Articulating Design Decisions@tomgreever

“simplicity”

“good use of space”

“when you can’t remove anything else”

Explaining yourself is the key to successful design

1. Solves a problem

2. Easy for users

3. Everyone believes in it

Great designer = Great communicator

Why?UX has gone mainstream

1. http://www.usertesting.com/blog/2013/12/11/take-the-2013-usertesting-ux-industry-survey/ 2. http://uxmag.com/articles/doa-diagnosing-the-ux-flaws-of-obamacare

The CEO ButtonAn unusual or otherwise unexpected request

from an executive to add a feature that

completely destroys the balance of a project

and undermines the very purpose of a

designer’s existence

Homepage Syndrome

A condition whereby the home screen of an

application or website becomes a catch-all for

everything, creating a garage-sale of links, buttons,

and banner ads that unravels the fabric of usability,

causing designers to cry themselves to sleep

Approaching1. How does this affect the user?

2. What problem does this solve?

3. Why is it better than the

alternative?

Understanding

• See their perspective

• Remove distractions

• Anticipate reactions

Listening• Let them talk

• Hear what they’re not saying

“The most important thing in communication

is to hear what isn't being said.”

― Peter Drucker, author & management consultant

Listening• Let them talk

• Hear what they’re not saying

• Uncover the (real) problem

• Move from preference to function

• Ask for examples

Responding

• Give up control

The first step to recovery is admitting that you’re not in

control

Responding

• Give up control

• Lead with a YES!

Tactics

• Appeal to a nobler

motive*

• Show a comparison

• Propose an

alternative

• Give them a choice

• Postpone the

decision* How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, 1936

Don’t say…• “You’re wrong”

• “From a design perspective…”

• What you like or don’t like

• Words that describe the look

Common explanations• Facilitates a primary use

case

• Follows a common design

pattern

• Meets a particular goal

• Complies with a standard

(HTML, Accessibility)

• Limited by technology

• Draws the user’s

attention

• Creates a flow for the

user

• Establishes branding

Provide Answers1. How does this affect the user?

2. What problem does this solve?

3. Why is it better than the

alternative?

Recovering• Make it subtle

• Make it an option

• Avoid putting it in the template

Painting a Duck

bitovi.comtomgreever.com

@tomgreever