how to be a better designer

Harvard Web Working GroupOctober 13, 2010

Jason Robb

How to be a better designer

@jasonrobb • #designbetterWednesday, October 13, 2010

Harvard Web Working GroupOctober 13, 2010

Jason Robb

Design better


AgendaIntro

DesignPeople

People + DesignQ&A

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Introduction


What I amVisual thinker, User researcher,

Usability expert, Interaction designer, Visual designer,

Front-end developer...

Introduction


What I am

Designer

Introduction

Visual thinker, User researcher, Usability expert, Interaction

designer, Visual designer, Front-end developer...


Small businesses, startups, agencies, non-profits...

Who I work for

Introduction


Small businesses, startups, agencies, non-profits...

Who I work for

Introduction

People who need design


What else?Introduction

UX Book Club, BostonNext book: GamestormingWednesday Nov. 3rd, 7pm

uxboston.comWednesday, October 13, 2010

Why I’m here

Introduction

Get people excited about design


Design


Design

Creators of tangible or intangible objects

Designers1


Design

Everyone is a designer

2


Design

…is a plan for the construction

of an object

Design (noun)3


Design


Design

flickr.com/dragondrop/Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Design

Tools don’t matter (much)

4Use whatever medium and

fidelity that suits your practical needs and design goals

http://dub.washington.edu:2007/projects/fidelity/pubs/Walker_HFES_2002.pdf






Design

Mike Rohde - flickr.com/rohdesignWednesday, October 13, 2010

Design

When to sketch5


Design

Baking

Simple?No sketch!

Complex? Sketch!


Design6


Design

Breakfast


Design

Interfaces

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Design

Interfaces


Design

How?What?

Why?

Simon Sinek - startwithwhy.com

7


http://www.startwithwhy.com

http://www.startwithwhy.com

Design

“We need a login form...”What?


Design

No context

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Design

“People need access to private health-related data...”

Why?


Design

Always get context!

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Signup form

Manage account

Update your status

Import data

Value prop

How to get started

8


Design

Vocabulary9Order, unity, variety, contrast,

symmetry, asymmetry, rhythm, harmony, dissonance,

interval, tension, balance...

Paul Rand - youtube.com/watch?v=4yOjts0tpcoWednesday, October 13, 2010

Design

Contrast


Design

Contrast

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DesignEveryone’s a designerTools: fit your needs

When to sketch; when not toAlways start with “Why?”

Learn the vocabulary


People


Working with people

This is your first priority, more important than pixels or pencils.

10


People

Who plays a role?

11


People


Listening ≠ doingThis is your first priority, more important than pixels or pencils.

12


Listening ≠ doingDon’t expect change. Always

reflect before acting.

13


Filter out the bad stuff

14Gut reactions are okay,

keep them to yourself


Nurture ideas, prune in time

15Gut reactions are okay,

keep them to yourself


Co&ect ideas, good and bad


Share them when the time is right


Building rapport16

How valuable is design to them?


Mood boards


Building consensus17

Disagree Bad designA& good


This is the norm



Rare, painful



Rare, no design



Design + People


Presenting & Critique18

Agenda. Who? Time? Outcome?


Use email sparingly19

Face timePhone

IMEmail


How to ruin a relationship

Reaction > Distraction > Distortion > Deconstruction

20


Resolving conflictsAssume you’re wrong. Test it.

Get an outside opinion.

21


Black and white?

Rightwrong

Wrongright


Rightright

Rightwrong

WrongWrong

Wrongright

Black, gray, & white


Give people choicesChoices = (eedom

No choices = slavery

22


Q&A


How can I get requirements up front?

You can’t. They’re always uncovered incrementa&y.

Q1


How to get started when the end is

nowhere in sight?Incremental progress

Q2


How do I dumb-proof the UI but not

patronize users?Simple as it has to be, no simpler.

Q3


Why are designers so weird?

Curiosity, sensitive to idea crushing, ask why first.

Q4


How do I make it beautiful?

Learn the vocabulary of aesthetics, practice!

Q5


Thank you!
