UX Awesomeness Through the Introvert/Extrovert Spectrum, presented by: - Angela Craven, senior UX designer, EffectiveUI - SuAnne Hall, senior UX product designer, Mapquest Presented at IxDA Interactive, February 2014 What we can learn from one another, and how to leverage the strengths of our colleagues. Whether the idea of introversion speaks to you, or you more readily identify with more extroverted qualities, everyone can benefit from tapping into their quiet side. We set out to discover how many designers tend to be more on the introverted spectrum, and what makes them successful. We poured over findings from surveying over 100 people about the topic, 6 one-on-one interviews, and a group discussion with 20 UX'ers. It's our goal to inform all of us on the introvert/extrovert spectrum of the amazing differences in strengths we all possess that, when combined, make up super teams of professionals.

1. &
UX AWESOMENESS THROUGH THE
INTROVERT/EXTROVERT SPECTRUM
FEB 6, 2014
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PREPARED FOR: INTERACTION 14

2. HI. This is
TERRIFYING
@swan5280 @dotgriddotcom #quietUX #ixd14
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3. SUSAN CAIN
“I just want to give [Susan
Cain] a big hug...and then
send her off to her room.”
-introverted designer about Susan Cain
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4. A short story
about me &
impromptu
brainstorms...
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5. GROUP ACTIVITY!
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6. (Kidding. That sounds awful.)
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7. How did the idea of forming groups/
being selected on the spot to speak
make you feel?
- Panicked. I REALLY didn’t want to do this.
- Annoyed, but I’d get through it.
- Confident. Sounds fine, why not?
Go online, tweet, or text your answer:
pollev.com/quietUX,
tweet @poll with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
text +447624806527 with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
Thursday, February 20, 14

8. Introverts in
the U.S. :
Up to
50%
pollev.com/quietUX,
tweet @poll with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
text +447624806527 with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
Thursday, February 20, 14

9. SOMETHING IS
MISSING
pollev.com/quietUX,
tweet @poll with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
text +447624806527 with PANICKED, ANNOYED, OR CONFIDENT
Thursday, February 20, 14

10. THE NEW
GROUPTHINK
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11. Thursday, February 20, 14

12. WE SPEND A
LOT OF TIME
ON THE
INS & OUTS
OF:
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•Design tools & processes
•Technology
•Business needs & processes
•User needs
•Building empathy
•Research techniques

13. BUT HOW DO WE BEST WORK
TOGETHER, AND AS INDIVIDUALS, WITH
COMPLEX PERSONALITIES?
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14. “Self awareness is the only sustainable
competitive advantage.”
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@erin-gee

15. No two Introverts, Extroverts or
Ambiverts HUMANS are alike
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16. SO, WHAT IS AN
INTROVERT?
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17. WHAT IS AN
EXTROVERT?
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18. INTROVERTS tend to
“recharge” in
SOLITUDE
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19. EXTROVERTS tend
to “recharge” by
SOCIALIZING
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20. LUCKY
AMBIVERTS
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21. Thursday, February 20, 14

22. SO IT
BEGAN...
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•We surveyed 110 people in the tech industry
•We facilitated a focus group ~ 20 people
•We conducted 6 interviews with UXers

23. Of the more than 110
designers, developers,
project managers and
other professionals in
the tech industry who
took the survey...
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55% INTROVERTS
31%
AMBIVERTS
14%
EXTROVERTS

24. THEME 1:
Introverts dislike aggressive
communication styles
(BUT REALIZE SOMETIMES IT’S PART OF THE JOB)
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25. “Nothing makes you feel
more small than when
others are talking over
you.”
- Lead UX Designer
Image: Mike Scarano, instagram.com/mikescarano
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26. Introverts:
Be the relayer of information rather
than “the expert.”
Extroverts:
Listen first. Take 3 seconds before
speaking.
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27. THEME 2:
Introverts tend to dislike
being put on the spot
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28. Image: Deborah A. Genovesi, Communicationspilot.com
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29. Introverts:
Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.”
Extroverts:
Give others a chance to prepare
whenever possible.
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30. THEME 3:
Introverts need alone
time to process
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31. Image: Mike Scarano, instagram.com/mikescarano
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32. Introverts:
Guard your focus time and take time
to recharge.
Extroverts:
After collaborating, allow your team
time alone to process.
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33. THEME 4:
Creating
SUPERTEAMS of
introverts and
extroverts alike
Image: Mike Scarano, instagram.com/mikescarano
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34. Introverts & Extroverts:
Who’s on your team? Take a quiz:
www.thepowerofintroverts.com/quietquiz-are-you-an-introvert/
Be open and honest about your own
strengths & weaknesses.
Own your own creative process!
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35. Image: Mike Scarano, instagram.com/mikescarano
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36. A story about
me and jury
duty
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37. BE COOL WITH
QUIET
Image: Mike Scarano, instagram.com/mikescarano
Thursday, February 20, 14

38. “We need listeners. Be comfortable with your quiet.
Be confident in your introversion. It’s not a flaw. I
used to see it as awkward. Over time, I’ve come to
recognize the strengths it offers.”
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39. THANK YOU!
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40. ...a few resources
•Our article: “Incorporating More Quiet Into the UX Process”
http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2013/10/09/
incorporating-quiet-into-ux-design-process/
•Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop
Talking by Susan Cain
•“The Rise of the New Groupthink”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/opinion/sunday/the-riseof-the-new-groupthink.html?_r=0
SuAnne: @swan5280
Angela: @dotgriddotcom
#quietUX #ixd14
Thursday, February 20, 14