managing design debt

Chris JonesHot Studio – Principal@rubylabs

Managing Design Debt

You are not alone

Does UX have to be at the mercy of the development process

• It wasn’t implemented to my vision

• Short cuts were taken and our goals were never met

• We didn’t have time to address all the issues we found in testing

• Lost sight of the value to users

• Shall we go on?

2

What if the UX and development could be more aligned in the overall product process.

3

Different POV

UX : Create a great experience through empathy

Agile : The highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software

Lean: Hypothesis and Continuous Customer Validation, Reduce waste, Empowered Product Team

4

Patterns emerge…

Waterfall

Research Concept Test Design Build

5

6

Research Test Design

Build Release

Time

Debt

Concept

Waste

Agile

Research Concept Test Design Build Design Build Design Build

7

Iteration 1Iteration 0 Iteration 2 Iteration 3

Agile 8

Iteration 1

Time

DebtIteration 0 Iteration 2

Cycle Length

Waste

Process Lean

Measure

Learn

Build

9

Lean 10

Time

Debt

Validated Design 11

Waterfall Agile

Validated Design

Waste

Lean

Over Time

But, how do I know it’s good?

STORY TELLING

What is the story you are telling the user?

• Introduce a new idea or behavior• How to do something• Build knowledge• Challenge• Escape• Connect• Improve, Heal

Story

• Beginning, Middle, End• Characters?• Challenges, goals?• Cadence?• Journey, Transformation, Lessons

(Added Value)

Proof reading

• Is the grammar correct?• Punctuation, spelling?• Is it clear and concise?• Is it consistent?• Jargon watch?

• Looking through your readers eyes• Do they understand the story• What will they conclude• What will draw them in• How do they relate to the characters

Thank you

Chris Jones@rubylabs