i am (not) a designer: accepting the designer label on your own terms (sxswi 2014)
DESCRIPTION
"User experience" has become a ubiquitous buzzword in technology; it's everywhere. However, most people understand me to be a designer. But was I? The truth is that I am (not) a designer, and so are(n't) you. This panel describes my journey to accepting my "designer" label while making it my own. We examine: what does "design" mean, anyway? How do I "do" design, even if I don't draw? Who is in charge of the definition? How do I move forward as a designer and make the label work for me, even if others don't agree with my definition? The answer is often found in how we define ourselves. [This presentation was given at SXSW Interactive in Austin, TX on March 7, 2014. These are the PDFs of the presentation; please contact me about notes or if you have additional questions!]TRANSCRIPT
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I Am (Not) A Designer
Accep%ng the “Designer” Label On Your Terms
Morgan Burton | @morgan_kb
#nolabels #notdesign
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Eckhart Tolle
Give up defining yourself - to yourself or to others[…]You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot lose something that you are.
#nolabels #notdesign
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[Obligatory Introductions]
#nolabels #notdesign
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Hi! I’m Morgan.
• Native Texan (Type: Houstonian)
• Loves bacon, BBQ (esp. beef brisket) and hot sauces • Slightly obsessed with wearable and ambient tech
#nolabels #notdesign
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Before all this…
Pre-med/biology + Informatics + Social/bio-psychology + Marketing
User Experience [Researcher/Architect]
Interesting and fun; but I HATE GERMS.
Who doesn’t LOVE information?!
Why are people weird?
How do I make these weirdos do what I want?
#nolabels #notdesign
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PRELUDE: A PURPOSEFUL DILEMMA “WHAT do you do again?”
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#nolabels #notdesign
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“So, what do you do?”
I work in user experience.
#nolabels #notdesign
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“So, what do you do?”
I work in user experience.
#nolabels #notdesign
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“Oh, you’re a user experience ?”
Photo by Benson Kua (CC license via Flickr)
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NO. WAY.
- graphic, arty people
- crazy creatives
- don’t you need an art school degree?
- I don’t make websites (that often)
I am so NOT a designer.
#nolabels #notdesign
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The truth is…
I am (NOT) a designer.
[And so are(n’t) you]
#nolabels #notdesign
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1. DENIAL “Know Your Labels”
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What Is Design, Anyway?
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Design is in everything we make, but it’s also between those things.
Erik Adigard
#nolabels #notdesign
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de•sign /də’zīn/
noun: purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action, fact, or material object. verb: to plan and make (something) for a specific use or purpose
#nolabels #notdesign
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plan + make + purpose [ Have a ]
[ something ]
[ on ]
#nolabels #notdesign
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TL;DL (Too Long; Didn’t Listen)
design = plan + make + purpose You can’t deny what you don’t know We plan – make – purpose all the time!
#nolabels #notdesign
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…I could possibly be a designer.
#nolabels #notdesign
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2. ANGER “Breaking The Mold”
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I used to worry about the labels others placed on me… until I realized my limitations weren’t coming from their labels, but from my own.
Steve Maraboli
#nolabels #notdesign
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#nolabels #notdesign
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Drawing!
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CODING!
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BUSINESS!
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“@#%=*! I’m not creative!”
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plan + make + purpose [ Have a ]
[ something ]
[ on ]
#nolabels #notdesign
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Purpose: The Only To-Do That Matters
What do you WANT people to do? - Inspire
- Inform - Alert
#nolabels #notdesign
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[Insert picture of car simulation for car sim alert story]
#nolabels #notdesign
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TL;DL
Know the purpose of your work (whatever it is) Designers do things for a reason
#nolabels #notdesign
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But…WHO said it has to be this way?
#nolabels #notdesign
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3. NEGOTIATION “Something Old + New”
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#nolabels #notdesign
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QUESTION EVERYTHING
Look for new perspectives
INNOVATION: see old things with new eyes
CREATIVITY: discover new things with same eyes
#nolabels #notdesign
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plan + make + purpose [ Have a ]
[ something ]
[ on ]
#nolabels #notdesign
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The Tension Gap
What I Know
What I Want To Accomplish
shift_me
SYNTHESIS!
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Design is the intermediary between information and understanding.
Richard Grefé
#nolabels #notdesign
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[Insert picture for choice arch story here]
#nolabels
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Design =/= (only) Visual Arts
- Planning comes from analysis, which means we must fully understand the problem.
- Need some background knowledge – which you have (life experience)
- Things we know + new ways = INNOVATION
plan + make + purpose
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TL;DL
Use what you know already to accomplish what you want to do
shift_ thinking = shift_you
#nolabels
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Checklist: ü Understand design
ü Break social definition
ü Innovate and create w/ shift_Me
…I’m a “designer”!
#nolabels
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4. DEPRESSION “Get Lost (In Your Work)”
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Research isn’t design!
What do you mean “you don’t code all
the %me”?!
Designers draw…
#foreveralone
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The truth is…
Stage 4: Depression
(“Get Lost In Your Work”)
It’s ok (even GOOD) to be different.
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The truth is…
Stage 4: Depression
(“Get Lost In Your Work”)
It’s ok (even GOOD) to be different.
Photo : Zoos Victoria (Australia)
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plan + make + purpose [ Have a ]
[ something ]
[ on ]
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What will they remember you for?[…] Invent something, develop a unique skill… — it creates a talking point.
Chris Arnold
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[Insert picture for title vs. interest story]
Photo : Morgan Burton
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That’s Not My Name!
- Old me: conforms to social definition - shift_Me: makes new form from actual definition
“What do we call you?”
Who actuall! cares?!
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TL;DL
Focus on what you DO (function over definition) Create your legacy
…because labels don’t matter.
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The Prestige-ish Realization
[PLAN + MAKE] I have all these ideas in my head: - Better process - Better interfaces - Better systems - Better tools
[PURPOSE] AND I’m learning new things!
…wait a second.
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5. ACCEPTANCE “I’m (not) a designer. And so are(n’t) you.”
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Put it all together
- Define it
- Break conventions/boundaries
- Bring your experience to new ideas/concepts
- Create your title by what you DO
You are (not) a designer.
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ENDOSTORY [KIND OF].
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What’s In This For Me?
We need MORE divergent thinkers from EVERY field
- More differences = different design
- By creating with purpose, you embody design
- Innovate + create
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shift_ EVERYTHING.
• Mind [PLAN IT]
• Body [MAKE IT]
• Purpose [CHANGE IT]
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Accept no one’s definition of life; define yourself.
Harvey Fierstein
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The [Actual] End.
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Thank You!
Tweet me @morgan_kb Link me /morgan.k.burton On the web morgankb.com [email protected]
#nolabels #notdesign