Lean UX is an approach to UX design that emphasizes validating designs with customers early and iterating quickly based on feedback, rather than spending a long time documenting specifications. It is inspired by Lean Startup and Agile development methods. The goal is to surface the true nature of the user experience faster and with less emphasis on traditional deliverables. Lean UX advocates rapid prototyping of key assumptions to get customer feedback to evolve the design rapidly.

1. Lean UXGetting out of the deliverables businesshttp://img.blog.yahoo.co.kr/ybi/1/1c/f6/cliffordmlarsen/folder/717992/img_717992_1359004_3?1103025176.jpg

2. Who is this guy?I’m just doing this for the lanyards.Jeff GothelfCurrently: Director of UX at TheLadders.comPreviously: Publicis Modem, Webtrends, AOL, Fidelity and an assortment of startupsBlog: www.jeffgothelf.com/blogTwitter: @jboogieEmail: jgothelf@theladders.com#LeanUX

3. In the beginning…UX began with Information Architecture which no one had ever heard of#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.ucdesigners.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/stockxpertcom_id21589-world1-1024x794.jpg

4. Deliverables helped define the practiceAnd this was good#LeanUX | @jboogie

5. IA evolved and expanded into IxD and her sistersDarwinism at work#LeanUX | @jboogie

6. Deliverables helped define the practiceAnd this was good#LeanUX | @jboogie

7. Value has ultimately been placed on the deliverableNot on the experience being created#LeanUX | @jboogie

8. With interactive experiences evolving rapidlyThe deliverable is just not enough#LeanUX | @jboogie

9. Lean UXInspired by Lean Startup and Agile development theories, it’s the practice of bringing the true nature of our work to light faster, with less emphasis on deliverables and greater focus on the actual experience being designed.#LeanUX | @jboogie

10. Agile Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

11. Working software over comprehensive documentation

12. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

13. Responding to change over following a planLeanLean Startup initially advocates the creation of rapid prototypes designed to test market assumptions, and uses customer feedback to evolve them much faster than via more traditional software engineering practices.#LeanUX | @jboogie

14. It goes a little something like this…Look familiar?Just the UX processPrototypeConceptValidate InternallyTest ExternallyLearn from user behaviorIterate#LeanUX | @jboogie

15. You can’t hide behind your monitor any more!Seriously. It’s time to come out.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/yamagatacamille/4799648425/sizes/l/

16. Get it out there. Fast.In public. (Yes, where people can see it.)#LeanUX | @jboogie

17. What Lean UX is NOT#LeanUX | @jboogie

18. Lazy.Sorry. You still have to work hard.“…the best part … is that the team is doing a F@&K-TON of UX. They document a ton of stuff explicitly on the walls and implicitly in shared understanding among team members.”Austin Govellacommenting on Whitney Hess’s “Why I Detest the Term Lean UX”http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2011/02/27/why-i-detest-the-term-lean-ux/#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.steadyburn.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lazy-cat5.jpg

19. The only thing being removed is waste.You leave that stuff laying around and it starts to stink!#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/

20. This is NOT design-by-committee!We all know where that leads#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/

21. What Lean UX is…#LeanUX | @jboogie

22. ControlYou’re still in charge#LeanUX | @jboogie

23. But I’m giving up control of my work!You’re not, actually. It just feels that way.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/alshepmcr/4561517216/sizes/l/

24. You don’t need “The Spec” to keep controlIt’s the last mile of the value you bring to the team#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://talkingtraffic.org/wp-content/images/stack_documents.jpg

25. If you spend 3 months perfecting a design only to find out it fails to meet customer and/or business needs, you’ve just wasted 3 months of your life, not to mention your team’s#LeanUX | @jboogie

26. Designers shouldn’t be expected to get it right the first timeNobody else has toFrom Design Criticism and the Creative Process by Cassie McDaniel on A List Apart, 11 Jan, 2011.http://www.alistapart.com/articles/design-criticism-creative-process/#LeanUX | @jboogie

27. You are the “Keeper of the Vision”The greater goal of the design is YOUR responsibility#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photoshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kubina/1386979654/sizes/l/

28. MomentumEveryone’s engaged. Everyone’s motivated.#LeanUX | @jboogie

29. Keep everybody moving forwardYour clients, stakeholders, your design and you.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/37541410@N03/3901861703/sizes/l/

30. QualityDon’t compromise#LeanUX | @jboogie

31. “Speed first. Aesthetics second.” – Jason Fried, 37Signals.com#LeanUX | @jboogie

32. “Going for the bronze.” – A Creative Director I used to work with#LeanUX | @jboogie

33. What about the quality of the design?Iterations mean quality continually improves.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://stockthemind.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/project-cartoon.jpg

34. FeasibilityMake sure it can be built (and built well)#LeanUX | @jboogie

35. Prototype it!But not all of it.#LeanUX | @jboogiehthttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mQ4dc8irsc0/S_TZkx7B_3I/AAAAAAAAAM0/lwh7NTbtKMo/s1600/PopGlider+assembled+2.jpgtp://www.flickr.com/photos/alshepmcr/4561517216/sizes/l/

36. Once validated, demo to the team.Presto! Instant documentation (no additional deliverable needed).No additional deliverables are needed!#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/koolwaaij/152426460/sizes/o/

37. Then show it to your customers.Keep it light and cheap.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/forakerdesign/3657336793/sizes/l/

38. Fill in the gapsWhat did you not think about?#LeanUX | @jboogie

39. The more you talk about itThe more you realize what’s missing#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/adysmiles/4822749055/sizes/l/

40. Can it be done?A tale of two cultures.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kadelmann/3564028694/sizes/z/

41. The internal software/web design shop.Well within your grasp.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.istudyathes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/microsoft-20team-201978.jpg

42. You are in the problem-solving business and you don’t solve problems with design documentation. You solve them with elegant, efficient and sophisticated software. #LeanUX | @jboogie

43. The interactive agency.Tougher sell. Worth it in the end.#LeanUX | @jboogie

44. Agencies are in the deliverables business.#LeanUX | @jboogie

45. Recapping the “internal” Lean UX process….Remember?Just the UX processConceptValidate InternallyTest ExternallyLearn from user behaviorIteratePrototype#LeanUX | @jboogie

46. For agencies it looks slightly differentGive your clients the power. They like that.Validate w/clientValidate w/clientConceptPrototypeIterateLearn from user behavior#LeanUX | @jboogie

47. Consultants are specialized mini-agenciesSuccess with Lean UX will be determined by attention level#LeanUX | @jboogie

48. Reducing deliverables efforts reduces revenueIn theory…Fewer deliverablesFewer billable hours$$$$Project delivered fasterHappier, more empowered clientRepeat customer#LeanUX | @jboogie

49. Invest in your client’s successIt shows the confidence you have in your work#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/19638298@N00/143127498/sizes/z/

50. Is this good for every project?Use it where it makes sense.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.krackblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/david_hasselhoff_gary_coleman-e1275077640952.jpg

51. Functional, task-flow projects work well.There’s a clear end goal.#LeanUX | @jboogie

52. Highly experiential marketing projects will struggle.Time to ideate and create options is essential.#LeanUX | @jboogie

53. What about content heavy experiences?Some up front planning is necessary.#LeanUX | @jboogie

54. Distributed teams do it remotely!If they’re a part of you, it’s on! If not, not bloody likely.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2076450897_be1b8ace7c.jpg

55. Case Study100 Days of Collaboration#LeanUX | @jboogie

56. Problem Statement:“You’re like Monster, but I have to pay for it.”#LeanUX | @jboogie

57. 3 days, 3 themes:Acquisition and conversionResume servicesA human in every interaction#LeanUX | @jboogie

58. #LeanUX | @jboogie

59. #LeanUX | @jboogie

60. #LeanUX | @jboogie

61. #LeanUX | @jboogie

62. #LeanUX | @jboogie

63. How do I get started?Here’s one way. Get everyone involved early.#LeanUX | @jboogie

64. Can you guess who sketched this?The answer will shock you!#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/janekeeler/4677093058/sizes/l/

65. Can you guess who sketched this?The answer will shock you!#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/janekeeler/4677093058/sizes/l/

66. Can you guess who sketched this?The answer will shock you!#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/janekeeler/4677093058/sizes/l/

67. The whole execution team did in a modified “design studio.”You can also call it collaborative sketching.Design studios Cross-functional team

68. Everybody draws, presents and critiques

69. Refine ideas through 3 rounds

70. Generate tons of raw ideas

71. Huge headstart for UX

72. Early team-wide alignment

73. Team-wide feeling of ownership#LeanUX | @jboogie

74. Start small.6 of your best ideas as fast as possible.#LeanUX | @jboogie

75. Refine to 3 or 4 better ideas.Add detail.#LeanUX | @jboogie

76. And once more to one, final, detailed idea.Let your one best idea shine.#LeanUX | @jboogie

77. Designers are used to being heroes. Lean UX is distinctly, anti-hero.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.abegoodman.com/Images/greatest-american-hero.jpg

78. This is an evolution. Not a revolution.Evolve to stay relevant.#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/freejay3/2387714157/sizes/l/

79. Let’s get back to the experience design business.It’s where it’s at (as the kids say)#LeanUX | @jboogiehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/3057998218/sizes/l/

80. Thanks!Ask me some questions. Here. Now. Or later.jgothelf@theladders.com@jboogiewww.jeffgothelf.com/blogwww.slideshare.net/jgothelfbit.ly/LeanUX#LeanUX | @jboogie