design studio: a method for concepting, critique, and iteration

ADAM CONNOR @ADAMCONNOR

DESIGN STUDIO A Method for Idea Generation, Critique, and Iteration


Concepting & Detailed Design

Vision & Definition

Research


Synthesize Observations

Create or Refine

Observe & Evaluate

Idea IdeaIdea


IdeaIdea Idea

IdeaIdea

IdeaIdeaIdea

Idea Idea

Solution

IdeaIdea

Idea

Idea Idea

ADAM CONNOR EXPERIENCE DESIGN DIRECTOR @ADAMCONNOR

Inevitably, we run into challenges.

Which option should we choose?

We need to put all of these ideas in front of users and let them tell us.

I just remembered... it also needs to do these 16 other things.


The ever-dreaded

Swoop-n-Poop


The ever popular brainstorm…


Yes, there is an “i” in “design,” but it falls in-between a whole bunch of other stuff.

ADAM CONNOR

How can we engage team members, including stakeholders, so that we…

Generate lots of ideas?

@ADAMCONNOR

ADAM CONNOR


Give team members a chance to share ideas early in the project.


@ADAMCONNOR

ADAM CONNOR




Learn about the perspectives each area of expertise involved has.

@ADAMCONNOR

ADAM CONNOR





Choose ideas based on consensus and their effectiveness for our objectives.

@ADAMCONNOR

ADAM CONNOR





Establish a shared sense of ownership in the solution?

Choose ideas based on consensus and their effectiveness for our objectives.

@ADAMCONNOR


Idea IdeaIdea

IdeaIdea

IdeaIdea

Idea

IdeaIdeaIdea

IdeaIdea

Solution

IdeaIdea

Idea

Idea Idea

Synthesize Observations

Create or Refine

Observe & Evaluate

Divergent Thinking


Divergent Thinking

Convergent Thinking


Divergent Thinking

Convergent ThinkingCritique


Divergent Thinking

Convergent ThinkingCritique

Individual Exploration Group Refinement



SKETCHPRESENTCRITIQUE

The ever-important setup.

ADAM CONNOR EXPERIENCE DESIGN DIRECTOR @ADAMCONNOR

Framing the Problem


Framing the Problem

Personas


Framing the Problem

Goals

Personas


Framing the Problem

Goals

Personas

Principles


Framing the Problem

Goals

Personas

Scenarios

Principles


Framing the Problem

Goals

Personas

Scenarios

Tip: Make sure this isn’t the first time people see these.

Principles


Framing the Problem

Goals

Personas

Scenarios

Tip: Make sure this isn’t the first time people see these.

You’ll also need…

Paper

Black, Red and Green Markers

A Timer

Tape

Butcher Paper (optional)

Principles


Choose the best scenarios for your studio by…

Looking for scenarios that make up the “core” of the product (most encountered, largest audience, most sensitive)




Looking for scenarios that feature functions or challenges that there is significant discussion around.




Breaking down long scenarios into smaller sub-scenarios.





Breaking down long scenarios into smaller sub-scenarios.


Getting agreement from the team on the chosen scenarios.


Who gets an invitation?



Cross-functional



Key stakeholders

Cross-functional



Key stakeholders

Up to 20 people (ideally more like 12-16)

Cross-functional



Key stakeholders


Cross-functional

Balanced teams of 3-6 people



Key stakeholders


Cross-functional

Balanced teams of 3-6 people

Tip: Create teams ahead of time and consider people’s personalities and attitudes. Make sure you have one person on each team who can act as the facilitator.


On your mark. Get set. G0!

@ADAMCONNORADAM CONNOR

Wait! I can’t DRAW!


Wait! I can’t

DRAW!!!Rectangle Ellipse

Wavy LineTriangle


When communicating with sketches, the details you focus on need only be what’s necessary to illustrate your point.


The design process is one of evolution, not production. Sketching facilitates faster exploration and refinement of ideas through iteration.


1WHAT HAPPENS Individuals sketch as many ideas as they can come up with in 5-8 minutes.

WHY

Generate as many ideas as possible without time for over-analyzing.ADAM CONNOR @ADAMCONNOR

1 2WHAT HAPPENS Individuals sketch as many ideas as they can come up with in 5-8 minutes.

WHAT HAPPENSIndividuals sketch 1 idea in 5-8 minutes based on ideas & critique shared in the previous charrette.

WHY

Generate as many ideas as possible without time for over-analyzing.

WHY

Allow individuals to form their own conclusions on the strongest ideas.


3WHAT HAPPENSCollaboratively, members of a team sketch 1 idea in 20-25 minutes based on their earlier charrettes.

WHY

Understand how groups compromise & where consensus has surfaced.!

1 2WHAT HAPPENS Individuals sketch as many ideas as they can come up with in 5-8 minutes.

WHAT HAPPENSIndividuals sketch 1 idea in 5-8 minutes based on ideas & critique shared in the previous charrette.

WHY

Generate as many ideas as possible without time for over-analyzing.

WHY

Allow individuals to form their own conclusions on the strongest ideas.



What about group think and design-by-committee?


Critique is critical to the success of collaborative activities like studio because it allows participants to…

Actively avoid personal preference and analyze ideas against the personas, scenarios, goals and principles that frame the project.




Collectively identify which ideas are most important in creating an effective design.




Avoid group-think, design-by-committee and preferential based decision making.

Collectively identify which ideas are most important in creating an effective design.


Rules & Guidelines for Critique



Present quickly.



Everyone is equal and a critic.

Present quickly.




Avoid getting sidetracked by problem solving.

Present quickly.





Present quickly.

Ask questions as necessary.





Present quickly.

Ask questions as necessary.

Use principles, personas, scenarios and goals to focus discussion.


The aftermath and what comes next.


How long is long enough?



Sample Setup: 3 teams of 4 people working on 1 persona/scenario



Sample Setup: 3 teams of 4 people working on 1 persona/scenarioOpening 15 minutes




Scenario Review 5 minutes




Charrette 1 Sketching 5 minutes Present & Critique 28 minutes 7 min/individual (present: 3 min, critique 4 min)







Charrette 3 Sketching 15 minutes Present & Critique 30 minutes 10 min/group (present: 3 min, critique 7 min)









Closing 30 minutes








Total ~2 hours 45 minutesClosing 30 minutes


How do I get people to come up with new ideas?


When shouldn’t you use a Design Studio?


ADAM CONNOR

You might not be ready to run a design studio for your project if…

You haven’t adequately framed and broken down the problem.


ADAM CONNOR


You don’t have enough agreement on how you’ve framed the problem and broken it down.



ADAM CONNOR




A concept already exists that the team can’t or won’t stray from.


ADAM CONNOR





Some team member attitudes aren’t open to it.


ADAM CONNOR





Some remote situations.

Some team member attitudes aren’t open to it.


ADAM CONNORADAM CONNOR

Design Studio allows us to…

@ADAMCONNOR


Expand our ability to collect good ideas.


@ADAMCONNOR


Build consensus and a shared sense of ownership and collaboration in the creation of the solution.



@ADAMCONNOR




Build a shared understanding of the problem space and the perspectives of individual team members have.


@ADAMCONNOR




Speed up the design timeline in a project.



@ADAMCONNOR




Speed up the design timeline in a project.

Give team members an opportunity to understand the impacts that decisions have on the overall design and other considerations.



@ADAMCONNOR

It’s more than a workshop activity.


THANK YOU!

For more thoughts on critique, communication, and collaboration,

check out discussingdesign.com. !

And look for Discussing Design from O’Reilly Media in 2015!

Adam Connor Experience Design Director

!!

@adamconnor [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

design studio: a method for concepting, critique, and iteration

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