The document discusses the challenges in collaboration between designers and developers in tech projects, highlighting communication issues and differing perspectives on problem-solving. It emphasizes the importance of empathy and shared goals while providing tactics to improve teamwork, such as setting clear intentions and encouraging open discussions. The presentation encourages creative collaboration through events like hack-a-thons and emphasizes that both designers and developers are essential craftspeople navigating a rapidly changing environment.

1. &
mind melds
BATTLE BOTS
Designer/Developer

2. Who are we?
Carolyn Chandler
Mira Fitness
Co-Author, UX Design books
@chanan
Don Bora
Eight Bit Studios
Mobile Makers
@dbora

3. Who Are You?
? ?

4. We all want to
create great stuff

5. What problems are
we attacking?

6. BattleBot mode wastes a lot of
energy for fight strategy

7. Mind melds aren’t always good
goatee of evil

8. We have communication
issues
Designers often hear:
“Then you can make it pretty”
“It’s just common sense, right?”
“Isn’t that a training issue?”

9. We have communication
issues
Developers often hear…
“It’s easy…”
“Can’t we just…?”
“I’ve seen this done a million times.”

10. Why is this
urgent?

11. Tech changes so fast…

12. Unicorns are the new pidgeons

13. Teams are mixed
& distributed

14. Start with
empathy…

15. Designer Empathy
happy trees

18. What’s Possible?
Over/Under Communication

19. Developer Empathy

20. Last Developer Standing
Things can go wrong and when they do, it’s
usually in the 11th hour

21. Too much info
Dire messages
Blame the user
A good way to handle unknown errors:

22. Windows 10…

23. We are all craftspeople
working on shifting sands

24. What tactics can
help?

25. On Projects…

26. The main waste is the time
you DON’T spend in mind setting
MEETINGS

27. What’s our level of detail?
FORESTS
TREES
WEEDS

28. What is the intention?
Designers can ask:
What data do we have that we’re not taking good advantage of?
EXPLORING
Developers can ask:
What patterns (like navigational frameworks) do we want to start
following early on?

29. EXPLORING PROPOSING
Both ask:
Does this reflect our business goals and identity?
If not this exact thing… what can we do?
Is there something that gets us close?
What if…?
What is the intention?

30. EXPLORING PROPOSING DECIDING
Both ask:
What principles should drive our decisionmaking?
Do we all understand the pros and cons of the choice?
(for example, build or buy)
What is the intention?

31. Brainstorming
“Yes, and…”

32. Rubber Ducking
“I just need to talk this through for a bit…”

33. Gap Finding
“What if…”

34. –Johnny Appleseed
“Type a quote here.”
“We don’t know…”
with…
“Here’s what we can do…”
Replace…
developers…

35. –Johnny Appleseed
“Type a quote here.”
developers…
Be the right kind of cocky

36. Extracurricular…

37. Developers, invite designers
to a hack-a-thon

39. –Johnny Appleseed
“Type a quote here.”
Designers, host a spark-a-thon
http://bit.ly/1FjSJmR

40. Thank You!
Carolyn Chandler
carolyn@mymirafit.com
@chanan
Don Bora
don@eightbitstudios.com
@dbora
Join us for our panel next door!