IWNY 2014: Stop, Collaborate and Listen - The Art of Smart Product Design

STOP, COLLABORATE & LISTENThe Art of Smart Product DesignInternet Week New York | May 22, 2014 | #SmartProductDan Maccarone | @danmaccarone

#SmartProduct

Hi! My name is Dan.I run a company called Charming Robot.

Here are some things I’ve worked on...

#SmartProduct

IN ONE WORD,WHAT IS COLLABORATION?

#SmartProduct

BRAINSTORMINGWORKING TOGETHER

COOPERATION

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

SHARED GOALS

#SmartProduct

LISTENING

BRAINSTORMINGWORKING TOGETHER

COOPERATION

KNOWLEDGE SHARING

SHARED GOALS

#SmartProduct

COLLABORATION IS NOT A NEW THING

#SmartProduct

“It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”—Charles Darwin

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

#SmartProduct

THE TEAM

#SmartProduct

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team."- Phil Jackson

#SmartProduct

COLLABORATION IS NOT...

#SmartProduct

NOR IS IT...

#SmartProduct

NOR...

#SmartProduct

IT’S MORE LIKE...

#SmartProduct

OR EVEN BETTER...

Developers

Visual Designers User Experience Designers

Marketing Department

Business Development

Quality Assurance

Project Managers

Copy WritersProduct Manager

#SmartProduct

CLEARLY DEFINE EVERYONE’S ROLE

Developers

#SmartProduct

RESPECT & LEVERAGE INDIVIDUAL EXPERTISE

Developers

#SmartProduct

BUT DON’T FLAUNT YOUR OWN

Developers

EGO

#SmartProduct

ESTABLISH CLEAR GOALS & ENSURE THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS THEM

Developers

#SmartProduct

GREAT IDEAS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE

Developers

#SmartProduct

GREAT IDEAS CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE

Developers

AND THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT ANSWER

#SmartProduct

CHALLENGE IDEAS TO CREATE BETTER ONES

Developers

#SmartProduct

THE PRODUCT SHOULD EVOLVE THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS

Developers

#SmartProduct

FEEDBACK

#SmartProduct

“The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other.”—Thomas Stallkamp

#SmartProduct

EVERYONE STRUGGLES TO GIVE USEFUL FEEDBACK

#SmartProduct

START WITH WHAT WORKS

#SmartProduct

ALWAYS BE ACTIONABLE

#SmartProduct

Phrases to avoid:

I’ll know it when I see it.

#SmartProduct

Phrases to avoid:

I hate that!

#SmartProduct

Phrases to avoid:

I just don’t like blue.

#SmartProduct

Phrases to avoid:

Ehhhhhhhhhh.

#SmartProduct

Phrases to avoid:

Ehhhhhhhhhh.* Actually, avoid all vague noises in general

#SmartProduct

OFFER SOLUTIONS

#SmartProduct

BE HONEST WITHOUT BEING INSULTING

#SmartProduct

PROVIDE CONTEXT TO YOUR THOUGHTS

#SmartProduct

KEEP IT DIRECT, NOT BY PROXY

#SmartProduct

KEEP IT A CONVERSATION

#SmartProduct

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” —Henry Ford

Q&A

THANK YOUIT’S BEEN A PLEASUREDan Maccarone | @danmaccarone