Design by Committee - Speaker Deck

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Kevin Leebroderick UX Architect Tribune Company July IXDA 2012 @ Tribune Company DESIGN BY COMMITTEE Maintaining Sanity in an Agile Environment Pradeep Nayar UX Principal Tribune Company

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We are a MEDIA COMPANY 23 TV STATIONS 8 NEWSPAPERS 50+ WEBSITES

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160 years old

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5 PRIOR UX WORK

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L.A. TIMES IPAD APP

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L.A. TIMES WINDOWS PHONE 7 APP

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CRIME L.A. ANDROID APP

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CHICAGO TRIBUNE WINDOWS 8 APP

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Mobile Social Tablet TV Web Strategy CONCEPTS 10

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PRIOR UX WORK 11 CHICAGO TRIBUNE RESPONSIVE SITE

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“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE” OUR GOAL 12

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“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE” PARTICIPATORY DESIGN OUR GOAL 12

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Redesigning the Stop sign http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYng

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14 WE’RE AGILE! ...almost

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AGILE = COLLABORATION 15

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LET’S BRAINSTORM

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Brainstorm meetings 18 Lack focus Progress too quickly to a solution without exploring options Most powerful, loud and/or obnoxious person wins! People get excited about an existing solution rather than solving the problem Some solutions are not cohesive with the overall experience CHALLENGE

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“Brainstorm” in isolation 19 SOLUTION Have a designated facilitator Embrace divergent thinking; conduct individual exploration Conduct a design studio, not a BRAINSTORM MEETING!!!

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THE CREW STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPERS PRODUCT MANAGER PROJECT MANAGER QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM UX

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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPERS PRODUCT MANAGER PROJECT MANAGER QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM UX

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TEAM UX

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You are a design facilitator 25 SPOILER ALERT In an agile environment...

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Not enough time 26 CHALLENGE

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27 SOLUTION START SKETCHING!!!

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NO EXCUSES!

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SOLUTION PRESENT internally CRITIQUE not gut reaction PROTOTYPE Test it! many ideas SKETCH rinse & repeat

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Believe in your solution 30 You can’t sell it if you don’t believe it.

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Never go alone Always tag team. 31 SPOILER ALERT VISUAL DESIGNER UX ARCHITECT +

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PRODUCT MANAGER

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They are your closest ally but... 33 There is a grey area - work it out!

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Let’s do what the N.Y. Times does... 34 CHALLENGE “Follow the leader” approach.

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Explain why it may not work Time to show your expertise on interface design. 35 SOLUTION Look at other examples to force a conversation. Focus on the problem you are trying to solve and question the solution.

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They might try to design the interface 36 CHALLENGE Let them sketch ideas.

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Be open to various forms of communication 37 SOLUTION Remind them that your job is to make them look good.

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They help push hard features forward 38 It’s important to maintain daily communication with them.

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PROJECT MANAGER

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They are usually the scrum master 40 A good project manager can make or break a project.

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Over promises on deliverables 41 CHALLENGE Trying to please an impatient stakeholder.

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Be upfront and realistic about estimates 42 SOLUTION Build on existing trust and confidence. There is no such thing as over-communication.

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DEVELOPERS

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44 Best friend or worst enemy They make your ideas come to life.

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Like reuse of code & efficiency 45 CHALLENGE Solutions oriented around technology rather than the needs of users.

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46 Reality of agile development Stuff always changes.

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It’s all about building a better product 47 SOLUTION Walk-through the interface using specific scenarios. Take the time to explain the thought behind your design. Thank them for a job well done! Try to include them early in a solution.

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QUALITY ASSURANCE

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If UX is the quarterback... 49 QA is the receiver.

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QA only tests functionality 50 CHALLENGE

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Set expectations & keep in touch 51 SOLUTION Need to emphasis how important they are to the project. The success of the project depends on them. Talk about a holistic testing approach. Conduct occasional walk-throughs with them.

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STAKEHOLDERS

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53 Talk to them in a language they understand Talk about customers, not users.

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UX also needs to think about the business 54 SPOILER ALERT User needs + business needs = $$$ for everyone.

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55 CHALLENGE Dealing with an alpha personality

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56 Let’s face it. You’re not going to win, but... SOLUTION Figure out what makes them tick. Find an influencer and become their buddy. Don’t be scared - they’re not going to bite.

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57 Always present your work Never email a deliverable and assume they understand your lengthy email. SPOILER ALERT

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57 Always present your work Never email a deliverable and assume they understand your lengthy email. SPOILER ALERT SELL

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58 Selling the idea Consider making it a experience. Presentation Experience

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Give them options, but lead them to your choice Always tell a story. Solution A Normal Solution B Better Solution C What they should want

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61 What are you selling? TRUST & CONFIDENCE

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It’s not a war 62 FINALLY! We’re all in this together.

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Thanks! 63 Get in touch with questions, comments or other feedback Pradeep Nayar prad.nayar@gmail.com designonmymind Kevin Leebroderick kleebroderick@tribune.com

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Special thanks to 64 Kim Ruelo Adam Jankowski Kate Rosendale Andre Alforque Trent Sherrell