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Design Critique

Jan Kiekeben
November 04, 2019

Design Critique

How we discuss design with critique at XING.

This talk was given at the UX Roundtable Meetup in Hamburg
http://www.uxhh.de/roundtable/archiv/index.html#nov19

Jan Kiekeben

November 04, 2019
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Transcript

  1. DESIGN CRITIQUE
    How we discuss design with critique at XING
    @ UX Roundtable Hamburg
    by Jan Kiekeben - Senior Product Designer - XING @jjchieferson

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  2. 2

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  3. 3

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  4. 4
    This is terrible. I have no Idea what this means.
    I would never use this. 

    Nobody will use this.
    We should make it a dropdown

    instead of radio buttons.
    Looks ugly. 

    Make it pretty.
    WTF… 

    why do we even do this?
    Can you make it pop?!
    The logo needs to be bigger
    Change the order of the buttons 

    so the 3rd and 1st one are switched
    I don’t like the green.

    We should be more blue?
    No, that won’t work.

    What if we do it my way…
    It should be 

    more like Apple
    You can’t use an Android pattern in
    an iOS App. Users will never be
    able to get it.
    I would have used a FAB.

    It’s just cooler than this here…

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  5. 5
    Critique is a skill. You
    only get better with
    practice.
    – Adam Connor

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  6. 6
    Types of feedback
    „Good lord, that’s
    awful.“
    „Oh yea, that’s
    nice. I really like
    it.“

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  7. 6
    Types of feedback
    „Good lord, that’s
    awful.“
    „Oh yea, that’s
    nice. I really like
    it.“
    „I would have
    used a slider.“
    „Can you move
    the button to the
    right?“
    Reactive
    Feedback

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  8. 6
    Types of feedback
    „Good lord, that’s
    awful.“
    „Oh yea, that’s
    nice. I really like
    it.“
    „If this is our
    objective… then
    it makes sense to
    revisit…“
    „I would have
    used a slider.“
    „Can you move
    the button to the
    right?“
    Reactive
    Feedback
    Directive
    Feedback

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  9. 6
    Types of feedback
    „Good lord, that’s
    awful.“
    „Oh yea, that’s
    nice. I really like
    it.“
    „If this is our
    objective… then
    it makes sense to
    revisit…“
    „I would have
    used a slider.“
    „Can you move
    the button to the
    right?“
    Reactive
    Feedback
    Critique
    Directive
    Feedback

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  10. 7
    A decision making format
    Intention: approval to move on
    End of the design process
    A feedback format
    Intention: iterative design process
    Continuously done
    Design Review Design Critique

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  11. 8
    !
    Analyzing Problem solving
    "
    How do we think about design?
    Desktop
    1
    2
    3
    4

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  12. 9
    What is the objective?
    What elements of the design
    are related to the objective?
    Are those elements effective in
    achieving the objective?
    Why? Why not?

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  13. 10
    Why do we do critique?
    • Improve through Feedback – two brains are better than one.
    • Enable cooperation and collaboration.
    • Share knowledge and learning.

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  14. ?
    11
    How does it work

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  15. 12
    Session setup
    • 30 min
    • one topic
    • facilitated discussion
    • weekly rotation
    Facilitator Presenter
    Critic
    Critic
    Critic

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  16. 16
    Session agenda (30min)
    briefing (pre-shared)
    presentation
    critique discussion
    wrap-up
    ~ 2 min.
    ~ 5 min.
    ~ 20 min.
    ~ 3 min.

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  17. !
    17
    Lessons Learned

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  18. 18
    When to do Critique?
    Design Critique

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  19. 19
    How to prepare a design critique?
    [title]
    Status: [early/mid/late] work

    Product objectives: [what do we want to achieve?]
    User needs/scenarios: [which user problem to be solved?]
    Feedback: [specific focus for feedback]

    Attachment: Artwork to be discussed

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  20. 19
    How to prepare a design critique?
    Checkout Page
    Status: early work

    Product objectives: improve conversion rate on checkout
    User needs: check basket, payment & shipping details before purchase
    Feedback: information architecture and wording

    Attachment: Artwork to be discussed

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  21. 20
    Tips running a good critique
    • Facilitation is key.
    • Share the preparation document one day in advance.
    • Try to arguing towards the objectives.
    • Take notes in an open & shared manner.

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  22. 21
    Rules of critique
    • It’s not a „design by committee“ event.
    • Try to avoid making decisions in a critique.
    • The designer is responsible for decisions and follow up.

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  23. !
    22
    Master Critique

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  24. 23
    Improve as a designer
    • Be 100% aware of your design objectives.
    • Stop defending & start critiquing.
    • Focus on understanding feedback.

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  25. 24
    Professional as a critic
    • Don’t assume – ask.
    • Argue your feedback towards objectives.
    • Talk about strength.

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  26. 25
    Becoming a good facilitator
    • Look out for reactive or directive feedback.
    • Moderate from solution space to problem analysis.
    • Watch out for domination or falling behind.

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  27. ?
    26
    How to implement in your
    organisation

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  28. 27
    The secret to getting
    ahead is getting started
    – Marc Twain

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  29. Introducing Design Critiques to large
    UX organizations
    Lessons learned via experimentation and a will to be
    excellent
    Published on Medium - In XING Design - https://link.medium.com/7zaPHNfgE0

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  30. JAN KIEKEBEN
    Senior Product Designer, XING
    CRITICS
    WANTED
    WE ARE HIRING
    @jjchieferson
    connect with me on XING

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