https://sup.sxsw.com/schedule/IAP18106

1. The Humor-Centered
Design Process
#humorUX
March 10, 2014 / SXSW Interactive 2014

2. WHO ARE WE?
SXSW Interactive 2014 / The Humor-Centered Design Process / #humorUX / 2
Chelsey Delaney
UX designer,
humorist, writer
@chelseD
Chris Trew
Comedian, Founder of
The New Movement,
Author of Improv Wins
@christrew

3. WHO ARE YOU?
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Tell us:
• Your name
• What you do
• Why you’re here

4. INTRODUCTION EXERCISE
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Profile Sheet
(10 minutes)

5. ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

6. SXSW Interactive 2014 / The Humor-Centered Design Process / #humorUX / 6
Learning how to be funny.
Sorry!
(That being said ...)
WHAT THIS WORKSHOP ISN’T

7. SXSW Interactive 2014 / The Humor-Centered Design Process / #humorUX / 7
A brief exploration of the relationship
between (the processes and products of)
design and humor.
WHAT THIS WORKSHOP IS

8. IDENTIFYING HUMOR
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“... something
unexpected, the truth of
which is recognized.”
- Aristotle

9. SXSW Interactive 2014 / The Humor-Centered Design Process / #humorUX / 9
• Using humor increases creativity and fosters
innovation
WHY HUMOR?

10. SXSW Interactive 2014 / The Humor-Centered Design Process / #humorUX / 10
• Using humor increases creativity and fosters
innovation
• Humor allows a designer to reach a deeper level
with both their team and/or with the users of their
product
WHY HUMOR?

11. WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
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PART 1:
Learn how humor can make the design process
more collaborative and creative (and fun).
PART 2:
Learn how humor can take shape in design of a
product, as well as contribute to its experience.

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?
• Improv exercises

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?
• Improv exercises
• Sketching and discussing our own designs

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?
• Improv exercises
• Sketching and discussing our own designs
• Checking out examples of humorous design

15. PART 1:
Learn how humor can make the design
process more collaborative and creative
(and fun).

16. THE DESIGN PROCESS
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• At a high-level:
Explore
Generate
Evaluate
Refine

17. THE HUMOR ... PROCESS?
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• The methods, concepts and tools humorists use to
create comedy

18. HUMOR IN THE DESIGN PROCESS
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Using humor techniques and concepts to connect
with and understand users, and to help in the
creation of innovative concepts and ideas.
DESIGN PROCESS + HUMOR PROCESS =

19. IMPROV EXERCISE
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Dressing the Scene
(30 minutes)

20. DRESSING THE SCENE
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• Establishing a framework

21. DRESSING THE SCENE
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• Establishing a framework
• “If this, then what?”

22. DRESSING THE SCENE
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• Establishing a framework
• “If this, then what?”
• Building on ideas with others to develop a shared
meaning and understanding

23. DRESSING THE DESIGN
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DESIGN BRIEF:
Create an app that will teach
someone about your favorite era
and/or civilization.

24. DESIGN EXERCISE
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Make a List
(10 minutes)

25. BREAK
(5 minutes)

26. IMPROV EXERCISE
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Characters
(30 minutes)

27. CHARACTERS
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Improv relies on the ability to create and build
on characters through personal knowledge and
observance of people and patterns.

28. CHARACTERS
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When developing characters,
improvisers must ask themselves:
“If this is true, then what else is true?”
Improv relies on the ability to create and build
on characters through personal knowledge and
observance of people and patterns.

29. DESIGN EXERCISE
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Draw Your Audience
(15 minutes)

30. CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS
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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them

31. CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS
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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them
• Embrace and harness personal bias

32. CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS
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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them
• Embrace and harness personal bias
• Feel ownership of and allegiance to the user

33. CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS
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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them
• Embrace and harness personal bias
• Feel ownership of and allegiance to the user
• Empathize with and interalize user needs and
experiences

34. DESIGN EXERCISE
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Sketch Your Flow
(15 minutes)

35. BREAK
(15 minutes)

36. PART 2:
Learn how humor can take shape in the
design of a product, as well as contribute
to its experience.

37. THE DESIGN OF A PRODUCT
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• Can be physical, interactive, visual, experiential,
behavioral, etc.

38. THE DESIGN OF A PRODUCT
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• Can be physical, interactive, visual, experiential,
behavioral, etc.
• Different than design for delight and design for
play!

39. HUMOR IN THE DESIGN
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• Understanding the basic structure of humor, both
in order to recognize it and apply it

40. HUMOR IN THE DESIGN
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• Understanding the basic structure of humor, both
in order to recognize it and apply it
• (Yes, it’s the cardinal sin of learning to explain
why something is funny)

41. HUMOR RESEARCH
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“... is a multidisciplinary field stemming from
linguistics that studies humor and its effects at the
intersections of psychology, sociology, philosophy,
history, literature, rhetoric, and computer science.”
Source: wikipedia.org

42. HUMOR RESEARCH
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“... is a multidisciplinary field stemming from
linguistics that studies humor and its effects at the
intersections of psychology, sociology, philosophy,
history, literature, rhetoric, and computer science.”
And now design.

43. INCONGRUITY THEORY
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Incongruity Theory argues that humor
occurs when a contrast between
contextualized elements or
concepts is perceived and processed.

44. INCONGRUITY THEORY
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Incongruity Theory argues that humor
occurs when a contrast between
contextualized elements or
concepts is perceived and processed.

45. IMPROV EXERCISE
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Straight / Absurd
(30 minutes)

46. DESIGN EXAMPLE
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Source: petsorfood.com

47. DESIGN EXAMPLE
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Source: https://prosign.tumblr.com

48. DESIGN EXAMPLE
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Source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quit-your-job/id781659061?mt=8

49. DESIGN EXAMPLE
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Source: playitbyearparenthood.org

50. DESIGN EXAMPLE
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Source: jurassicsystems.com

51. DESIGN EXERCISE
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Yes, And
(15 minutes)

52. QUESTIONS?
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Chelsey Delaney
UX designer,
humorist, writer
@chelseD
Chris Trew
Comedian, Founder of
The New Movement,
Author of Improv Wins
@christrew
Thank you!