DISCUSSDESIGN Without Losing Your Mind

DISCUSSDESIGN
Without Losing Your Mind
Adam Connor
EXPERIENCE DESIGN DIRECTOR
Aaron Irizarry
SR. PRODUCT DESIGNER
Saturday, May 31, 14

Something about pain in conversations.
Conversations can
hurt

It’s laid out too much like [popular service]. We should be
different.
The new Spotify design is perhaps even worse than the old Spotify
design. The visual hierarchy and underlying IA are terrible.
No. That won’t work. What if
we do it this way...
It needs more flululululuh!!
The wireframes are still not answering our
problem and are not providing enough an easier
solution for the page.
Change the order of the screens so that
the 3rd and first one are switched.
It doesn't have enough spunk.
What kind of company shuts down a much-loved
service like Google Reader but keeps the vegetative
Google Plus?
We're disappointed in this solution. We're going to have our own
designers come up with one.
Looks ugly. Make it pretty.
What. The hell. Is this?
I would never use this. I don’t
like the layout.
We should make that a dropdown
instead of radio buttons.
None of this is what I asked for.
This is terrible. I have no idea what
the lines mean.
I like the paper form better.
I'm just not feeling it. I don't know what, but
it isn't right yet. Just needs to be more
innovative.
Make it look more
like SharePoint.Here is a rewrite. My intention
is to sharpen the language,
make it more precise.

The new Spotify design is perhaps even worse than the old Spotify
design. The visual hierarchy and underlying IA are terrible.
No. That won’t work. What if
we do it this way...
Change the order of the screens so that
the 3rd and first one are switched.
What. The hell. Is this?
We should make that a dropdown
instead of radio buttons.
None of this is what I asked for.
Here is a rewrite. My intention
is to sharpen the language,
make it more precise.

Critical
thinking

There are two facets to critique:
Giving & Receiving

There are two facets to critique:
Giving & Receiving
INTENT
At their foundation is

Giving critique with the wrong
intent is self focused.

Giving critique with the right
intent is objective focused.

When giving critique...
Use a filter.
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in
the right context.

Don’t assume.
Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or
other variables.

Don’t invite yourself.
Get in touch and ask to chat about the design.

Lead with questions.
Show an interest in their process.

Talk about strengths.
Critique isn’t just about the things that aren’t working.

Receiving
critique with
the right
intent takes
humility and
restraint.

When receiving critique...
Remember the purpose.
Critique is about understanding and improvement,
not judgement.

Think before responding.
Do you understand what the critics are saying?

Participate.
Analyze your proposed solution with everyone else.

Set the foundation.
Use prior agreements and objectives to get everyone
on the same page.

A simple
plan.

What was the creator
trying to achieve?

What was the creator trying
to achieve?How did they try to
achieve it?

trying to achieve?How did they try to
achieve it?How effective were
their choices?

How did they try to
achieve it?How effective were
their choices?Why is or isn’t what
they did effective?
trying to achieve?

Design Reviews
Standalone Critiques
Collaborative Activities

A few things to
keep in mind...

The Rules

Avoid problem
solving.
1
The Rules

Avoid problem
solving.
2 Everyone is equal.
1
The Rules

Avoid problem
solving.
3 Everyone is a critic.
1
The Rules

4
Avoid problem
solving.
The designer is
responsible for
next steps.
3 Everyone is a critic.
1
The Rules

Set the right
foundation.

Set your foundation with...
Personas
User Archetypes that describe their average
behaviors, goals, expectations, knowledge, etc.

Goals
Desired, measurable outcomes of the user
interacting with the product or service. Can be
user oriented, business oriented or both.

Principles
Desired qualities or characteristics of the
final solution.

Scenarios
Short narratives that the describe the desired
behaviors, thoughts, reactions, emotions, etc.
of the user as they move through a particular
flow or use case.

Critique is about iteration and
improvement. So long as you’re
looking to improve on whatever
it is you’re doing, you’ve got an
opportunity for critique.

Who gets an
invitation?

Start
things off
on the
right foot.
Illustration by: Hugo A Sanchez

Facilitating critique

Critique Goals

Critique Goals
Active Listening

Critique Goals
Round Robin &
Quotas
Active Listening

Critique Goals
Round Robin &
Quotas
Direct Inquiry
Active Listening

Critique Goals
Round Robin &
Quotas
Direct Inquiry
Six Thinking HatsActive Listening

Critique Goals
Round Robin &
Quotas
Direct Inquiry
Six Thinking Hats
Facilitators
Active Listening

Yes.
You will meet
difficult
people.

What comes
next?

Design Reviews
have their
challenges.

Solving the
review problem

Take control.
Solving the
review problem

Take control.
Recap objectives.
Solving the
review problem

Take control.
Pretend you’re
dealing with
difficult people.
Recap objectives.
Solving the
review problem

Don’t rely on
them for critique.
Take control.
Pretend you’re
dealing with
difficult people.
Recap objectives.
Solving the
review problem

Artist Unknown
The ever popular
brainstorm

Divergent
Thinking

Divergent
Thinking
Convergent
Thinking

Divergent
Thinking
Convergent
ThinkingCritique

Critique
is at the core of
collaboration.

Thanks!
Aaron Irizarry
Sr. Product Designer
aaron@thisisaaronslife.com
@aaroni
nasdaqomx.com
For more thoughts on critique, communication and
collaboration, check out: discussingdesign.com

DISCUSSDESIGN Without Losing Your Mind

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