Lean UX: Building a shared understanding
…and getting out of the deliverables business
UX LX
Lisbon, Portugal
May 18th, 2012

A tale of two cities…
…it was (definitely not) the best of times
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Building (digital) bridges
…turned out to be fairly effective
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Aligning corporate strategy with a UX focus
…many (expensive) ways to bring awareness
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Or the team can spend some time visualizing
…to, at least, start from the same point
#LeanUX | @jboogie

And we made it easy…
…to keep the conversation going
#LeanUX | @jboogie

And we made it easy…
…to keep the conversation going
#LeanUX | @jboogie

#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.agileproductdesign.com (Jeff Patton)

Visualizing our ideas reveals inconsistencies
…between designers, developers, product owners and customers
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.agileproductdesign.com (Jeff Patton)

Regular discussion leads to iteration
…with each iteration leading to broader buy-in
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.agileproductdesign.com (Jeff Patton)

Ultimately leading to shared understanding
…and team alignment
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.agileproductdesign.com (Jeff Patton)

Shared understanding is the currency of Lean UX
…it’s worth its weight in paper, time & productivity
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://images.wikia.com/currencies/images/6/65/Euro_coins_and_banknotes.jpg

Lean UX
Inspired by Lean Startup and Agile development theories, it’s the
practice of bringing the true nature of design work to light faster,
in a collaborative, cross-functional way with less emphasis on
deliverables and greater focus on the actual experience being
designed.
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Agile values:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan
#LeanUX | @jboogie

#LeanUX | @jboogie

Lean Startup
The Lean Startup has as a premise that every startup is a grand
experiment that attempts to answer a question. The question is
not "Can this product be built?"
Instead, the questions are "Should this product be built?" and
"Can we build a sustainable business around this set of products
and services?"
This experiment is more than just theoretical inquiry; it is a first
product.
#LeanUX | @jboogie

These are philosophies, not
methodologies.
#LeanUX | @jboogie

It goes a little something like this…
Do this. Quickly. Many times.
Just the UX process
Concept Validate Prototype Test Learn Iterate
Internally Externally from user
behavior
#LeanUX | @jboogie

“Go that way. Really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.”
-Charles DeMar (Curtis Armstrong) to Lane Myer (John Cusack) in “Better Off
Dead”
#LeanUX | @jboogie

In fast-paced environments, traditional UX is a bottleneck
We’re getting in our own way
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.freakingnews.com/Bottle-Neck-Pics-36343.asp

With interactive experiences evolving rapidly
The traditional design deliverable is an inefficient obstacle
#LeanUX | @jboogie

We have to change perspective on how to “do” UX
Today’s markets require a new way of looking at our processes
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://offroadinghome.blogspot.com/2011/04/geo-tography-forced-perspective.html

Designers can’t hide behind their monitor any more!
This is a designer-led initiative
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yamagatacamille/4799648425/sizes/l/

Get design work out there. Fast.
In public. Yep, where others can see it.
#LeanUX | @jboogie

OK. I’m intrigued. But how does it really work?
First 5 things you need to do…
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Solve the problem together
As opposed to implementing someone else’s solution
1
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Sketching
It’s all the rage!
2
It’s Bieber!
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Example of sketching at work
V1 of the UI
2
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Sketching brings experiences to life faster
Launched UI
2
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/

Prototype it!
Build an experience, not a document.
3
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://justaddwater.dk/

Once validated, demo to the team.
…and get everybody started.
3
No additional deliverables are needed!
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/koolwaaij/152426460/sizes/o/

Pair up!
But do it, cross-functionally
4
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://photofind.com/featured-photo/20-uncomfortable-moments-in-sports

Pairing saves time
Builds a common language
4
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://hoveringartdirectors.tumblr.com/page/2

Pairing sets designers free, man
…and empowers developers!
4
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.clydekellerphotos.com/images/AP_Kesey_HippiesDancing_GALLERY_CGW.jpg

Style guides!
The cause of, and solution to, all your UX problems
5
#LeanUX | @jboogie

They’re good for developers too!
Creates a reusable asset library and point from which to start
5
#LeanUX | @jboogie

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

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

“It’s not iterative if you only do it once.”
– Stu Eccles, Technical Director, Made By Many
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Every design is a hypothesis
Don’t design things people don’t want
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://deggan.blogspot.com/2011/01/three-giant-paper-airplanes-and.html

Validate your hypothesis with customers
Keep it light and cheap.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/forakerdesign/3657336793/sizes/l/

Use data to settle subjective issues
A/B testing can settle these “Pepsi challenges”
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__3p5_gzemps/TLpuaIolhlI/AAAAAAAAA-o/smDfmM8xqQM/s1600/Coke-vs-Pepsi.jpg

Form factor is ultimately irrelevant
There are many ways to validate hypotheses

Informal and quick is better than….
Delayed feedback loops

It’s not “The Spec” that gives control
Lead with conversation, trail with documentation
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://talkingtraffic.org/wp-content/images/stack_documents.jpg

This is the goal…
Moving towards parallel path development and design.
http://www.greatoutdoors.com/files/imagecache/display/files/images/articles/Wong%20leading%20a%20Powder%208%20win%20%20photo%20-

What Lean UX is NOT
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Lazy.
Sorry. This is not a shortcut.
“…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 Govella
commenting 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 | @jboogie
http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/lazy.jpg

The only thing being removed is waste.
Leave the toolbox intact. Use the tools as necessary.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/

This is NOT design-by-committee!
That never leads to anything pretty.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mims/326748812/sizes/l/

Can I make this happen in my organization?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yessssssssss!
#LeanUX | @jboogie

You’re an in-house designer…
Start small and internal. Ask for forgiveness.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://sarah.theworkexperiment.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/think-big-start-small1.jpg

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

Startups
This is the only way to work…
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://militarytobusiness.blogspot.com/2010/12/start-ups-at-hbs.html

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

Agencies are in the deliverables business.
(Focus is on output rather than outcome)
#LeanUX | @jboogie

Recapping the “in-house” Lean UX process….
Remember?
Just the UX process
Concept Validate Prototype Test Learn Iterate
Internally Externally from user
behavior
#LeanUX | @jboogie

For services agencies it looks slightly different
Give your clients the power. They like that.
Validate Validate
Concept w/client Iterate w/client Prototype
Learn
from user
behavior
#LeanUX | @jboogie

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

Is this good for every project?
Use it where it makes sense.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://manayunkdrinkspecials.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/45559121.jpg

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

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

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

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

Lean UX brings Design Thinking to a broader
audience.
Which creates empathy for:
- The customer
- The problem space
- The design discipline
#LeanUX | @jboogie

This is an evolution. Not a revolution.
Designers must evolve to stay relevant.
#LeanUX | @jboogie
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freejay3/2387714157/sizes/l/

@jboogie
jeff@proof-nyc.com
Thank you
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