Applying Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 rules for writing to user experience

As user experience designers, we’re redefining how people interact with content. What could a 1960’s counter culture novelist teach us about onboarding new users or making product decisions? Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse Five and over 25 other famous works, was a master of language and storytelling. In one of his last books, Vonnegut outlined 8 rules for creative writing––including where to start your story and the job of every sentence. Come see how the rules that Vonnegut used while sitting at a typewriter apply directly to our work as designers, researchers and writers building online experiences.

Find a new way to think about designing products through the lens of an iconic postmodern author.

See examples of uncommon ways Instagram has solved UX problems.

Learn how the power of storytelling can build a stronger connection between your product and the people who use it.

Presented by Hazel Jennings at UX Australia 2017

Transcript

1. APPLYING KURT VONNEGUT’S 
 8 RULES FOR WRITING TO
 USER EXPERIENCE :Vonnegut Library Hazel Jennings
 @hazeljennings
2. Writing stories.
3. Writing…
4. all the copy in the app. Writing
5. names for features, apps, filters and creative tools. Writing
6. style guides and content standards. Writing
7. value propositions and messaging for marketing efforts. Developing
8. onboarding for new features and apps. Designing
9. processes so we sound like Instagram in every language. Organizing
10. Building user experiences.
11. : Boston Globe
12. “Vonnegut's linguistic style is straightforward; his sentences concise, his language simple, his paragraphs brief, and his ordinary tone conversational. Vonnegut uses this style to convey normally complex subject matter in a way that is intelligible to a large audience.” - Michael D. Sharp. : Boston Globe
13. : Boston Globe
14. 1 “Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel their time was wasted.”
15. DON’T WASTE THEIR TIME
16. DON’T WASTE THEIR TIME
17. DON’T WASTE THEIR TIME
18. 2 “Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.”
19. 2,168 likes instagram We have a new look! Our updated icon stays true to the camera and rainbow. The simpler design puts more focus on your photos and videos without changing how you navigate the app. View all 18 comments Learn More 9:41 AM 100% instagram Sponsored WRITE ABOUT WHAT THEY LOVE
20. WRITE ABOUT WHAT THEY LOVE
21. 3 “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.”
22. PINPOINT WHAT THEY WANT
23. PINPOINT WHAT THEY WANT
24. PINPOINT WHAT THEY WANT
25. 4 “Every sentence must do one of two things–reveal character or advance the action.”
26. SHOW THEM & TELL THEM
27. SHOW THEM & TELL THEM
28. 5 “Start as close to the end as possible.”
29. “TIME SPENT”
30. 6 “Be a sadist. 
 No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them–in order that the reader may see what they are made of.”
31. YEAH, OK.
 
 DON’T DO THAT ONE.
32. ACTUALLY… ACTIVELY AVOID THAT ONE.
33. 7 “Write to please just one person. 
 If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.”
34. LET PEOPLE BE IN CONTROL
35. 8 “To hell with suspense.
 Give your readers as much information as soon as possible. They should have such a complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they can finish the story themselves should cockroaches eat the last few pages.”
36. 8 “To hell with suspense.
 Give your readers as much information as soon as possible. They should have such a complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they can finish the story themselves should cockroaches eat the last few pages.”
37. GIVE THEM THE WHY
38. GIVE THEM THE WHY
39. GIVE THEM THE WHY
40. :PBS
41. “Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel their time was wasted.” 1
42. “Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.” 2
43. “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.” 3
44. “Every sentence must do one of two things– reveal character or advance the action.” 4
45. “Start as close to the end as possible.” 5
46. “Be a sadist. 
 No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them–in order that the reader may see what they are made of.” 6
47. “Write to please just one person. 
 If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.” 7
48. “To hell with suspense.
 Give your readers as much information as soon as possible. They should have such a complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they can finish the story themselves should cockroaches eat the last few pages.” 8
49. :AP Images
50. :AP Images THANKS! Hazel Jennings
 @hazeljennings