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What I Wish I Knew as a Newbie Designer
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Noopur Varma
September 17, 2016
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What I Wish I Knew as a Newbie Designer
Noopur Varma
September 17, 2016
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Transcript
What I Wish I Knew As A Newbie Designer Noopur
Varma |
None
1. Who is a newbie designer? 2. Mental model of
a newbie 3. Experiences & stories 4. Takeaways outline
Who Is A Newbie?
How does a newbie feel? Source: Calvin and Hobbes
Newbie's mental model - Are passionate - Have their own
process - Care about users - Are thinkers - Want to improve - Are scared & maybe intimidated?
Whom do we work with? - Business owners and stakeholders
- Peers and other team members
“You’re Not Doing Any Work” Story #1
Baffled, taken aback and shocked…
felt accused of not doing my job
maybe I’m being compared to others?
maybe I suck as a designer…
or maybe they just don’t like me
I know I’ve made some mistakes…
but this is the last thing anyone should say. The
work is out there…
Looking from the other side 1. Didn’t share ideas 2.
Looked like a black box 3. Accepted feedback with an OK 4. Didn’t communicate delays 5. Didn’t push to close tasks
Design Collaboration Is Hard
“You Don’t Know How To Take Feedback” Story #2
I want to understand where exactly I went wrong?
I accept that there are places where I need to
improve
How could I be that person?
Why would someone say that I am not taking feedback?
I am listening…
Looking from the other side 1. Was being defensive 2.
Had a superficial understanding of things 3. Reacted emotionally
Discuss Feedback
“Make That Rounded Rectangle Rounder” Story #3
More… “Make the logo bigger” “Wow factor nahi hai yaar,
maza nahi aa raha hai” “Make that text 12pt, Roboto-Regular, #4A4A4A”
What? But why? That does not make any sense
I am not a tool!
What did I do wrong?
Different ways in which I reacted 1. Went my way
anyway 2. Explained & reasoned 3. Was overwhelmed, gave in
Different ways in which I reacted 1. Went my way
anyway 2. Explained & reasoned 3. Was overwhelmed, gave in
Looking from the other side 1. Seemed closed 2. Didn’t
understand business perspectives
Don’t panic! Source: Mike Williams – 'Don't panic, I need
the loo' | The Spectator shop
Change your perspective Source: Jessica Walsh | https://www.instagram.com/p/3_72bIFonM/
Pick your battles! Source: xkcd.com/386
Stakeholder Perspectives Are Important
I Was Not Able To Work Story #4
The designs needed more time and thought than the timelines
allowed for
I didn’t feel very motivated
I was blocked on ideas
There were other things bothering me – learnability, my role
and even personal stuff
Looking from the other side 1. Didn’t work iteratively 2.
Didn't meet deadlines 3. Looked like a black box
Cut Yourself Some Slack
So, was that enough? Source: xkcdsw.com/2988
Processes that helped me 1. Progress tracking tools 2. Design
showcases 3. Structured feedback 4. Estimations 5. Retrospectives
Design Collaboration Is Hard Stakeholder Perspectives Are Important Discuss Feedback
Cut Yourself Some Slack Looking Back…
“ How well we communicate is determined not by how
well we say things, but how well we are understood. - Andrew Grove
Thanks! Questions? Contact :
[email protected]
| @9porcupine