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ADAPTIVE PATH | UX WEEK 2008 | August 12, 2008 | 0

The Problem-SolvingPower of Stickies

simple tools that deliver great results

Kate Rutter <[email protected]>

(also known as Post-it® Notes)*

Become a Stickynote Ninja


What we’re going to do in the next 3 hours

Talk about why sticky notes + UX =

Learn 9 methods that will rock your work

Experience 4 activities to get hands-onwith the methods

Collect a bunch of tips and tricks to makeyour sticky-life easy

Learn from each other’s experiences

Find out where to get more info and tools

Get a trinket


don’t be shy...


the path of thestickynoteninja


simple tools + skilled practitioners

powerful weapons


Sticky notesare the currency

of ideas.

NinjaSecret

#1


Ubiquitous

Cheap Simple

Why stickies?

Easy torearrange andmove around

The right sizeto hold 1 ideaor problem

They stick on avariety ofsurfaces

Familiar andapproachable


I call this…

STICKIES

Lightness


Why do they work so well in groups?

Enable peopleto externalizetheir thoughts

& ideas

Help a groupfocus on one

thing at a time

Clearly showrelationships &

agreements

Allow a groupto visualizepatterns

Engage thewhole group

in the process


Two major ideas… Generate new ideas Probe problems Explore attributes

Create

information

Identify patterns Prioritize Make decisions Create plans

Reduce

information


Ninjas don’t talkabout what they do…

they just do it.

NinjaSecret

#2


methods


StickyNinja

Tip

What goes on a sticky?

1 thought or idea per sticky

Make them as clear as possible

Keep the corners clear in caseyou need space for additionalnotes

Be specific

Lots ofissues with

product

Frequentdowntime

due toserver load

for example…

I amone idea


4 types of layouts

Lists Clusters Trees Maps


The joy of lists

Lists

Swap-Sort

Collect information about a topic

Order items by priority

Freelisting

Name Use it to…

Dot-Voting Identify top choices


Lovin’ the clustersName Use it to…Clusters

Loose Cluster Identify patterns in information


Cultivating the treesName Use it to…Trees

Top-Down Tree

Bottom-Up Tree

Examine a topic thoroughly

Identify the fundamentalnature of a topic


Charting the mapsName Use it to…Maps

Action Plan

Information Map

Define what’s neededto meet a goal

Understand complexrelationships

Process Map Understand complexrelationships


Getting started : setting the stage

Define what you’re there to do:ie: “Understand how people think about mobile devices”or “Gather ideas for new features”

Write down the objective and display it whereeveryone can see it and reference it.

Briefly describe the process you plan to use, and ask peopleif they have questions.

Have enough stickies and markers to go around.

StickyNinja

Tip


gathering ideasmethods to master


List : Freelisting

I am onethoughtI am onethoughtI am onethought


Lists from walk-by contributions


Data from research interview videos


Strategic sticking

Be aware of where you put the sticky stuff.

Top for columns (ie: bottom-up maps)

Bottom for general clustering

Be consistent - Don’t put them all catawampus.It’s a big time-waster!

Tip: fold down the edge of one of the top corners tomake a handle so they are easier to grab and move.

StickyNinja

Tip


organizing stuffmethods to master


Cluster : Loose Cluster


Clustering activity


Clustering activity with zones


Data into information : Charmr


Clusters by topic


Don’t have a big wall for stickies?

Use a rolling whiteboard

Use a window!

Use the back of a door

Use a wall in the bathroom

Get large sheets of gatorboard or foam core

StickyNinja

Tip


or you can use the side of a building...


Tree : Bottom-Up Tree


Three levels in bottom-up tree


A forest of task trees


Pen and sticky size

Use the right size pen for the rightsize sticky.

Fine point Sharpie

Super Sharpie

Chisel point Sharpie

StickyNinja

Tip


lets get hands on…activity 1freelisting • clustering • bottom-up tree


The Scenario

You are a UX design team with the challenge of creatingthe site for a new service: milkandcookiesnow.com

The big vision is to get milk and cookies to people whoneed them, and deliver within the hour.

All the supply and delivery stuff is worked out and readyto go. Now you need a web app for selection, ordering,payment and delivery confirmation.

The product values are: user-centered, unique, fun,personal, easy-to-use, quick, engaging,has a sense of humor.

Take a minute to read the scenario and the user stories.


The 1st challenge : what will the product DO?

What featuresand functionalityneed to be builtfor the site to be

successful?


Activity 1 : Freelisting

Independently down your ideas. Don’t talk, just write.

Write each idea on a sticky. Make as many as you can.Aim for 10-15 per person.

When you’re done, put the stickies on the sheet in themiddle of the table, spread out so that they are randomlydistributed.

idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

Idea 4

Idea 7

Idea 6

Idea 5


successful?

5 minutes


Activity 1 : Clustering

Group the stickies together…like with like.

You can discuss groupings, but keep conversation to aminimum. Focus on keeping things moving.

When time is up, take a look at the groups and seewhat you’ve got.

idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

Idea 4

Idea 7

Idea 6

Idea 5What featuresand functionalityneed to be builtfor the site to be

successful?

5 minutes


Activity 1 : Labeling

As a team, name the groups.

Write the name on a different color of sticky and put it atthe top of the group.

If you get to groups of groups, use the larger stickies.

Take a look at what you’ve got. What’s surprisingabout the patterns?

idea 1

Idea2

Idea3

Idea4 Idea

7

Idea6

Idea5


successful?

Group1

Group2

Group3

SuperGroupI

SuperGroupII

5 minutes


yea!


Stick ‘em when you need ‘em

Sticky-sessions are not justa workshop technique

Quick cluster = quick clarity Quick freelisting gets issues out, makes

ideas visible, and opens up topics fordiscussion

You can start a stickynote activity at anytime...just start “scribing” issues/topics asthey emerge

StickyNinja

Tip


exploring and delvingmethods to master


?Why is this happening?

Tree : Top-Down Tree


lets get hands on…activity 2top-down tree


The 2nd challenge : why does the product MATTER?

What is thedeeper purposeof a feature on

the site?


A quick example...

So that the milk & cookies get to the right place.

So that the milk & cookies get there atthe right time.

Deliverypreferences

L 1

L 2

L1.2

L1.3

L1.4

Why is this important?

so that the customer gets their order

so that the customer feels good about the service

so that the customer trusts the service

so that the customer has a great day

so that the customer will tell their friendsL1.5


ready?


Activity 2 : Top-down tree

Pick a top-level feature from your clusters.

Ask the question “Why is this feature needed/important?”

Write your answer down on a sticky. One thought/idea pernote. Place the sticky below the one that prompted theanswer.

Make about 5-7 of these.

What is thedeeper purpose

of this feature onthe site?

4 minutes

Feature set 1

Reason1 Reason

2

Reason3 Reason

4

Reason5



Ask the question again, this time working through thestickies you just made.

Put the answer stickies below the one that prompted theanswer, so that a tree develops.

Try to get down to 4 levels, each with 5-7 stickies.

What is thepurpose of thisfeature on the

site?

7 minutes

Featureset 1

1

2 3 4

5

1.1 1.21.3 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2



What new perspectives, insights and observations did youuncover?

How does this information impact the feature clusters youcreated earlier?

How would you add to, shift, adapt or change the originalclusters?

What other top labels would be good to explore in this way?

What is thedeeper purpose

of this feature onthe site?

4 minutes

Featureset 1

1 2 3 4 5

1.1 1.2 1.3 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2


yea!


making prioritiesmethods to master


Dot Voting

I am anidea


Dot Voting

Vote again

Don’t include “no votes”


Dot Voting

Top priority

Important

Consider

Low priority


$2k

$8k

$9k$7k

$4k

$6k

List : Swap Sort

$1k

$5k

?

What makes usthe most money?

$5k $1k

$2k

$3k$8k

$9k$7k

$4k

$6k

?

$3k $5k

$1k

$5k

$3k

?

$3k $1k

$1k

$5k

$3k


lets get hands on…activity 3dot-voting • swap-sort


The 3rd challenge : what do we do FIRST?

What do we need to build firstfor the site to be a

success?


Activity 3 : Dot-voting

Everyone gets 5 dots. Stick the dots on the features thatyou feel are most needed for the site to be successful.

Everyone votes at the same time.

When you’re done, put the stickies in rows with the mostvotes at the top and the sad dot-poor ones at the bottom.

What do weneed to build firstfor the site to be

a success?

3 minutes


Activity 3 : Swap-Sort

Pick the 5 stickies with the most number of votes.

Take 2 notes and compare them, based on the criteria.Put the preferred one on the top.

Compare another note with the top note, then the notesunder it. Put it in the list, based on its importance.

Continue until all 5 notes are placed.

What do weneed to build firstfor the site to be

a success?

7 minutes

Criteria:milkandcookiesnow.com

needs to:1) Be a unique experience2) Have a sense of humor


yea!


Explore the Sticky-note palette

Get to know your materials

Use size and color in a meaningful way

StickyNinja

Tip

5x8

4x6

4x43x4

3x53x3

2x32x2

1x2


...which opens up all kinds of opportunities...


making plansmethods to master


Map : Information Map


Map : Process Map


Site navigation brainstorm map


Workshop planning map


Making sense of legal stuff map


Map : Action Map

Now Later 2009


lets get hands on…activity 4action planning


The 4th challenge : who does what when?

Who does whatwhen to make the

site a reality?


Activity 4 : Action plan

Take the top feature from the ordered list of priorities.

Freelist tasks that need to be done to build the feature.

Don’t worry about what comes first, just brainstorm tasks.

Aim for 10-15 tasks per person.

Who does whatwhen to make

the site a reality?

5 minutes

task

task

task

task

task

task

task



Make a set of large stickies for timing:week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4

Sort the task stickies underneath the timing stickies


the site a reality?

5 minutes

Week 1

task tasktask

task

tasktask

Week 2 Week 3 Week 4



Make a set of stickies for each role you need on the team(designer, researcher, business owner, developer.) Placethese in a column down the left side of the map.

Sort the task stickies to align horizontally with the role thatwill do the task.

Don’t worry about being tidy, and you can duplicate tasks.


the site a reality?

5 minutes

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4


yea!


Going green with stickynotes

Q: Are post-it notes recyclable?A: According to 3M, yes.

Q: What about the news story about how stickies gum up recycling process?A: The stickies referred to in the article were items coated with a permanent adhesive, like mailing labels.

Q: Are stickies made from recycled paper?A: Some are. You can get some sizes and colors as 30% post-consumer waste recycled post-its.

You can learn more at: www.mmm.com/us/office/postit/faq.html

StickyNinja

Tip


What else can we do?

Use notes twice: Once you’ve written on thefront, fold up and use the note again asa 1/2 note. This lets you write on the back, too.

Don’t crinkle & toss. Slabs of notes are difficult to recycle.Stick two stickynotes back to back to ensure you don’tend up with big slabs.

Unleash your inner pastel. Use the softer colors that aremore easily recycled. Many bright colors are not as easilyrecycled, due to the ink.

StickyNinja

Tip


capturing results


Capturing the results

Use digital photos to capture different states

Be sure that the writing on the notesis legible! (This is a common gotcha)

Optimize the visuals in photoshop...sharpen & auto-adjust are your friends

Save as a pdf, and you can print the pagesat actual size to pin up in your work room

StickyNinja

Tip


...or you can put them into a deck


you guys are experts…activity 5making awesome group experiences


The 5th challenge : make a map for success

What issueshave you

encountered?

How can we make our participatory activitieswildly successful?

Whatsolutions have

you used?

How can wego from good

to great?


Activity 5 : make a map for success

Working as a group, freelist these three questions.Aim for 10-15 stickies per person per question.

Now as a team, cluster the stickies into 3 affinity diagrams.Don’t forget to label the clusters.

Take a look at what you’ve got.What patterns have emerged? 20 minutes

What issueshave you

encountered?

Whatsolutionshave you

used? How can wego from good

to great?


yea!


tools & resources


9 great techniques

List

List

Tree

Name Type Use it to…

Top-Down Tree

Bottom-Up Tree

Swap-Sort

Action Plan

Information Map

Dot Voting

Map

Map

Tree

Collect information about a topic

Order items by priority

Examine a topic thoroughly

Identify the fundamental natureof a topic

Define steps to meet a goal

Understand complex relationships

Decide what to focus on

Freelisting

ClusterLoose Cluster Identify patterns in the information

List

Process Map Map Understand complex relationships


Links & books

3M Post-it site www.3m.com/us/office/postit

StickyNote Ninja www.stickynoteninja.com

Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-it_note

The Grove Consultants grove.com


Credits

Flickr Images

Stickynote background by Tiago Pinhal

www.flickr.com/photos/tiagopinhal/387756816/

IceBreakers picture by Arun Katiyar

www.flickr.com/photos/48889080879@N01/96243768/

“To Do” artwork by Illegal Art | www.illegalart.org/projects_todo_pics_5.cfm

Photo by Amit Gupta | www.flickr.com/photos/superamit/1043379069/

Stickynote colors image by GoBestArticles

www.gobestarticles.com/2008/05/12/post-it-art...

Elvis image by Todd Coates at Capstrat

www.capstrat.com/elvis-spotted-in-the-conference-room/


walk softly…and carry a big sticky!

www.stickynoteninja.comKate Rutter <[email protected]>

FinalNinja

Secret