The document provides insights from a UX professional on what they knew about design and research in 2011 versus 2016. In 2011, they believed the data should speak for itself, experts work best alone with ample resources, and successful designs imply good reasons. By 2016, their views had changed - data requires explanation, expertise requires collaboration within constraints, and successful designs may work for some but not all situations. The overall message is that an individual's understanding evolves over time through experience to recognize the importance of teamwork over solo work and nuance over assumptions.

3. WARNING!
My comments today do not represent in any way the policies, standards, or
practices of any of the organizations I’ve worked with in the past, or work with
currently.
These are my own personal insights based on my current experience as a UX
professional. Don’t be surprised if sometime in the future I blatantly contradict
or disagree with everything I say today.

5. Friends

6. Friends

7. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best researcher
It doesn’t matter if you’re the best designer
It doesn’t matter if you’re the best manager
Good UX is a team effort

8. Good UX is a team effort
It doesn’t matter if you’re the best researcher
It doesn’t matter if you’re the best designer
It doesn’t matter if you’re the best manager
If your work isn’t recognized and welcomed by the people
who will help you turn UX into reality, you’re going to have
a hard time making the world a better place.

9. Predicates
Our job is to help make stuff for other people.
We’re not working solo.
This isn’t about Philosophies of Design, design as artistic practice, or design we do for ourselves.
When it comes to our individual jobs, we know what we’re doing.
We’re professionals with rich toolkits and deep expertise.
This isn’t about new design approaches or research methods.
We know how to make stuff better.
What we do improves the stuff we’re working on.
If we don’t do our jobs, stuff is worse.

10. What I know about design and research
(circa 2011)

11. What I know about design and research
(circa 2011)
The data speaks for itself

12. What I know about design and research
(circa 2011)
The data speaks for itself
Show, don’t tell

13. What I know about design and research
(circa 2011)
The data speaks for itself
Show, don’t tell
Experts do their best work when given ample resources and left alone

14. What I know about design and research
(circa 2011)
The data speaks for itself
Show, don’t tell
Experts do their best work when given ample resources and left alone
If someone successful is doing it, they probably have a good reason

15. What I know about design and research
(circa 2016)

16. What I know about design and research
(circa 2016)
The data is the story others remember

17. What I know about design and research
(circa 2016)
The data is the story others remember
Show and tell (and then show and tell some more)

18. What I know about design and research
(circa 2016)
The data is the story others remember
Show and tell (and then show and tell some more)
Experts do their best work within constraints and in league with everyone else

19. What I know about design and research
(circa 2016)
The data is the story others remember
Show and tell (and then show and tell some more)
Experts do their best work within constraints and in league with everyone else
If someone successful is doing it, it might be for a good reason? Maybe?

20. The data speaks for itselfWhen I do research, my primary job is to report what I observed.
Graphs and tables only have one interpretation.
Most people understand descriptive statistics, and smart people understand
what sample size, effect size, and sampling bias are.
People will read my report.

21. When I do research, I have to decide what my observations mean...
and I have to help others accurately understand this meaning.
Graphs and tables are tools for thinking, discussing, and telling stories.
Most people have *wildly* varying understandings of basic statistics, but that’s
OK because statistical discussions are rarely about statistics.
People won’t* read my report.
The data speaks for itself
The data is the story others remember

22. Show, don’t tell
Good design speaks for itself.
Details on working designs aren’t that important.
Everyone knows how to talk and think about design concepts.
Everyone knows what good looks like.

23. Show, don’t tell
Good design needs to be explained and defended.
Details on working designs are *extremely* important.
Everyone talks and thinks about a design concepts differently.
At first, nobody* knows what good looks like.
Show and tell (and then show and tell some more)

24. Experts do their best work when
given ample resources and left alone
Most of my effort should go into my core responsibilities.
My efforts and impact will be constrained by other departments.
The biggest barrier to doing my job better is inadequate resourcing.
Most people will respect my expertise.

25. Experts do their best work when
given ample resources and left alone
The bulk of my effort should go into my core responsibilities, but a lot should
also go into bridge-building.
My efforts and impact will be multiplied by other departments.
Often the biggest barrier to doing my job better is inadequate perspective.
Most people* will respect my expertise, after I make their jobs easier.
Experts do their best work within constraints
and in league with everyone else_

26. If someone successful is doing it,
they probably have a good reason
If other people have solved a similar problem, their solution will work for me.
Good design is the product of good process.
Good design means successful business.
Smart people do good design.

27. If someone successful is doing it,
they probably have a good reason
If other people have solved a similar problem, their solution might be a good
place to start?
Good design is the combination of good process, quick improvisation, and
often a bit of luck.
Good design can lead to successful business, but it’s not a guarantee.
Smart people do good design sometimes, they also fail sometimes.
They think hard about when to move on and when to try again.
If someone successful is doing it,
it might be for a good reason? Maybe?

28. In summary
2011
Research is about increasing my understanding of the world
Design is about creating the best things, based on my understanding

29. In summary
2011
Research is about increasing my understanding of the world
Design is about creating the best things, based on my understanding
2016
Research is about increasing our understanding of the world
(and what we can do about it)
Design is about creating better things, based on our acceptance of the
opportunities and constraints we have to work with.

30. Thank you