Cultural bias in design(ers) - Pixel Up! 2018

The topic of creating diverse teams has been hot the last few years, as pressure increases to create products with less bias.

However, as we cast our nets wider and bring in different perspectives into our design teams, what challenges can we expect in working with people from around the world and ultimately getting the benefit of their different views? This talk concerns itself with cultural bias — and discusses how to prepare, identify and adapt to the kinds of biases we can expect from team members, particularly those coming from non-western cultures.

Transcript

1. Cultural bias in designers Pixel Up! 12 March, 2018 Farai Madzima @farai_uxguy
2. Peace! I’m Farai Madzima UX Lead at Shopify in Ottawa @farai_uxguy
3. Hugh
5. School Band
7. Dizzy Gillespie
8. Louis Armstong
9. Louis armstrong
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXSjJBKPyFg
12. Miles Davis
13. Take your sh*t from home Put that with the sh*t you’ve learned here That’s gonna be a muthaf*cka
14. Inclusivity
15. Diversity of thought
16. Take your sh*t from home Put that with the sh*t you’ve learned here That’s gonna be a muthaf*cka
17. I needed to know my sh*t
18. Geerte Hofstede
19. Power distance Embraces hierarchy More egalitarian Individualism Individualist Collectivist Feminine / Masculine Power more important Nurture more important Uncertainty avoidance Ambiguity creates anxiety Comfortable with ambiguity Long-term orientation Long term first Short term first Restraint / Indulgence Happiness always good Happiness can be bad https://www.hofstede-insights.com/models/national-culture/
20. Erin Meyer
22. Persuading Applications first Principles first Deciding Consensual Top-down Disagreeing Avoids confrontation Confrontational Evaluating Indirect negative feedback Direct negative feedback Trusting Activity-based Relationship-based Scheduling Flexible -time Linear time Communicating High context Low context Leading Hierachical Egalitarian
23. Principles-first Application-first Principles first Start with the theory or concept. Then present the facts to back it up. Application first Start with the facts. Then share the theory that leads to the facts. Persuading Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India From The culture map by Erin Meyer
24. From The culture map by Erin Meyer
25. Low context High context Low context Good communication is precise, simple and clear. Repetition is used to clarify. High context Good communication is nuanced and layered. Speak and read between the lines. Communicating Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India Japan Brazil From The culture map by Erin Meyer
26. Direct negative feedback Indirect negative feedback Direct negative feedback Feedback is frank, blunt, and honest at all times, even in front of the team. Indirect negative feedback Feedback is soft, subtle, and diplomatic and only given private. Evaluating Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India Japan Brazil From The culture map by Erin Meyer
27. Skill up your team on the method you want to use for critique
30. Confrontational Avoids confrontation Confrontational Disagreement and debates are positive for the team. Open confrontation is appropriate and will not negatively affect relationships. Avoids confrontation Disagreement and debates are negative for the team. Open confrontation will break group harmony and negatively affect the relationship. Disagreeing US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India Japan Brazil From The culture map by Erin Meyer
31. Sachlichkeit
33. Consensual Top-down Consensual Decisions are made in groups through unanimous agreement. Top-down Decisions are made by individuals, (usually the boss or hippo). Deciding Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Canada India Japan Brazil From The culture map by Erin Meyer
34. Agree on how you want to decide
35. Linear-time Flexible-time Linear-time Plans are approached in a sequentially. One thing at a time. On time. Flexible-time Plans are approached in a fluid manner. Value is placed on adaptability and flexibility vs. organization. Scheduling Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India Japan From The culture map by Erin Meyer
36. Egalitarian Hierarchical Egalitarian Low distance between boss and subordinates. Flat organisational structures. Hierarchical High distance between boss and subordinates. Layered and rigid organisational structures. Leading Sweden US UK France Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe Saudi Arabia Canada India Japan Brazil From The culture map by Erin Meyer
37. Persuading Applications first Principles first Deciding Consensual Top-down Disagreeing Avoids confrontation Confrontational Evaluating Indirect negative feedback Direct negative feedback Trusting Activity-based Relationship-based Scheduling Flexible -time Linear time Communicating High context Low context Leading Hierachical Egalitarian From The culture map by Erin Meyer
40. Hugh
41. Know your communicating sh*t Know your deciding sh*t Know your disagreeing sh*t Know your evaluating sh*t Know your leading sh*t Know your persuading sh*t Know your scheduling sh*t Know your trust sh*t Put that with the sh*t you learn wherever you go And that’s gonna be a muthaf*cka
42. Peace! I’m Farai Madzima UX Lead at Shopify in Ottawa @farai_uxguy