The Reluctant Design Strategist: The Story of a UX Team of 1.5 Failing Forward

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The Reluctant Design Strategist:

Megan Ellinger@mkellingerNational Academy of Sciences

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The Story of a UX Team of 1.5 Failing Forward

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STARLET OR STREETWALKER

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WIN? OR BIN?

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INTRANET REDESIGN: THE LEMONS I ASKED FOR.

Win? Or Bin?

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WIN? OR BIN?

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I WAS NOT FAILING FORWARD.

The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.-John C. Maxwell

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@mkellinger@mkellinger 21Some rights reserved by absolutezer0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/absolute0/3146282107/

@mkellinger@mkellinger 22Kate Rutter, Sticky Note Ninja

You can buy a LOT of sticky notes before anyone

notices.

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WHAT DO YOU DO (OR TRY TO DO) ON THE INTRANET?

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I am oneSPECIFIC task

Speling duz

not kount

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Handwriting DOES count

Cluster similar tasks

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TELL ME! WHY DID IT FAIL?!?!

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IS IT OUR NONPROFIT CULTURE?

The Academies appoint a group of distinguished scientists with varying expertise who meet to review research on a particular topic. These scientists, who often have diverse backgrounds and ideas, work together to reach consensus on timely, often controversial, topics.

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WE ARE NOT ALONE

In my experience, nonprofits have considerable difficulty in clearly defining their strategy…. Accustomed to reaching conclusions by consensus, they fail to accept some suggestions while rejecting others.- Robert S. Kaplan

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WHO SAYS, “NO?”

The essence of strategy is in the activities—choosing to perform activities differently or to perform different activities than rivals.- Michael Porter, What is Strategy

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@mkellinger@mkellinger 33Some rights reserved by San Diego Shooterhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nathaninsandiego/4063699426

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I AM JUST THE“USER EXPERIENCE ANALYST”

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@mkellinger@mkellinger 35Some rights reserved by Isaac Singleton Photographyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/isaacsingleton/4441619541

Architect

Researcher

Designer

@mkellinger@mkellinger 36Some rights reserved by Brad Gillettehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/bradgillette/336485789

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STRATEGY: GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW

What’s worth doing?What are we creating?What value does it provide?How do we deliver it?- Brandon Schauer, Henning Fischer

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HOMEPAGE REDESIGN: ANGRY MOB

Win? Or Bin?

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I FIGURED IT OUT WEEK BY WEEK

What’s worth doing?What are we creating?What value does it provide?How do we deliver it?

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WIN OR BIN?

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WIN!

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GET MOVING! PIN THE DOT ON THE WALL.

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN (ESPECIALLY DURING A CRITIQUE)

What concerns you about the design?What do you enjoy?Is there anything missing?

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MY NEW DUCK:MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES

What’s worth doing?What are we creating?What value does it provide?How do we deliver it?How will we know if we got it right?

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VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT:THE B.O.T. (BOSS ORDERED THIS)

Win? Or Bin?

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A BIT OF BOTH!

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@mkellinger@mkellinger 49Some rights reserved by Greg Mileshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/gregbm/1086966522

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@mkellinger@mkellinger 52Some rights reserved by *~Dawn~*http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturesdawn/4441404620

Architect

Researcher

Designer

Strategist

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GET OUT THERE AND FAIL FORWARD.

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THANK YOU!

Megan Ellingermellinger@nas.eduhttp://failforward.wordpress.com

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RECOMMENDED READING Michael E. Porter, What is Strategy? Robert S. Kaplan, Strategic Performance Measurement

and Management in Nonprofit Organizations Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer, Philanthropy’s

New Agenda: Creating Value John C. Maxwell, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into

Stepping Stones for Success Kate Rutter, Become a Stickynote Ninja (available on

Slideshare) David Straker, Rapid Problem Solving with Post-It Notes Jared Spool, What Goes into a Well-Done Critique

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