Beyond responsiveness

Eric Reiss@elreiss

WebExpo22 September 2012

Prague, Czech Republic

ObservationsStories

Lessons

Charles H. DuellU.S. Patent Commissioner, 1899

“There is nothing left to invent…”

(Urban myth)

But there was much reason tobelieve that this was true…

Could there also be too much complacency in our industry today?

Can we put our work intohistorical perspective?

1895 00 05 10 15 20 25 30 1935

1993 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 2001

Wall St. crash

First commercialautomobile

First series-producedautomobiles

First commercialweb browser

First commercialwebsites

Dot-bomb

First assembly line

First commercialCMS

So, we’re somewhere in the 1980s...

< 1989

2012 >

Lessons I have learned

� Don’t respond to the device

� Don’t love the technology

� Don’t worship the form

� Don’t become a slave to process

Lessons I have learned

� Don’t respond to the device

� Don’t love the technology

� Don’t worship the form

� Don’t become a slave to process

re·spon·siveadj

1 : responding, reacting2 : quick to react

Responsive design?Responsive content?

Mobile first?

I’d like to suggest a new term:

Proactive Design

Proactive design...1. Is situationally aware

� Location-based services� Motion-based services� Time-based services

2. Recognizes patterns3. Predicts needs

Users

Anticipating needs

(the problem)

You can’t be everything to everybody.You end up being nothing for anybody.

91 links

0 focus

< Official website for the city of Prague

No clicks – everything is in play

1st click – is there a preference?

2nd click – this could be a pattern

Third click – yes, there’s a pattern

Fourth click – time to zero in

Fourth click – time to zero in

Eric’s life-lesson #1

Don’t respond to the device.

Anticipate the needs of thosewho will use the device.

Lessons I have learned

� Don’t respond to the device

� Don’t love the technology

� Don’t worship the form

� Don’t become a slave to process

People

Processes

Technologies

Eric’s life-lesson #2

Don’t love the technology.

Love what the technology can do.Keep your goals in focus.

Lessons I have learned

� Don’t respond to the device

� Don’t love the technology

� Don’t worship the form

� Don’t become a slave to process

Source: Standard screen patterns by Theresa Neil

Design patterns are not design!

Photos by Isabella J. Fortino

Photos by Isabella J. Fortino

Chicago San Gimignano

Photos by Isabella J. Fortino

Photos by Isabella J. Fortino

Chicago San Gimignano

Eric’s life-lesson #3

Don’t worship the form.

Embrace the content and context.If content is king, context is the kingdom.

Lessons I have learned

� Don’t respond to the device

� Don’t love the technology

� Don’t worship the form

� Don’t become a slave to process

Scrum – not an agile process!

ag·ileadj

1 : able to move quickly and easily2 : mentally quick and resourceful

The three Scrum questions1. What did you do yesterday?

2. What will you do today

3. What is blocking your progress?

Imposing Scrum on Columbus:1. What did you do yesterday?

I sailed west.2. What will you do today?

Sail back to where I was yesterday.3. What is blocking your progress?

These fucking Scrum meetings!

My Favourite Process

DWYNTDTGTSD*

Do What You Need To Do To Get The Shit Done

* pronounced “dwyntdtgtsd”

Eric’s life-lesson #4

Don’t become a slave to process.

Break the rules. Accept the unexpected.

� Don’t sacrifice your users for the benefitof your employer

Bonus lesson!

Count Helmuth von Moltke

No battle plansurvives contactwith the enemy.

Make Jeff rich? Or buy a book?

What’s your plan when you visit Amazon?

Eric’s life-lesson #5

Don’t sacrifice your users for thebenefit of your employer.

No business plan has eversucceeded without customers.

Bad design causes bad results

Good design wins customers

You CANchange the world!

So get on with it!

Děkuji!

You can (usually) find Eric at:The FatDUX Group ApSStrandøre 15DK-2100 CopenhagenDenmark

Office: (+45) 39 29 67 77Mobile: (+45) 20 12 88 44Twitter: @elreisser@fatdux.comwww.fatdux.com