Interaction Design + Product ManagementSoftware Product Management Meetup NYCAugust 17, 2009
About Lane HalleyPrincipal Designer at Liquidnet20+ years in SW developmentCooper Fellow (Goal-Directed Design©, Personas)Agile 2009 UX stageIxD + PM28/17/2009
What is Interaction Design?Interaction Design (IxD) defines the structure and behavior of interactive products and services. Interaction Designers create compelling relationships between people and the interactive systems they use, from computers to mobile devices to appliances...http://www.ixda.org/IxD + PM38/17/2009
Why do Product Managers need IxD?Interaction design supports great productsA great product takes into account:Peoples’ motivations and behaviorsTheir environment of useIxD + PM48/17/2009
Why do Product Managers need IxD?Products that are well designed:Organize functions in ways that make sense to peopleHelp people accomplish their goals without excess work or frustrationGenerate brand loyalty IxD + PM58/17/2009
Pure Digital Technologies, Flip Mino Cheap and portable flash-based camcorders1.5 MM sold since May ‘0720% of domestic camcorder market  (ahead of Sony)IxD + PM68/17/2009
Considering user needs in context“…consumer electronics companies were focused on creating the smallest, coolest and most technologically advanced products, but they came at it from a hardware side. We come at it from an ecosystem side, meaning that there's great software that resides in the device and on the computer and on the Internet. And the combination of those three things creates an ecosystem that has a lot of value.”Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital CEOSF Chronicle, November 30, 2008IxD + PM78/17/2009
Different by designThe Mino’s design is focused on human needs:Simple editingSimple sharing IxD + PM88/17/2009
Flip user interface objectivesWith the Flip, it’s easy to:Immediately see and watch videosSave videos to the computer for safekeepingDelete unwanted ‘junk’ videos and only save the wanted videosProvide easy access to common activities IxD + PM98/17/2009
8/17/2009IxD + PM10Image: http://www.obsessable.com/feature/obsessable-flip-mino-hd-review/ 
It’s hard to make things easy“Creating something simple and fun is very hard; it's not easy," Kaplan said. "Otherwise, everyone would be doing it.”Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital CEOSF Chronicle, November 30, 2008 IxD + PM118/17/2009
But it’s worth it!“…stunningly simple to use.” –Wall Street Journal“The controls are so simple, a five-year old could master them.” –Real Simple“…catching life’s little wonders on video just got eaiser.” –Chicago Tribune IxD + PM128/17/2009
Why aren’t more products successful?A successful product is more than the sum of its’ features IxD + PM138/17/2009
What makes a product successful?IxD + PM148/17/2009DesirabilityCapabilityProductViabilityLarry Keeley, three elements of a successful high-tech product
Successful products are balancedIxD + PM158/17/2009TechnologyInteraction DesignDesirabilityCapabilityProductViabilityProduct Management
How do Interaction Designers work?Interaction designers: Perform user research and usability testsDevelop models of users, their attitudes, needs and behaviorsTranslate this intelligence into useful stories, sketches and prototypes IxD + PM168/17/2009
How can a Product Manager use IxD?Even if you’re not a trained Interaction Designer, you can use some of the same thinking and techniques with your teams to produce better products IxD + PM178/17/2009
Elements of an Interaction Design strategyInteraction design techniques will help you:Understand who your users are and what they valueEnsure the entire team understands and can collaborate on the desired user experience for your productAppropriately balance “big picture” thinking with “just in time” thinkingIxD + PM188/17/2009
TOOLS FOR: Understanding your users Interviews Site visits, direct observations Online observation Innovation GamesIxD + PM198/17/2009
Interview planningWho do you want to talk to and what do you want to learn? Planning interview themesWhere to find peopleIncremental researchCultivate a user groupUse your visits for multiple purposesIxD + PM208/17/2009
Effective interviewingUse open-ended questions to encourage conversation“What parts of this process take the most time, and why?”IxD + PM218/17/2009
Effective interviewingIdentify the need behind a feature request“If you HAD feature x, what would that allow you to do?”IxD + PM228/17/2009
TOOLS FOR: SynthesisAffinity diagramsPersonasWorkflow modelsConceptual models  IxD + PM238/17/2009
 Use affinity diagrams for group synthesisFlickr: /improveit/1574052029/IxD + PM248/17/2009
Good user research = stronger personasWell-researched personas help your team make better decisions. A good persona description defines:GoalsAttitudesWork or activity flowEnvironmentSkill levelFrustrationsIxD + PM258/17/2009
Specific is more important than accurateIxD + PM268/17/2009Flickr: /dtsato/582640684/
TOOLS FOR: IdeationScenariosSketching IxD + PM278/17/2009
How to have a GREAT ideaSet yourself up for success with the right elements: Lateral thinking – with appropriate contextPersonas – based on a shared understanding of usersScenarios – based on understanding of real user needs and activitiesSketching– on paper/whiteboardCollaborative process – that supports the evolving conceptIxD + PM288/17/2009
Using scenariosScenarios help you imagine how people will use your product. A scenario: Tells the story of a persona using the product to accomplish their goalsAllows us to work from an ideal user experienceProvides context for features and functions within broader tasks and workflowsEvolves to become more detailed and specificIxD + PM298/17/2009
Using scenariosScenarios should be idealistic and high-level. Be sure to focus on: The new, idealized version of the interaction, (“pretend it’s magic”) not the current processWhat they want to accomplish and the result, rather than the controls they useIxD + PM308/17/2009
Collaborative sketchingIxD + PM318/17/2009Flickr: /lanehalley/2744909938/
Design validationFocus groupsUsability testsWeb analyticsIxD + PM328/17/2009
TOOLS FOR: Creating consensus Low-fidelity prototypeHigh-fidelity prototypePersona-based auditUsability highlights reel IxD + PM338/17/2009
Low-fidelity prototype PaperOneNoteWhiteboard and digital cameraStoryboardsPPT IxD + PM348/17/2009
High-fidelity prototypeBenefits:Getting realHelp people see/understand Risks:Can limit innovative thinkingNot robust enough to shipIxD + PM358/17/2009
Persona-based auditA persona-based audit can be used to:Evaluate designEvaluate a current solutionPersuasive tool for change IxD + PM368/17/2009
What’s the ideal solution? It depends…The right process for your team depends on many things: Complexity of your product domainNew product? Later release?Team compositionSizeLocationSkillsIxD + PM378/17/2009
Discussion: What’s your IxD plan?What IxD techniques are best for your product?How will you meet the need for interaction design?IxD thinking/techniques by team membersInteraction Designer as consultant to the teamInteraction Designer as full-time member of team IxD + PM388/17/2009
Thanks! I’d love to hear your stories…Lane Halleylbh.inc@gmail.comtwitter: thinknowhttp://lanehalley.livejournal.com/IxD + PM398/17/2009
Want to learn more?Cooper offers courses in:     * Interaction design (4-day)    * Communicating design (2-day)    * Visual interface design (2-day)    * Integrating design (2-day)http://www.cooper.com/services/training/IxD + PM408/17/2009
Recommended readingInspired: How To Create Products Customers Love Marty CaganDesigning for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services. Kim GoodwinIxD + PM418/17/2009

Interaction Design + Product Management

  • 1.
    Interaction Design +Product ManagementSoftware Product Management Meetup NYCAugust 17, 2009
  • 2.
    About Lane HalleyPrincipalDesigner at Liquidnet20+ years in SW developmentCooper Fellow (Goal-Directed Design©, Personas)Agile 2009 UX stageIxD + PM28/17/2009
  • 3.
    What is InteractionDesign?Interaction Design (IxD) defines the structure and behavior of interactive products and services. Interaction Designers create compelling relationships between people and the interactive systems they use, from computers to mobile devices to appliances...http://www.ixda.org/IxD + PM38/17/2009
  • 4.
    Why do ProductManagers need IxD?Interaction design supports great productsA great product takes into account:Peoples’ motivations and behaviorsTheir environment of useIxD + PM48/17/2009
  • 5.
    Why do ProductManagers need IxD?Products that are well designed:Organize functions in ways that make sense to peopleHelp people accomplish their goals without excess work or frustrationGenerate brand loyalty IxD + PM58/17/2009
  • 6.
    Pure Digital Technologies,Flip Mino Cheap and portable flash-based camcorders1.5 MM sold since May ‘0720% of domestic camcorder market (ahead of Sony)IxD + PM68/17/2009
  • 7.
    Considering user needsin context“…consumer electronics companies were focused on creating the smallest, coolest and most technologically advanced products, but they came at it from a hardware side. We come at it from an ecosystem side, meaning that there's great software that resides in the device and on the computer and on the Internet. And the combination of those three things creates an ecosystem that has a lot of value.”Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital CEOSF Chronicle, November 30, 2008IxD + PM78/17/2009
  • 8.
    Different by designTheMino’s design is focused on human needs:Simple editingSimple sharing IxD + PM88/17/2009
  • 9.
    Flip user interfaceobjectivesWith the Flip, it’s easy to:Immediately see and watch videosSave videos to the computer for safekeepingDelete unwanted ‘junk’ videos and only save the wanted videosProvide easy access to common activities IxD + PM98/17/2009
  • 10.
    8/17/2009IxD + PM10Image:http://www.obsessable.com/feature/obsessable-flip-mino-hd-review/ 
  • 11.
    It’s hard tomake things easy“Creating something simple and fun is very hard; it's not easy," Kaplan said. "Otherwise, everyone would be doing it.”Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital CEOSF Chronicle, November 30, 2008 IxD + PM118/17/2009
  • 12.
    But it’s worthit!“…stunningly simple to use.” –Wall Street Journal“The controls are so simple, a five-year old could master them.” –Real Simple“…catching life’s little wonders on video just got eaiser.” –Chicago Tribune IxD + PM128/17/2009
  • 13.
    Why aren’t moreproducts successful?A successful product is more than the sum of its’ features IxD + PM138/17/2009
  • 14.
    What makes aproduct successful?IxD + PM148/17/2009DesirabilityCapabilityProductViabilityLarry Keeley, three elements of a successful high-tech product
  • 15.
    Successful products arebalancedIxD + PM158/17/2009TechnologyInteraction DesignDesirabilityCapabilityProductViabilityProduct Management
  • 16.
    How do InteractionDesigners work?Interaction designers: Perform user research and usability testsDevelop models of users, their attitudes, needs and behaviorsTranslate this intelligence into useful stories, sketches and prototypes IxD + PM168/17/2009
  • 17.
    How can aProduct Manager use IxD?Even if you’re not a trained Interaction Designer, you can use some of the same thinking and techniques with your teams to produce better products IxD + PM178/17/2009
  • 18.
    Elements of anInteraction Design strategyInteraction design techniques will help you:Understand who your users are and what they valueEnsure the entire team understands and can collaborate on the desired user experience for your productAppropriately balance “big picture” thinking with “just in time” thinkingIxD + PM188/17/2009
  • 19.
    TOOLS FOR: Understandingyour users Interviews Site visits, direct observations Online observation Innovation GamesIxD + PM198/17/2009
  • 20.
    Interview planningWho doyou want to talk to and what do you want to learn? Planning interview themesWhere to find peopleIncremental researchCultivate a user groupUse your visits for multiple purposesIxD + PM208/17/2009
  • 21.
    Effective interviewingUse open-endedquestions to encourage conversation“What parts of this process take the most time, and why?”IxD + PM218/17/2009
  • 22.
    Effective interviewingIdentify theneed behind a feature request“If you HAD feature x, what would that allow you to do?”IxD + PM228/17/2009
  • 23.
    TOOLS FOR: SynthesisAffinitydiagramsPersonasWorkflow modelsConceptual models  IxD + PM238/17/2009
  • 24.
     Use affinity diagramsfor group synthesisFlickr: /improveit/1574052029/IxD + PM248/17/2009
  • 25.
    Good user research= stronger personasWell-researched personas help your team make better decisions. A good persona description defines:GoalsAttitudesWork or activity flowEnvironmentSkill levelFrustrationsIxD + PM258/17/2009
  • 26.
    Specific is moreimportant than accurateIxD + PM268/17/2009Flickr: /dtsato/582640684/
  • 27.
  • 28.
    How to havea GREAT ideaSet yourself up for success with the right elements: Lateral thinking – with appropriate contextPersonas – based on a shared understanding of usersScenarios – based on understanding of real user needs and activitiesSketching– on paper/whiteboardCollaborative process – that supports the evolving conceptIxD + PM288/17/2009
  • 29.
    Using scenariosScenarios helpyou imagine how people will use your product. A scenario: Tells the story of a persona using the product to accomplish their goalsAllows us to work from an ideal user experienceProvides context for features and functions within broader tasks and workflowsEvolves to become more detailed and specificIxD + PM298/17/2009
  • 30.
    Using scenariosScenarios shouldbe idealistic and high-level. Be sure to focus on: The new, idealized version of the interaction, (“pretend it’s magic”) not the current processWhat they want to accomplish and the result, rather than the controls they useIxD + PM308/17/2009
  • 31.
    Collaborative sketchingIxD +PM318/17/2009Flickr: /lanehalley/2744909938/
  • 32.
    Design validationFocus groupsUsabilitytestsWeb analyticsIxD + PM328/17/2009
  • 33.
    TOOLS FOR: Creatingconsensus Low-fidelity prototypeHigh-fidelity prototypePersona-based auditUsability highlights reel IxD + PM338/17/2009
  • 34.
    Low-fidelity prototype PaperOneNoteWhiteboard anddigital cameraStoryboardsPPT IxD + PM348/17/2009
  • 35.
    High-fidelity prototypeBenefits:Getting realHelppeople see/understand Risks:Can limit innovative thinkingNot robust enough to shipIxD + PM358/17/2009
  • 36.
    Persona-based auditA persona-basedaudit can be used to:Evaluate designEvaluate a current solutionPersuasive tool for change IxD + PM368/17/2009
  • 37.
    What’s the idealsolution? It depends…The right process for your team depends on many things: Complexity of your product domainNew product? Later release?Team compositionSizeLocationSkillsIxD + PM378/17/2009
  • 38.
    Discussion: What’s yourIxD plan?What IxD techniques are best for your product?How will you meet the need for interaction design?IxD thinking/techniques by team membersInteraction Designer as consultant to the teamInteraction Designer as full-time member of team IxD + PM388/17/2009
  • 39.
    Thanks! I’d loveto hear your stories…Lane Halleylbh.inc@gmail.comtwitter: thinknowhttp://lanehalley.livejournal.com/IxD + PM398/17/2009
  • 40.
    Want to learnmore?Cooper offers courses in:  * Interaction design (4-day) * Communicating design (2-day) * Visual interface design (2-day) * Integrating design (2-day)http://www.cooper.com/services/training/IxD + PM408/17/2009
  • 41.
    Recommended readingInspired: HowTo Create Products Customers Love Marty CaganDesigning for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services. Kim GoodwinIxD + PM418/17/2009

Editor's Notes

  • #15 Larry Keeleyof Doblin Inc., identified three qualities of a high-tech business
  • #16 Larry Keeleyof Doblin Inc., identified three qualities of a high-tech business