Building Character Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles

ADAM CONNOR | VP ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN & TRAINING | @ADAMCONNOR |

Question

What's the best design for an

eCommerce site?

Question

What's the best design for an

eCommerce site?

Answer

It depends…

…on what?

…on what?The goals we want

to achieve…

The people we’re

designing for…

The experience

we want to create…

A vision of where we’re going.

senseA of where we’re going.

Character

Has a hard time saying “no” to

people.

Is a perfectionist to the point of

detriment.

Rarely works alone, focuses and

structures work to include others.

Still collects toys and comics and

talks about fictional characters as

if they’re real.

Principles

Values and tennets and pillars. Oh my…

Design Principles Directives that guide the “behavior” and capture the

desired or most emphasized qualities or characteristics of

the creation.

Go with the flow…

Be cool headed…

Take it easy…

Has a hard time saying “no” to

people.

Is a perfectionist to the point of

detriment.

Rarely works alone, focuses and

structures work to include others.

Still collects toys and comics and

talks about fictional characters as

if they’re real.

Always be helpful.

Anything worth doing is worth

doing right.

A good idea can come from

anywhere or anyone.

Just a geek…

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Shift from thinking to doing. Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the

ideas and lessons to my job.

Learn Act Reflect

Fast. Every millisecond counts.

Google

Wear it during sex. Make the product elegant, discreet, & comfortable.

Adaptive Path - Charmr

Solve distractions, not discoverability. Reduce distractions.

Don't let features compete with themselves. Microsoft - Windows 7

Foster productive and emotionally satisfying interpersonal dynamics. Users feel

like they are part of a team, where they can count on each other to do their part, and

feel like they’re moving forward towards a common goal. Asana

Research How do people talk about the way they wish things were?

The things they appreciate? The things that bother them?!

Organization Values, mission statements, brand identity can often be

carried over and expanded upon."

Collaboration What does the product team think? How do they envision

the future?#

Clear and directive, not general and ambiguous. “Fun” and “engaging” are not strong principles.

Something you might do differently with another product or service. Things that should always be done don’t help distinguish your product

from others.

Push the team to say “no” to more options than they say “yes” to. Strong principles act as a filter helping the team to focus.

Help to identify what shouldn’t be done, as well as what should. Knowing what’s off limits is just as important as knowing where you

want to go.

The real test of a design principle is how well it helps the team discuss the design,

stay focused, and make decisions.

Generation (Divergence)

“How many ways can we come up with to _______________?”

Generation (Divergence)

“How many ways can we come up with to _______________?”

Editing & Revising (Convergence)

“Does this idea help us to _______________?”

Generation (Divergence)

“How many ways can we come up with to _______________?”

Editing & Revising (Convergence)

“Does this idea help us to _______________?”

Principles can evolve over time. And be extended to refined needs (content, visual design, etc) or use

cases.

That story about bricklayers and cathedrals…

Why ?

Why bricks?

Why a wall?

Why a cathedral?

Design principles direct action to achieve vision.

“When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easier.” - Walt Disney

Adam Connor VP Organizational Design & Training

@adamconnor aconnor@madpow.com

Discussing Design Improving Communication & Collaboration Through Critique Adam Connor & Aaron Irizarry

Available from O’Reilly Media. On Sale at UXLX for 40% off.

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