Presentation by Ed Stojakovic and Fran Diamond at Midwest UX in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 18, 2013. We talk briefly about the origin of patterns in architecture and design, then application of patterns, and the emergence of anti-patterns as a response to understand project or team problems. Last, we talk in detail about 5 anti-patterns that are applicable to the UX working environment.

1. it’s not you.
it’s your antipattern.
Fran Diamond
Edward Stojakovic
@frandiam
@estojakovic
#antipatterns
@midwestUX

2. agenda
why patterns
what are antipatterns?
UX antipatterns
What are patterns?
Why do we use them?
So then, what are antipatterns?
5 UX environment antipatterns
2

3. 3

4. why
patterns
4

5. PATTERNS IN OUR DAILY LIVES
Fractals
Pattern Libraries
5

6. Applied
Patterns
Myers-Briggs
Fran is INTJ
Ed is ENTJ
Christopher Alexander
“A Pattern Language”
6

7. An architectural pattern
Credit: Visit Hillborough | http://flic.kr/p/4YHsbe

8. A typical
interface
design
pattern
http://ui-patterns.com/patterns/ProductPage

9. ...but then
what are
“antipatterns”
9

10. ANTIPATTERNS
What you care
about
narrowly
broadly
Design / Architecture
Human Behavior / Worklife
10
What you can
affect

11. difficult person…
applied
antipatterns
11
supporting structure

12. always starts
with good
intentions
software industry
Costs applied to project failures
other industries
Communications
Finance
Technology
Personnel
Work Environments
12

13. Why it
matters to UX
can be really tricky
We are less mature industry
Separate our contribution from environment
13

14. finding
antipatterns
1. research
2. personal experience
3. interviews
4. identification
5. survey confirmation
6. review / summary
14

15. a template
<antipattern name>
1. Central Concept
2. Dysfunction
3. Vignette
4. Explanation
5. Band-aid
6. Self-repair
7. Refactoring
8. Observations
9. identification
15

16. 5 UX
environment
antipatterns
16

17. Narcissus
Analysis
1
Team consults a narrow set of
standards and/or competitor’s
work to address project needs
without looking to outside
frameworks or consumer input
17

18. Credit: Cea | http://flic.kr/p/bV3oG2

20. > Narcissus Analysis
Re-set the objectives to be more than
simply meet standards
Don’t assume that competitors set the
standards
Consider heuristics as baseline but not
the end of the analysis
Involve consumers in analysis
20

21. Process
Clash
2
Friction arises when advocates
of different processes must
work together without a
proven hybrid process
21

24. > Process Clash
Re-training & cross-training to develop a
“third way” process to incorporate best of
both worlds.
Communication & straightforward
acknowledgement of different
approaches to make decisions more
transparent and help both sides feel their
approach is being heard and used.
Accept different teams bring value
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25. Fairness
Doctrine
3
Blind obsession with fairness
and uniformity in
management becomes an
excuse for not dealing with
difficult or problematic people
25

27. 27

28. > Fairness Doctrine
There will always be poor performers-deal with problems directly and
quickly.
Teams often do not have inherent
power or authority to remove
ineffective members; they need
management support to do so.
28

29. Kiosk
City
4
Data/document sharing is key
to a team’s work but given the
plethora of ways to share
documents creates confusion
and lack of adoption.
29

32. Kiosk City
Allow each project and new team
member as a chance to determine how
best to share documents.
Focus on deliverables rather than interim
work.
Even though project is over, capture all
documents in a common place
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33. Moral
Hazard
5
Insulating a decision-maker
from the consequences of
their decision
33

34. Moral Hazard
It’s not a problem, it’s a policy!

36. > Moral Hazard
Know who is responsible and who
is accountable
Beware the morally compromised
leader
CYA or see-ya
36

37. +
Maybe it is the environment
Empathy wins
summary
-
Maybe it is you!
We don’t always have control
37

38. contact
We’d love to hear from you
#antipatterns
twitter
@frandiam
edward.stojakovic
@leoburnett.com
38
email
fran.diamond
@leoburnett.com
Leo Burnett Chicago
@estojakovic