN OTHER
    INDIVIDUALS’ stories because they
    are of worth.”
    –Irving Seidman
    Interviewing as Qualitative Research, 1991
    @aprilwensel
    

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62. 1.  Overgeneralizing from one user
    2.  Letting user feedback too
    directly dictate designs
    3.  Letting feedback hurt your ego
    4.  Asking leading questions
    Pitfalls
    @aprilwensel
    “Wouldn’t it be better if…”
    “What’s confusing about this page…”
    

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63. 1.  Overgeneralizing from one user
    2.  Letting user feedback too
    directly dictate designs
    3.  Letting feedback hurt your ego
    4.  Asking leading questions
    5.  Spending too much time doing
    it – maybe become a UX
    researcher or designer? :D
    Pitfalls
    @aprilwensel
    

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64. 1.  Empathize with users to build
    more useful products
    2.  Collaborate more effectively
    with designers
    3.  Find more meaning in your work
    Benefits of User Testing
    @aprilwensel
    

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65. 1.  Watch & Listen
    2.  Record
    3.  Analyze
    4.  Implement
    5.  Repeat!
    Process
    @aprilwensel
    

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66. @aprilwensel
    

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67. @aprilwensel
    

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68. “Remaking the tech
    industry…reforming it
    around being more ETHICAL
    and HUMANE…this is one of
    the most important missions
    around.”
    –Anil Dash
    @aprilwensel
    http://onbeing.org/programs/anil-
    dash-techs-moral-reckoning/
    

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69. @aprilwensel
    https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/
    2016/11/the-binge-breaker/501122/
    

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70. “If it is not tempered by
    COMPASSION and EMPATHY,
    REASON can lead men and
    women into a MORAL VOID.”
    –Karen Armstrong
    compassionatecoding.com
    april@compassionatecoding.com
    @aprilwensel
    Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life
    

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