UXPA 2012 Tribune Company
Design by Committee
in an Agile environment
Myths, tricks & strategies...
Pradeep Nayar
@DesignOnMyMind
UX Principal
Tribune Company
Kevin Leebroderick
UX Architect
Tribune Company
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Design by Committee
in an Agile environment
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Participatory Design
Our Goal:
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more
than
150
years
old
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No content
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AGILE
We’re
...almost
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Agile = Collaboration
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A major stakeholder wants to replace
our mobile sites with a responsive site.
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Scenario:
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Pam
Project Manager
Hey..Scott (Stakeholder) wants us to wrap our
heads around this whole responsive design
thing...
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...I know Sunil (Software Architect) just
attended a conference where he heard
someone talk about it...
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Pam
Project Manager
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... Patrick (product manager) spoke to Bob
and told him that we’ll brainstorm some
idea...
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Pam
Project Manager
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... I’m going to schedule a meeting for us to
talk...Can you get some your “creative” UX
people for the meeting?
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Pam
Project Manager
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NEVER GET EVERYONE IN A ROOM TO
“BRAINSTORM” A SOLUTION
Why?
People get excited about solutions
that don’t solve the problem
Some solutions are not cohesive
with the overall experience
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PEOPLE INVOLVED
Stakeholders
Developers
UX
QA
Product Mgr Project Mgr
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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
UX
Team
Stakeholders
Project
Team
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Tip #1
Sketch several ideas
Review with UX peers
Critique & repeat
Within the UX team
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Believe in your solution
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Tip #2
Within the UX team
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Never go alone...
always tag team
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Tip #3
With the project team (Product, QA, Dev)
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Step 1: WORK WITH DEVELOPERS
Developers
UX
Remember
• They can be your best friend or worst enemy
• Include them early in a solution
• Show them examples of what you like and don’t like
• Explain the thought behind a design
• Thank them for a job well done
• Always remind them...we are trying to make a better product
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Step 2: WORK WITH PRODUCT
UX
Remember
• They are your closest ally
• There is a grey area...work it out
• You are there to make them look good
• They help you push “hard” features forward
Product Mgr
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Step 3: WORKING WITH QA
UX
Remember
• If UX is the quarterback then QA is the receiver
• They assure the quality of the experience
• They are the final line of defense before the customer
QA
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Always present, never email
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Tip #4
With stakeholders
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It’s not a war
We’re all in this together
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Final Tip