We’ve all been there: trying to anticipate design feedback before it happens, drafting responses in our heads, dreading the possibility that our work could be destroyed in a mere 30 minutes. Defending work and ensuring that a design remains intact through a design review can be a challenging endeavor, and in many ways, it requires a specific and thought-out approach. In this talk, we’ll discuss the best ways for designers to silence their stakeholders, defend their designs during reviews, and ultimately get exactly what they want. It’s time that designers start enforcing their expertise, standing up for their work, and ensuring that it sees the light of day. Right?
19. I started to take my own advice and
actually try to understand my audience.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
In user-centered design, that includes your stakeholders.
24. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
25. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
26. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Legitimacy
27. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Make a judgement
on the feedback and
start defending
based on it.
Legitimacy
28. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Make a judgement
on the feedback and
start defending
based on it.
Legitimacy
Understanding
29. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Make a judgement
on the feedback and
start defending
based on it.
Legitimacy Understanding
Stop digging deeper
and jeopardize team
trust and empathy
in the process.
30. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Make a judgement
on the feedback and
start defending
based on it.
Legitimacy Understanding
Stop digging deeper
and jeopardize team
trust and empathy
in the process.
Collaboration
31. It’s tough to run a productive and
healthy design review from the defensive.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Make a judgement
on the feedback and
start defending
based on it.
Legitimacy Understanding
Stop digging deeper
and jeopardize team
trust and empathy
in the process.
Collaboration
Defend a point of
view, rather than
work together with
stakeholders.
32. The ability to listen to stakeholders and
acknowledge their feedback is not just the quality
of a good designer; it’s the quality of a good leader.
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
44. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
In the same way that user tests are recorded
with considerable detail, stakeholder feedback
should also be documented and used to steer
design decisions.
Listening
(especially when supported by quantifiable data or business goals)
45. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
By listening to and recording feedback, the
designer can build empathy and trust with the
teams that they’re working with.
Listening
48. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Rather than deflect criticism, the designer
should ask questions that will either help them
to fully understand the feedback offered or
bring the stakeholder around to their viewpoint.
Inquiry
49. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
The goal is to really challenge the feedback, so
as to understand what the stakeholder
specifically wants, and to confirm that the
feedback is well-founded.
Inquiry
51. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
This can’t be seen as an indictment of one’s
feedback or a personal attack, but rather as a
fundamental part of the design review process.
Inquiry KEY DEPENDENCY
56. uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
Legitimate feedback Illegitimate feedback
By asking questions:
• Show genuine care and
desire to collaborate
• Work toward improved
solution
• Bring the stakeholder around
to their point of view
By not asking questions:
• Miss valuable feedback and
opportunity to improve
By asking questions:
• Poor feedback will be
exposed through inquiry
• Pivot to relevant feedback
without ever attacking or
defending any work
By not asking questions:
• Risk accepting misguided
feedback or appearing under
prepared in reviews
57. The best way to defend work
uxd.to/guide @ustinKnight
IS TO NOT DEFEND IT AT ALL