Lean UX
Building shared understanding to get out of the deliverables business
London IA
February 7th, 2012
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bricoleurbanism/
In the beginning…
UX began with Information Architecture which no one had ever heard of
http://www.ucdesigners.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/stockxpertcom_id21589-world1-1024x794.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.freakingnews.com/Bottle-Neck-Pics-36343.asp
In today’s marketplace, traditional design is a bottleneck
We’re getting in our own way
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Lean UX
Inspired by Lean Startup and Agile development theories, it’s the practice of bringing the true nature of design work to light faster, with less emphasis on deliverables and greater focus on the actual experience being designed. #LeanUX | @jboogie
Agile
• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan
Lean Startup
Lean Startup initially advocates the creation of rapid prototypes designed to test market assumptions, and uses customer feedback to evolve them much faster than via more traditional software engineering practices.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
It goes a little something like this…
Do this. Quickly. Many times.
Concept
Prototype
Validate Internally
Test Externally
Learn from user behavior
Iterate
Just the UX process
#LeanUX | @jboogie
#LeanUX | @jboogie “Go that way. Really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.” -Charles DeMar (Curtis Armstrong) to Lane Myer (John Cusack) in “Better Off Dead”
Designers can’t hide behind their monitor any more!
This is a designer-led initiative
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamagatacamille/4799648425/sizes/l/
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Solve the problem together
As opposed to implementing someone else’s solution
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/
#LeanUX | @jboogie 1!
Get the experience out there, not the document
Validate your hypotheses
#LeanUX | @jboogie 3! http://www.macdavidpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/4355664150_68b8aa58a9_o-600x337.jpg
From Design Criticism and the Creative Process by Cassie McDaniel on A List Apart, 11 Jan, 2011. http://www.alistapart.com/articles/design-criticism-creative-process/ #LeanUX | @jboogie Designers shouldn’t be expected to get it right the first time
Nobody else has to
It’s not “The Spec” that gives control
That’s the last mile of the value design brings to the team
http://talkingtraffic.org/wp-content/images/stack_documents.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
What about the quality of the design?
Iterations mean quality continually improves.
http://stockthemind.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/project-cartoon.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Prototype it!
But not all of it.
hthttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mQ4dc8irsc0/S_TZkx7B_3I/AAAAAAAAAM0/lwh7NTbtKMo/s1600/PopGlider+assembled+2.jpgtp:// #LeanUX | @jboogie
Once validated, demo to the team.
Presto! Instant documentation.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koolwaaij/152426460/sizes/o/
No additional deliverables are needed!
#LeanUX | @jboogie
The more you talk about it
The easier it is for the team to put the pieces together (and find missing ones)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adysmiles/4822749055/sizes/l/
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Lazy.
Sorry. You still have to work hard.
http://www.steadyburn.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lazy-cat5.jpg
“…the best part … is that the team is doing a [email protected]&K-TON of UX. They document a ton of stuff explicitly on the walls and implicitly in shared understanding among team members.” - Austin Govella commenting on Whitney Hess’s “Why I Detest the Term Lean UX” http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2011/02/27/why-i-detest-the-term-lean-ux/ #LeanUX | @jboogie
The only thing being removed is waste.
Leave the toolbox intact. Use the tools as necessary.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/
#LeanUX | @jboogie
You’re an in-house designer…
Start small and internal. Ask for forgiveness.
http://www.istudyathes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/microsoft-20team-201978.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
You are in the problem-solving business and you don’t solve problems with design documentation. You solve them with elegant, efficient and sophisticated software. #LeanUX | @jboogie
Recapping the “internal” Lean UX process….
Remember?
Concept
Prototype
Validate Internally
Test Externally
Learn from user behavior
Iterate
Just the UX process
#LeanUX | @jboogie
For services agencies it looks slightly different
Give your clients the power. They like that.
Concept
Prototype
Validate w/client
Learn from user behavior
Iterate
Validate w/client
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Invest in your client’s success
It shows the confidence you have in your work
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/143127498/sizes/z/
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Distributed teams do it remotely!
If they’re a part of you, it’s on! If not, it ain’t bloody likely.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2076450897_be1b8ace7c.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Is this good for every project?
Use it where it makes sense.
http://www.krackblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/david_hasselhoff_gary_coleman-e1275077640952.jpg
#LeanUX | @jboogie
This is an evolution. Not a revolution.
Designers must evolve to stay relevant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freejay3/2387714157/sizes/l/
#LeanUX | @jboogie
Let’s get back to the experience design business.
It’s where it’s at (as the kids say)
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#LeanUX | @jboogie
Thank you #demystify | @jboogie @jboogie [email protected] amzn.to/leanuxbook www.jeffgothelf.com slideshare.net/jgothelf Jeff Gothelf I’m writing a book! Pre-order here
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