Getting a design team "on the same page" is the oft-stated goal of managers who care about how team unity affects the quality of the work. However, miscommunication is a given, and eventually every manager uncovers a series of disconnects between what was said and what was understood. Consider, then, the benefits of creating a Team Charter: a kind of persona for your team that will help every member identify and agree upon a shared identity, purpose, and vision for the future. Through a series of team activities, learn how to uncover the perceptions your team already has of themselves as a unit, as well as their thoughts about how they are perceived by others in the organization and craft a team charter of your own. With this key information, you can shape the team’s purpose and craft a plan to generate the proper perception of your team by others in a living document that keeps everyone on the same page.

1. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
Design Culture Basics
Russ Unger | @russu
Creating Your Team Charter

2. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
WHAT IS A TEAM CHARTER?
Russ Unger | @russu

3. Russ Unger | @russu
What is a Team Charter?
Aunifyingplanthatateamagreesto
asitsrulesof engagementandgoals
andobjectives.“
Dr. Steve Julius

4. Russ Unger | @russu
OUR UX TEAM
You can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm standing by your side. I'll be
right behind. No one loves you more than I do, Put your hand in
mine.
I can see a part of me in you. A little something special that
comes shining through. I hear it in your laughter, And I feel it
when you cry, I will be right there for you, Until the day I die. You
can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on me.
No matter where you go. You can count on me.
TEAM PURPOSE
COMMITMENTS
TEAM FOCUS
•User Research
•Interaction Design
•Information Architecture
•Information Design
•Prototyping
•Usability Testing
AREAS OF GROWTH
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
PERCEPTION OF TEAM
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
Image Source © Time Inc.
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.

5. Russ Unger | @russu
It Requires A Lot of This

6. Russ Unger | @russu
Any Questions?

7. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
FIND YOUR TEAM
Russ Unger | @russu

8. Russ Unger | @russu
What Type of Team Are You?

9. Russ Unger | @russu
This is How We Do It

10. RussUnger | @russu|GECapitalAmericas
DTDC
(DEFINING THE DAMN CHARTER)
Russ Unger | @russu

11. Russ Unger | @russu
It Involves Defining All of This…

12. Russ Unger | @russu
Focus Areas
• WhataretheTypesof Work WeDo/WanttoDo?
• WhataretheTypesof WorkWeDONOTDo/DoNOT
WanttoDo?

13. Russ Unger | @russu
Team Purpose
• Whatdoesthisteamdo?
• Whatarewegoodat?
• Whatshouldwebeknownfor?
Whyarewe*in*thistogether?Whatdowewant
otherstoknowaboutusinanutshell?
“

14. Russ Unger | @russu
Team Commitment to Each Other
• HowDoWeWanttoWorkTogether?
• WhatAreOurExpectationsof EachOther?
Howdoweworktogethertosupportourefforts
andcontinuetobesuccessful?Whatareourteam
rulesof engagement?“

15. Russ Unger | @russu
Perception of the Team by Others
• HowDoWeWantOtherstoViewOurTeam?
• HowDoWeBuildthisPerception?
• HowDoWeKnowWe’reThere?
Howdowewantotherstoseetheteam?Whatare
thebenefits?Whatarethestepstogettingthere?
Howdoweprovesuccess?“

16. Russ Unger | @russu
Areas of Growth / Improvement
• WhereDoWeNeedMoreExperience?
• WhatistheRationalefortheNeed?
• HowWillWeKnowWhenWe’veAchievedtheGrowth?
Whatcanwelearninordertohelpourteam/
practicecontinuetogrowanddeliverbetter
results?Whatarethestepstogettingthere?How
doweprovesuccess?
“

17. Russ Unger | @russu
…And Then You Sign It.
• WeAllAgreetoAllofThis!
AGREED UPON BY

18. Russ Unger | @russu
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.
• User Research
• Interaction Design
• Information Architecture
• Information Design
• Prototyping
• Usability Testing
WHAT WE DO
The UX team works with our customers to create useful
and usable designs that meets the needs of our users
and serves the business goals and objectives. We
understand our users--their needs, behaviors and
motivations and provide insight into how they use the
products that we design.
We work with each other to share our knowledge and
grow and strengthen the team in all aspects of UX, and
beyond. We acknowledge and respect our peers, their
opinions, and the value of their work. We will be critical
of work product, yet not the person doing the work.
OUR UX TEAM
Experience Mapping
GROWTH AREA RATIONALE ACHIEVED BY
•Gets everyone involved in
identifying touchpoints
•Visually describes what the
user’s journey looks like
•Tell stories and craft
narratives from the user’s
point of view
•Orient teams around a
shared understanding of the
journey
•Expand on scenarios,
personas, and mental models
•Engaging in 1-3 Experience
Mapping activities this year
•Proving value through the
activities by stakeholder
approvals
Experts About Our
Users
PERCEPTION HOW TO CREATE ACHIEVED BY
•Increase research activities
•Identify opportunities to build
usability testing awareness
and activities
•Including clients in the user-
related activities to show
them our process and
expose them to users more
frequently
•Increase the amount of client
collaboration that includes
user discussions
•Common theme/voice for UX
team
•Colleagues request our
expertise in speaking to
customers
•Colleagues and customers
recommend the UX Team’s
expertise to our colleagues
and customers

19. Russ Unger | @russu
OUR UX TEAM
You can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm standing by your side. I'll be
right behind. No one loves you more than I do, Put your hand in
mine.
I can see a part of me in you. A little something special that
comes shining through. I hear it in your laughter, And I feel it
when you cry, I will be right there for you, Until the day I die. You
can count on me. No matter what you do. You can count on me.
No matter where you go. You can count on me.
TEAM PURPOSE
COMMITMENTS
TEAM FOCUS
•User Research
•Interaction Design
•Information Architecture
•Information Design
•Prototyping
•Usability Testing
AREAS OF GROWTH
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
PERCEPTION OF TEAM
You can count on me. No matter
what you do. You can count on
me. No matter where you go. I'm
standing by your side. I'll be right
behind. No one loves you more
than I do, Put your hand in mine.
Image Source © Time Inc.
It’s Like a Persona. For Your Team.

20. Russ Unger | @russu
Next Up: Create the Document

21. Russ Unger | @russu
Next Up: Create the Document

22. Russ Unger | @russu
Next Up: Create the Document

23. Russ Unger | @russu
Next Up: Create the Document

24. Russ Unger | @russu
Recap: Benefits of A Team Charter
• IdentifiesYourTeam’sPurpose
• DefinestheTeamCommitmenttoEachOther
• ClearlyArticulatesAreasof Focus&Expertise
• AcknowledgesAreasof Growth/Improvement
• ExplainsHowtheTeamWantstobePerceived
• ProvidesUnifiedAgreement
UX
^

25. Russ Unger | @russuRuss Unger | @russu
That’s It!
Image Source © Time Inc.

26. Russ Unger | @russu
Thank You!