Lean Product Development is predicated on validating assumptions that we make about the product we want to build in lightweight ways; user research, contextual studies, paper prototypes, simple clickable prototypes. A few short weeks of these activities can massively reduce the risk of building the wrong thing, and in a world where developing the wrong software can cost millions or sink a company, the investment can be well-worth the time. So how do you structure a project so that Product and Design have an opportunity to answer necessary questions, while making sure you're not wasting developer resources or boring the crud out of your team? This joint presentation by Pivotal Labs Product Manager Rosemary King, and UX Designer Simon Phillips will explore why up front investment in Discovery and Framing set up a project on solid foundation, how to involve development teams in the exploration and synthesis process, and how to set a cadence for your UX design work so that a comfortable buffer exists to allow for continual evolution of the product based on user feedback and changing understanding. Baked into the presentation will be case studies, challenges and lessons learned on recent lean/agile projects.

1. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Maintaining Continuous
Learning Under Pressure
Rosemary King
Simon Phillips

2. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Rosemary King
Product Manager
@rozemaryking
We work together at Pivotal Labs
Simon Phillips
UX Designer
@uxfellow

3. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
All products have a limited amount of
time and resources

4. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Timeframes don’t allow for perfect

5. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
First, let’s take a look at what an ideal
project might look like

6. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

7. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
At Pivotal Labs every product concept
starts with Discovery + Framing phase

8. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

9. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
WHAT problem
are we solving?
It’s your runway
WHO is the
product for?

10. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Without User
Research

11. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
User Research
ultimately
reduces risk

12. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
This sounds great but…

13. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Back in January 2015…

14. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

15. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

16. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
We ran into problems...

17. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
To make matters worse…

18. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

19. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
10 ways we managed to cram it all in

20. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
1. Be brave enough to say NO

21. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
2. Collaborate to ensure a shared
understanding

22. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Include stakeholders early

23. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
From ‘User Story Mapping’ by Jeff Patton
Creation of shared understanding

24. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
3. Use quick and dirty tools to
validate ideas

25. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
A good round up here: cooper.com/prototyping-tools
Use fast & furious wireframing tools

26. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
The right tool is the one that helps you test
a functioning prototype, fast!

27. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Hi-fi prototypes with Sketch + Invision
How to get started with sketch: w0rd.it/wave

28. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
4. Treat excess documentation
like the plague

29. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
5. Reduce pixel perfect to a minimum

30. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Designers often
jump straight to
crafting pixel
perfect layouts

31. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Use “Crazy
Eight” sketch
exercise to
explore early
ideas

32. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Focus on how it works not how it looks

33. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
6. Rapid prototyping on the fly

34. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
7. Use a bit of design theatre to convey
animation ideas

35. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Consider
using Paper
prototypes to
demonstrate
motion

36. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
8. Hand over design assets faster

37. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Use Zeplin.io
For handing
assets over to
development
quicker

38. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Pair with developers to refine the product

39. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
9. Get a bird’s eye view

40. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
[ shameless plug ]

41. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
10. Do synthesis

42. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Share key insights with your whole team

43. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

44. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
The Takeaway

45. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
1. Be brave enough to say NO
2. Collaborate to ensure a shared understanding
3. Use quick and dirty tools to validate ideas
4. Treat excess documentation like the plague
5. Reduce pixel perfection to a minimum
6. Rapid prototyping on the fly
7. Use design theatre to convey animation
8. Hand over design assets faster
9. Get a bird’s eye view
10. Do synthesis

46. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Avoid spending time on ideas that
won’t work

47. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow

48. @rozemaryking | @uxfellow
Thank you!