dpm summit 2015 - next-level collaboration: facilitating web content working sessions
TRANSCRIPT
NEXT-LEVEL COLLABORATION WORKSHOP web content working sessions
@REBEKAHCANCINO
Photograph by Deborah Coleman, Pixar
meet ed catmull
Photograph from “Inside the Pixar Braintrust” by Fast Company
Digital experiences are messy, iterative, and overlapping, too.
“People don’t experience content separately from design, UX, and code. Making things shouldn’t be that way either.” – Jared Spool
File sharing and occasional meetings are not collaboration.
Collaboration is when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Our decision making is stronger when we draw on the collective knowledge of the group.
effective collaboration Create alignment = deliver better outcomes Remove politics = launch faster Reduce rework = decrease costs Boost morale = increase productivity
content that matters
user needs
business goals
“Content doesn’t belong to content. Design doesn’t belong to design. Code doesn’t belong to dev.” – Nicole Fenton
UX = wireframing
UI
content
= wireframing code design
what about… Ownership? Our work is not as separate as we imagine. No one person or department can truly own anything, but someone should be responsible for leading.
Who goes first? It’s not about who goes first, it’s about creating space for things to unfold in tandem.
“The secret isn’t content first or content last … it’s content and design at the same time.” - Travis Gertz, Louder Than Ten
collaboration doesn’t have to hurt
WITH
it’s about creating space to share decisions
vs. FOR
planning your content
prioritizing user needs
aligning with business goals
mapping content
to user needs
In this session, we’ll practice
thinking
doing feeling
but first, empathize
@DANIELEIZANS
thinking
doing feeling
map the user’s context Which card is right for me? I hope I’m approved How long does it take to get approved? What kind of credit score do I need to apply? Will this help me rebuild my credit?
Nervous Hopeful Confused Skeptical
Browsing the site from their phone Looking the information over with a partner Getting ready to make a major purchase Researching after talking to a banker
let’s practice together! Get into groups of 4-5 people
Card categories
Compare cards
Check for special offers
Card description
Image of card
Card details
Link to apply
Hero banner: Susan G. Komen card
Popular cards
STEP 1 Define brand goals, communication needs, and prioritize
STEP 2 Determine user needs, tasks, and prioritize
STEP 3 Compare prioritized business goals and user needs. How do they stack up? Do we need to: • Realign • Discuss gaps • Make conscious compromises
STEP 4 List all current content elements (if you’re redesigning), and determine new content elements needed.
STEP 5 Map content elements to prioritized user tasks, look for gaps. Look for: • Missing content • User tasks or needs that are under or over
addressed • Content elements that don’t really align to any
user goal or need
you made it! Let’s reflect
When web content won’t fix the problem Discuss broken underlying business models and decisions that go beyond the web and adjust expectations
When business goals don’t align to user needs When stakeholders participate in matching business goals to user needs they discover misaligned priorities for themselves. • Realign those priorities • Make conscious compromises
YOU COULD EVEN Map content to visual hierarchy (wireframe sketch)
features and functionality, too
YOU COULD EVEN Prioritize features, functionality, and content needs with the project team and stakeholders
good content is everyone’s responsibility
excuses, excuses "That's not my job.” "We don't have time or budget.” "I don't want to step on toes.” "No one will listen to me.” "I don't know how to do that."
Cross-discipline content working sessions (with stakeholders) help us reduce risk and avoid costly, incorrect assumptions.
Balance business goals and user needs. Tie all decisions back to them.
Create the space to do the work together, not just talk about it.
Set yourself up for success by thoughtfully planning how you’re going to work together.
Collaboration is scalable. Use cross-discipline working sessions wisely so you don’t waste time or blow budgets.
internal users count, too
just jump in
thank you! Bonus material on planning working sessions and determining stakeholders: bit.ly/designtogether
togetherly.co
sitewire.com
@REBEKAHCANCINO