Lean UX FOR
AGENCIES
Hello. We’re Ray and Nick
Some elements of lean thinking are not quite
possible in a consulting context but there are
others that are still valuable in the context of an
agency relationship
Build
Learn MeasureREQ
UIRED
Using lean UX made all of these steps different in various ways.
SellingIt
Finishing it
DoingIt
● Client understanding of lean matters (a lot)
● Uncertainty in scope, process, and outcome
● Cost justification for cross functional team
● Clear deliverables
Selling the project
● Proposal as prototype
● Expect (and encourage) a degree of proposal
iteration and dialogue
● Clearly articulate a process that will flex to
accommodate adjustment
● Identify areas of inflexibility - what the client must
accomplish or receive at the end of the project
✓ Lean Lessons Learned
● Co-location and dedication
● Communication and shared understanding
● Focus on learning
● Permission to fail
Doing the project
● Meet the client where you find them
● Invest where the process adds value, let go
where it doesn’t
● Understand from day 1 how you will integrate
with the client’s process and ops
● Track learning and decisions
✓ Lean Lessons Learned
● What is “done”?
● When are you done?
● Define the purpose of the icebox / backlog
● What can the client continue to do?
Finishing the project
● Start finishing from the beginning of the
project
● Try to separate business and project lead
● Embrace coaching
✓ Lean Lessons Learned
So what’s the recipe?● Don’t be too dogmatic
● Focus on the reasons not
the principles
● Be mindful of what’s
upstream and downstream
Thanks!