Get more done in less time. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But what if I told you that by using the power of UX life hacks - invaluable hints, tips and tricks for working smarter - you can?
In this session from UX in the City 2019, you’ll learn some UX life hacks that I’ve built up over 15 years of working in UX.
31. • Be organised with your design files
• Keep and reuse docs as templates
• Ideate and synthesise in silence
• Master the tools of your trade
• Timebox activities
UX life hacks
33. • Cards on table for topics
• Topic chosen at random
• 5 mins per topic
• After 5 mins vote to continue or move to next
• Please capture UX life hacks discussed
Lean coffee(ish) format
I think it’s always useful to know a little bit about your presenter
Currently working as a product designer at Redgate software
Working on software for developers and DBAs
Have been working in UX and digital since 2000
Term UX had been coined but wasn’t being used when started out
This is what Windows looked like in 2000
And this was what went for a smart phone
Don’t worry – won’t have to listen to me the whole time
Will get a chance to share your own UX life hacks
What are life hacks?
Trick of the trade…
Probably expecting something like this
What to do when you have a plane to catch and haven’t yet finished your all day breakfast
I’m not going to cover tricks, shortcuts and novelty methods
I’m going to share tips to help you work smarter, rather than harder
Life hacks used to be passed down through the generations
From master to apprentice as there was no manual for a craft
But nowadays we largely learn through formal education, or through books and courses
Life hacks very unlikely to be on the curriculum
So we’re here to put that right – to learn and share some UX life hacks
I’ve separated life hacks into 5 categories
I’m going to share a few of my own hacks, built up over 19 or so years experience, then you can share your own
Different designers like to work differently, sketching or using software, different tools
One thing that is important is to be organised with project files
Often this is our approach to file management
Stick everything in a folder
But makes it hard to find things, to get the latest versions
Would recommend setting up and using a project folder template
Create an empty folder structure and copy for each new project
Find what works for you
I’d also recommend if possible source controlling design files
I’ve started using Abstract for Sketch files and it’s great
No more losing work or not knowing which are the latest design files
A bit like design, a massive time saver is to keep copies of templates and previous research docs
When have to create a new doc e.g. persona, customer journey, findings report can use an old version as basis
Don’t have to hunt around if you’ve put them together in one place
I’ve even created an example UX docs and deliverables section on my blog
Has example docs, like experience maps, personas, storyboards, wireframes etc…
Often assume that if it’s a workshop, always have to work as a group
Not a workshop unless there is lots of hustle and bustle
But often it’s a good idea to work in silence as a group
Ideate and synthesise in silence e.g. affinity mapping, brain storming, voting
Time saver and helps include those quieter participants
Often good to work in silence, then discuss and review as a group
Everyone has their favourite tools – from Sketch to XD, from Axure to Framer
Take the time to master your tool – learn the advanced features and how to really use it properly
For example, keyboard shortcuts are a really simple way to speed up your work
For example, keyboard shortcuts are a really simple way to speed up your work
I’m sure you’ve experienced Parkinson’s law
Set 1 hour aside for a meeting, and even if a meeting could have been finished in 30 mins it invariably takes an hour
Set a day aside to do a task and even if it’s half a days work, it will take a day
Really useful to timebox activities
For example, 30 mins for a meeting that otherwise might take 1 hour
Half a day for some work, and then re-evaluate at the end
As such it’s a great idea to structure your day to be able to work in distraction free blocks
For example, 25 min blocks, with 5 mins down time in-between
Key is to avoid distractions and to be able to focus
Summary of my UX life hacks
Will follow lean coffee(ish) format
Have some cards on each table for topics
Also a joker card which I’ll explain shortly
Will discuss a topic for 5 mins
Then vote as a group as to whether you want to continue, or change topic
Please capture hacks on post-it notes and stick to the handouts
I’d like to compile a list of hacks (so don’t share anything you wouldn’t be comfortable getting outside this room) which I’ll share via my blog
The joker means that whoever picked the joker card can decide the topic
Can be any UX related topic
Any questions before we begin?
Thank you once again for coming along, I hope that you enjoyed it
Please put your feedback on the board
This is the first time I’ve run the session, so I’m sure there is loads that could be improved.
I’ll upload the slides along with the UX life hacks that were shared