PUSHING PEOPLE & PIXELS HOW TO THRIVE IN DESIGN

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A DESIGN DIRECTOR?

I WAS ASKED…

LISTEN, OBSERVE, UNDERSTAND, SYMPATHIZE, EMPATHIZE, SYNTHESIZE, AND GLEAN INSIGHTS THAT ENABLE HIM OR HER TO

Hillman Curtis 1961-2012

THE GOAL OF A DESIGNER IS TO…

AMERICAN NEW MEDIA DESIGNER, AUTHOR, MUSICIAN AND FILMMAKER

‘MAKE THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE’

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCEFIRST THING’S FIRST

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR DESIGN CAREER?

WHAT CAREER? EARLY CAREER

INTERN

FIRST JOB

0-4 YEARS IN

MID CAREER

HAVE A BIZ

SIDE GIGS

5-10 YEARS

STUDENT

BIG FAN

JUST JOBS

HANGIN’ OUT

RETIRED

CRUSHIN' IT

EXPERIENCED

DIRECTING

TOP OF MY GAME

MANAGING

VP/CHIEF-ING

REINVENTING IT

SECOND LIFE

PLAYING

DISCOVERY

PLANNING

JUST WEIRD

KNOW YOURSELFCONTEXT IS IMPORTANT

“THINK OF LIFE AS A PROTOTYPE CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS, MAKE DISCOVERIES, AND CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVES. LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO TURN PROCESSES INTO PROJECTS THAT HAVE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES.”

Tim Brown, IDEO

MOBILE UX ARCHITECT

KNOW YOURSELF

“CANDY LAND”2014 - 2016 SENIOR MANAGER, EXPERIENCE DESIGNNOW - DIRECTOR, EXPERIENCE DESIGN

(1999-2001) DESKTOP PUBLISHER

WEB DEVELOPER

(2001-2006) WEB DESIGNER

INFORMATION ARCHITECT (IA)SENIOR IA

(2006-2007) DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MARKETING

(2007) INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

(2007-2008) (2008 - 2011)

SENIOR UX ARCHITECTSENIOR MANAGER, PRIVACY INTERACTION DESIGN

(2011-2014) SENIOR UX ARCHITECT

DIRECTOR, JUICE LABS

START

WHAT CAREER?

EARLY CAREER

MID CAREER

CRUSHIN’ IT

REINVENTING IT

I WAS A MILITARY OOPSIE BABY!

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT HISTORY DO YOU HAVE THAT GIVES

YOU AN EDGE?

LIVED IN FRONT OF THE TV & HAD IDEAS

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT ARE THINGS YOU DID AS A KID

THAT HINT AT YOUR NATURAL ABILITY?

INCREDIBLY SHY AND INCREDIBLY TALL

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF

I would sweat when people looked at me

“Go-Go Gadget Legs!”

Motivated by “You can’t do that!”

WHAT ADVERSITY DID YOU OVERCOME?

LOVED HIGH SCHOOL MOSTLY

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT INTERESTS DO YOU GRAVITATE TO?

WAS 16 AND PREGNANT “BEFORE IT WAS COOL”

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT “MISTAKES” HAVE YOU MADE

THAT BECAME THE BEST THING EVER?

WENT TO COLLEGE FOR BUSINESS COMPUTER INFO SYS (BCIS)

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT FEARS ARE YOU CONQUERING?

HAD THREE KIDS BEFORE AGE 20

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF WHAT PROOF SHOWS YOU CAN

WORK HARD?

WHAT CAREER? KNOW YOURSELF

JUST JOBS

RAN A COUNTRY LIQUOR & BEER STORE

AT AGE 19

“WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN REPLACEMENT WINDOWS OR SIDING?”

LEARNED CYA DOCUMENTATION

& MIXED MOTIVES

WHAT ACCIDENTAL SKILLS HAVE YOU

BUILT?

SUPPLY CHAIN IN SMALL

“GURL, YOU BETTA GET YO SHIT ‘TUH-GEAW-THUH’ YOU TOO SMART FOR THIS!”

Mrs. White “Reality Check #1”, 1998

JUST A JOB - HUTCHINS STATE JAIL WHO HAS KICKED YOU IN THE BUTT?

LEARN YOUR ASS OFF!STAY CURIOUS MY FRIENDS

EARLY CAREER: LEARN YOUR ASS OFF

FIRST DESIGN & TECH JOBSOMNIFLIGHT (1999-2001)

DESKTOP PUBLISHER WEB DEVELOPER

WHAT JOB MIGHT HELP YOU LEARN

AND PROVE YOURSELF?

“DON’T COME TO ME WITH A PROBLEM! COME WITH A SOLUTION!”

Don Click (VP) “Reality Check #2”, 2000

FIRST DESIGN JOB - DESKTOP PUBLISHER HAVE YOU EMBRACED HARSH ADVICE?

EARLY CAREER: LEARN YOUR ASS OFF

SECOND DESIGN JOBTRAVELOCITY (2001-2003)

Dana Walter Great example of a reasonable and strong female design leader

WEB DESIGNER

WHY? THAT’S NOT WHAT I KNOW!

DO YOU ASK ENOUGH QUESTIONS?

CANDY WITH A WHY?

What happens when you ask why? why? why?

“DESIGN IS NOT JUST WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND FEELS LIKE. DESIGN IS HOW IT WORKS.”

Steve Jobs

EARLY CAREER: LEARN YOUR ASS OFF

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE & INTERACTION DESIGN

ARE YOU WAITING FOR PERMISSION?

“SOMETIMES, BEING CONSISTENT MAKES THINGS

HARDER TO USE”

“DESIGNERS ARE BRILLIANT BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW

ANYTHING”

“DON’T EXPECT A COMPANY TO INVEST IN YOU IF YOU DON’T! FACTOR INTO YOUR SALARY AND BUDGET FOR IT.”

CANDY “with a WHY” BERNHARDT

INVEST IN YOURSELF, TOO!

LEAD WITHOUT AUTHORITYDON’T ASK PERMISSION

“DESIGN CREATES CULTURE.

CULTURE SHAPES VALUES.

VALUES DETERMINE THE FUTURE.”Robert L. Peters

EARLY CAREER: LEAD WITHOUT AUTHORITY

TRAVELOCITY CULTURE OF “YES AND..."

WHAT CULTURE CAN YOU HELP CREATE?

CRAZY HAT DAY!

BE A FAN!

“CANDY, I’VE NOTICED YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY TWO YEARS AHEAD!”

NOEL HOLMES,“Reality Check #3”, 2004

EARLY CAREER: LEAD WITHOUT AUTHORITY WHAT PATTERNS ARE DEVELOPING IN YOUR WORK?

MID-CAREER

(2004-2006) INFORMATION ARCHITECT (IA) SENIOR IA

MID CAREER: LEAD WITHOUT PERMISSION

STARTUP, DOT COM, & LOCAL COMMUNITY

WHAT COMMUNITIES PUSH YOUR

BOUNDARIES?

“HEY CANDY! I HAD AN IDEA THIS MORNING. WE LAUNCHED IT THIS AFTERNOON!”

TRAVIS ISAACS, “Reality Check #4”, 2006

MID CAREER: LEAD WITHOUT AUTHORITY ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE FRUIT OF YOUR EFFORTS?

LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEADIT JUST GOT REAL

MID CAREER/SIDE GIG: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

RADIOTIME = TUNEIN + I HEART RADIO2006-2007 DIRECTOR, PRODUCT MARKETING

HAVE YOU HELPED REFRAME A BUSINESS?

MID CAREER: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

HEALTH MARKETS2007 INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

DO YOU TELL STORIES THAT

CONNECT DOTS?

MID CAREER: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

HANDANGO2007 - 2008 MOBILE UX ARCHITECT

DO YOU EMBRACE COMPLEXITY?

MID CAREER: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

NOKIA2008 - 2011 UX ARCHITECT SR MANAGER, CONSUMER PRIVACY INTERACTION

DO YOU SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES?

TRAVELPORT

Emirates - Cross-Functional

CRUSHIN’ IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

2011 - 2014 UX ARCHITECT DIRECTOR, JUICE INNOVATION LABS

DO YOU HELP PEOPLE IMAGINE?

“NO TECH PROBLEMS - IMAGINATION PROBLEMS”

“DON’T BE AFRAID OF LEADERSHIP. HELPING TO GROW PEOPLE IS SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL THAN ANY PIXEL OR DELIVERABLE.”

CANDY “with a WHY” BERNHARDT

BE A MENTOR OR MANAGER

DUH! PEOPLE WERE DOING THIS FOR ME!

WHO ARE YOU GROWING?

CRUSHIN’ IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

INTUIT2014 - 2016 SENIOR MANAGER, EXPERIENCE DESIGN

WHAT TEAM EVENTS DO YOU PLAN?

“BE VULNERABLE. IT’S OKAY TO CRY.”

JAMES HELMS, “Reality Check #6”, 2014

CRUSHIN’ IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD ARE YOU COMFORTABLE

WITH EMOTION?

CRUSHIN’ IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD DO YOU HAVE A TRIBE?

CRUSHIN’ IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

“SEAT AT THE TABLE”

DO YOU GRAB THE MARKER?

are at the whiteboard

Leaders

CAPITAL ONE

REINVENTING IT: LEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEAD

2016 - PRESENT DIRECTOR, AUTO LENDING EXPERIENCE DESIGN

IS YOUR JOB FULLY INVESTED

IN DESIGN?

EMBRACE YOUR WEIRDHOW TO THRIVE IN DESIGN

“THE FUTURE BELONGS TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON WITH A DIFFERENT KIND OF MIND: ARTISTS, INVENTORS, STORYTELLERS- CREATIVE AND HOLISTIC ‘RIGHT-BRAIN’ THINKERS WHOSE ABILITIES MARK THE FAULT LINE BETWEEN WHO GETS AHEAD AND WHO DOESN’T.”

Daniel Pink

I’M A BUSY BODY!WhenIwasakid,Iwasknownasa

BUSYBODY

Alwaysquestioning!•Why?

•Whatif…?

•Nexttimecanwe…?

•Howdoesitwork?

•What’syourname?

•Idon’tthinkthat’sright!

Offtask

Thinktoomuch

Dreamer

Nosy

DistractingOthers

QuestioningAuthority

Strengths

Learner

Ideator

Futurist

Activator

Connector

Restorative

WorkI

Experiments

Ideas

Pitches

Prototypes

Workshops&Community

HackDays

REINVENT: EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD WHAT MATTERS TO YOU?

WhenIwasakid,Iwasknownasa

BUSYBODY

Alwaysquestioning!•Why?

•Whatif…?

•Nexttimecanwe…?

•Howdoesitwork?

•What’syourname?

•Idon’tthinkthat’sright!

Offtask

Thinktoomuch

Dreamer

Nosy

DistractingOthers

QuestioningAuthority

Strengths

Learner

Ideator

Futurist

Activator

Connector

Restorative

WorkI

Experiments

Ideas

Pitches

Prototypes

Workshops&Community

HackDays

WhenIwasakid,Iwasknownasa

BUSYBODY

Alwaysquestioning!•Why?

•Whatif…?

•Nexttimecanwe…?

•Howdoesitwork?

•What’syourname?

•Idon’tthinkthat’sright!

Offtask

Thinktoomuch

Dreamer

Nosy

DistractingOthers

QuestioningAuthority

Strengths

Learner

Ideator

Futurist

Activator

Connector

Restorative

WorkI

Experiments

Ideas

Pitches

Prototypes

Workshops&Community

HackDays

REINVENT: EMBRACE YOUR WEIRD

BE YOURSELF - YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN

ARE YOU WEIRD ENOUGH?

REMEMBER WHO GOT YOU HEREYOU DIDN’T DO IT ALONE

CRUSHIN’ IT: REMEMBER WHO GOT YOU HERE

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE

WHO ARE YOU A FAN OF?

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A DESIGN DIRECTOR?

MY ANSWER TO…

HOW TO BE A DESIGNER WORTH PROMOTING

KNOW YOURSELFKNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

LEARN YOUR ASS OFF!LEAD WITHOUT AUTHORITYLEAN INTO AN EXPECTATION TO LEADEMBRACE YOUR WEIRDREMEMBER WHO GOT YOU HERE

DRAW, GIVE CREDIT, TAKE BLAME & MENTOR

“YES AND...”YOU HAVE PERMISSION

DON’T BE “AN EXPERT”

ADVERSITY HAPPENS. YOU CAN DEAL

DON’T TALK AT PEOPLE

ACCEPT YOURSELF OR NO ONE ELSE WILL

APPRECIATE YOUR TRIBE. THEY MATTER.

DON’T BE JEALOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S SUCCESS