Kevin LeebroderickUX ArchitectTribune Company

July IXDA 2012 @ Tribune Company

DESIGN BY COMMITTEEMaintaining Sanity in an Agile Environment

Pradeep NayarUX PrincipalTribune Company

We are a

MEDIACOMPANY

23TV STATIONS

8NEWSPAPERS

50+WEBSITES

160years

old

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PRIOR UX WORK

L.A. TIMES IPAD APP

L.A. TIMES WINDOWS

PHONE 7 APP

CRIME L.A.ANDROID

APP

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

WINDOWS 8APP

Mobile

Social

Tablet

TV

Web

Strategy

CONCEPTS

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PRIOR UX WORK

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CHICAGO TRIBUNE

RESPONSIVE SITE

“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE”

OUR GOAL

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“DESIGN BY COMMITTEE”PARTICIPATORY DESIGN

OUR GOAL

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Redesigning the Stop sign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwqPYeTSYng

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WE’RE AGILE!...almost

AGILE = COLLABORATION

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LET’S BRAINSTORM

Brainstorm meetings

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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

“Brainstorm” in isolation

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SOLUTION

Have a designated facilitator

Embrace divergent thinking;

conduct individual exploration

Conduct a design studio, not a BRAINSTORM MEETING!!!

THE CREW

STAKEHOLDERS

DEVELOPERS

PRODUCT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEAM UX

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

STAKEHOLDERS

DEVELOPERS

PRODUCT MANAGER

PROJECT MANAGER

QUALITY ASSURANCE

TEAM UX

TEAM UX

You are a design facilitator

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SPOILER ALERT

In an agile environment...

Not enough time

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CHALLENGE

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SOLUTION

STARTSKETCHING!!!

NO EXCUSES!

SOLUTION

PRESENTinternally

CRITIQUEnot gut reaction

PROTOTYPETest it!

many ideas

SKETCH

rinse & repeat

Believe in your solution

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You can’t sell it if you don’t believe it.

Never go aloneAlways tag team.

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SPOILER ALERT

VISUAL DESIGNER UX ARCHITECT

+

PRODUCT MANAGER

They are your closest ally but...

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There is a grey area - work it out!

Let’s do what the N.Y. Times does...

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CHALLENGE

“Follow the leader” approach.

Explain why it may not workTime to show your expertise on interface design.

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SOLUTION

Look at other examples to force a conversation.

Focus on the problem you are trying to solve

and question the solution.

They might try to design the interface

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CHALLENGE

Let them sketch ideas.

Be open to various forms of communication

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SOLUTION

Remind them that your job is to make them look good.

They help push hard features forward

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It’s important to maintain daily communication with them.

PROJECT MANAGER

They are usually the scrum master

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A good project manager can make or break a project.

Over promises on deliverables

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CHALLENGE

Trying to please an impatient stakeholder.

Be upfront and realistic about estimates

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SOLUTION

Build on existing trust and confidence.

There is no such thing as over-communication.

DEVELOPERS

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Best friend or worst enemyThey make your ideas come to life.

Like reuse of code & efficiency

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CHALLENGE

Solutions oriented around technology

rather than the needs of users.

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Reality of agile developmentStuff always changes.

It’s all about building a better product

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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.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

If UX is the quarterback...

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QA is the receiver.

QA only tests functionality

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CHALLENGE

Set expectations & keep in touch

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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.

STAKEHOLDERS

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

UX also needs to think about the business

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SPOILER ALERT

User needs + business needs = $$$ for everyone.

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CHALLENGE

Dealing with an alpha personality

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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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Always present your workNever email a deliverable and assume

they understand your lengthy email.

SPOILER ALERT

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Always present your workNever email a deliverable and assume

they understand your lengthy email.

SPOILER ALERT

SELL

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Selling the ideaConsider making it a experience.

PresentationExperience

Give them options, but lead them to your choiceAlways tell a story.

Solution A

Normal

Solution B

Better

Solution C

What they should want

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What are you selling?

TRUST & CONFIDENCE

It’s not a war

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FINALLY!

We’re all in this together.

Thanks!

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Get in touch with questions, comments

or other feedback

Pradeep Nayar

prad.nayar@gmail.com

designonmymind

Kevin Leebroderick

kleebroderick@tribune.com

Special thanks to

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Kim Ruelo

Adam Jankowski

Kate Rosendale

Andre Alforque

Trent Sherrell