A B C D UX 
Understanding, establishing and sustaining 
human-centered design 
Matthew Doty | @matthewjdoty | #abcdux
Intros 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytudut/5188623575/sizes/z/in/photostream/
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
About Me 
Matthew Doty | 3
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
About RBA 
4
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
About you... 
5 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86979666@N00/7623744452/sizes/z/in/photostream/
! Setting the Stage 
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefrobrts/4305383439/
I’ve seen a lot of places... 
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Razorfish 
! 
Pentair 
! 
American Standard 
! 
Lennox 
! 
Ameriprise 
! 
Target 
Life Time Fitness 
! 
Best Buy 
! 
OfficeMax 
! 
Sears 
! 
Marriott 
! 
Kraft Foods 
Ashley Furniture 
! 
Goldman Sachs 
! 
PNC 
! 
AT&T 
! 
JC Penney 
! 
Acquity Group
I’ve been called a lot of names... 
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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UX Analyst 
Usability Engineer 
Information Architect 
UX Consultant 
UX Architect 
UX Manager 
UX Practice Lead 
UX Director
3 things have been getting 
clearer and clearer... 
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@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
The UX Boom 
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UX
http://groups.ultimate-guitar.com/antibandwagon/pictures/personal/586278/ 
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The UX 
Bandwagon 
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UX
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
The UX Bubble 
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UX
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What do we do?
A B C D UX 
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 14
A ...is for Awareness 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamsjung/@matthewjdoty 4951580120/sizes/l/in/| #photostream/ 
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“Knowing is 
half the battle” 
A wareness @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
! 
-GI Joe 
16 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerduo/3770972018/sizes/m/in/photostream/
1. We need to know 
what UX is 
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UX 
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HCD 
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2. We need to know 
how to explain UX 
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Understanding, 
Empathizing & 
Advocating 
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Balanced, thoughtful, 
interaction design 
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User 
Needs 
Business 
Objectives 
Creative/Brand 
Direction 
Technical 
Capabilities 
UX
! 
! 
FED 
! 
! 
Cr 
UX 
BA 
Building on shared 
objectives 
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3. We need to 
know what UX can 
really do 
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What CAN UX really do? 
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$
A Awareness of what 
UX is, how to explain 
it and what it can 
really do. 
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B ...is for Basics. ! 
! 
! 
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“Gentlemen, this 
is a football” 
- Vince Lombardi 
http://www.biography.com/people/vince-lombardi-9385362 
B asics @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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What are the basics of UX/HCD? 
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“Doing UX” Staffing & 
Supporting UX
Basics: “Doing UX” 
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Basic Objectives 
1. Understand, empathize with & advocate for the 
people who actually will use what you’re producing. 
2. Design a solution that delivers on user needs while 
balancing other priorities. 
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Basic Activities 
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UX 
Evaluation 
Interaction 
Design 
User 
Research 
UX 
Strategy 
UX
Basics: Staffing & Supporting UX 
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Basic Characteristics 
• Empathetic 
• Articulate 
• Technical 
• Artistic 
• Systematic 
• Passionate 
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• Practical 
• Diplomatic 
• Quick-witted 
• Observant 
• Collaborative 
• Low-maintenance
Basic Characteristics 
"The ideal is this hybrid person 
who's both right-brained and left-brained, 
high tech and high 
touch" 
! 
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9237419/UX_specialists_are_hot_commodities? 
omyId=18&pageNumber=2 
B asics @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/tza/3214197147/
Basic Needs 
• Access to users/data 
• Sustained focus 
• Collaborative iteration 
• A seat at the table 
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@matthewjdoty | #abcdux B 37 
Basics: The critical 
factors we need 
for successful 
HCD 
! 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35168673@N03/6086229920/sizes/l/in/photostream/
C ...is for Change ! 
! 
! 
! 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/micronova/@matthewjdoty 7717733878/sizes/l/| in/#photostream/ 
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Keys to effective change 
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1. Identify what you want to change 
2. Pinpoint critical behaviors 
3. Experience critical behaviors 
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1. Identify changes 
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What changes are we making? 
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• Learn more about UX 
• Hire UX talent 
• Implement human-centered thinking 
• Maximize the UX toolkit 
• Establish a UX practice 
• Mature the UX offering
2. Pinpoint Critical Behaviors 
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Critical Behaviors... 
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• Small/Simple 
• High impact 
• Yield desired results 
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Critical Behaviors: 
Establishing HCD 
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1. Experience your audience 
2. Make your thinking tangible 
3. Take a collaborative stance 
4. Practice “tactful persistence” 
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3. Experience Critical Behaviors 
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C hange http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6023/6006966949_6d880267c1_o_d.jpg @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 48
Can I do it? 
Is it worth it? 
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C Change what 
needs to be 
changed. 
! 
! 
! 
! 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/micronova/@matthewjdoty 7717733878/sizes/l/| in/#photostream/ 
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D ...is for Discipline 
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“Opportunity is 
missed by most 
people because it 
is dressed in 
overalls and 
looks like work.” 
-Thomas Edison 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 53
Discipline = Work... 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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... hard, constant 
work! 
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Core Aspects of Discipline 
1. Buy-in 
2. Accountability 
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D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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Generate 
buy-in 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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Maintain 
buy in 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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BEWARE OF 
GROUPTHINK! 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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Hold 
yourself 
accountable 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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Hold 
each other 
accountable 
D iscipline @matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
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Can I do it? 
Is it worth it? 
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D Discipline ourselves 
to do things 
differently 
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A B C D UX 
Awareness Basics Change Discipline 
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/clarkstonscamp/4855087885/sizes/l/in/photostream/ 
@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
Questions? 
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Recommended Reading 
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@matthewjdoty | #abcdux 
THANK YOU!!! 
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A B C D UX 
A practical approach to understanding, establishing and sustaining 
human-centered design (HCD) 
Matthew Doty | @matthewjdoty | #abcdux

ABCD... UX