The Designer is Present

The Designer is Present
@WIAD_DC / #WIADDC
01WORLD IA DAY 2015 The Designer is Present

The Designer Is Present ‹#› Portigal
Click to edit Master title styleWhat do we mean by “presence?”

Being aware of
and connected
to the present
moment - and
only the present
moment.

Being aware of
your own
thoughts and
feelings…so you
can make
choices about
how to act.
Being aware of
and connected
to the present
moment - and
only the present
moment.

Click to edit Master title styleSelf-awareness is a muscle that grows with time
Why Self-Awareness Is the Secret
Weapon for Habit Change
– 99U, Aug 13, 2014
It’s human nature to first experience
and then explain. Catching ourselves
before we engage in our typical
default reactions is one of the
greatest challenges of our lives, but
when done relentlessly and with
discipline and moments of reflection,
mindfulness ensues. The pursuit of
self-awareness is difficult and
requires dedication.
http://99u.com/30437

Click to edit Master title styleThis is important to us

Click to edit Master title styleMindfulness

Click to edit Master title styleIn the Zeitgeist

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Let’s do a nano-meditation
“Meditation is not the absence of
thought, but the presence of
awareness.” – Irene Au

Click to edit Master title styleSeven Attitudes of Mindfulness
Non-judging We bring our own ideas to a situation. We
can notice our own thoughts but not act on
them.
Patience Things happen in their own way and in their
own time.
Beginner’s Mind Approach a situation having let go of what we
already think we “know.”
Trust Look to yourself – even if you make mistakes
– rather than outside yourself.
Non-striving Not trying to make things different but just
allowing them to be as they are.
Acceptance Seeing things as they are, now.
Letting Go/Non-attachment Not holding on to how you want things to be.
Adapted from Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Click to edit Master title styleValidating is judging; Empathy is not sympathy
http://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw

Click to edit Master title styleRelationship between mindfulness and empathy
An Appeal to Our Inner Judge
– NYT, Aug 2, 2014
Recognize and accept that you have
biases. Develop the capacity to
observe yourself in action and to
notice when certain people or
circumstances serve as triggers.
Learning to slow down decision-
making, especially when it affects
other people, can help reduce the
impact of bias. This can be
particularly important when we are in
circumstances that make us feel
awkward or uncomfortable.
http://nyti.ms/1xZb4vw

Click to edit Master title styleRelationship between mindfulness and empathy
No Time to Think – NYT, July 25, 2014
Studies suggest that [a lack of
presence] impairs your ability to
empathize with others. “The more in
touch with my own feelings and
experiences, the richer and more
accurate are my guesses of what
passes through another person’s mind.
Feeling what you feel is an ability that
atrophies if you don’t use it.”
http://nyti.ms/1pzBHFt

Click to edit Master title styleRing my bell

Click to edit Master title styleMind and body

Click to edit Master title styleListening
Yes! Not so much.

Click to edit Master title styleSelf-knowledge elsewhere

Click to edit Master title styleWe are bound by our aspirations/inspirations
We think we know what
the solution is.
We think we know what
other people are about.
We can’t hear them.
We design for our “vision”
not for their needs.

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: It’s Going To Be Okay

Click to edit Master title style
Reframing

Click to edit Master title styleA shaggy-dog story

Click to edit Master title styleCognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – the reframe
How (negative) thinking affects feelings and behavior
“She was totally furious when I handed her the letter!”
[What else could be the reason for her action?]

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Come up with a really bad idea
Write or sketch the worst
idea for a product, service,
feature that you can come
up with

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Hand off your bad idea
Pass your bad idea to
someone else…

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Hand off your bad idea
someone else…
Design the circumstances
where that bad idea
becomes a good one.

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Discuss
someone else…
Design the circumstances
where that bad idea
becomes a good one.
With the people around you,
share a few examples.

Marina Abramović

Click to edit Master title styleMarina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
xxx

Click to edit Master title styleExercise

Click to edit Master title styleExercise Debrief

Noticing

Click to edit Master title styleNoticing Our Users
Noticing the noticing sensation
Things that make you go “Hmm”
Your attention is grabbed
You stop what you are doing
Laugh/point/cringe
Furrow brow in confusion
Whut tha…?

Click to edit Master title styleNoticing helps you to notice later

Click to edit Master title styleBuilding Noticing Muscles
Carry a camera/notepad and use it
Thinkaloud protocol – say what you’re
seeing (to a friend or device)
Get out of your regular/comfort zone

Click to edit Master title styleBuilding Noticing Muscles
http://bit.ly/1Dy7D2Z

Click to edit Master title styleExercise: Tuning the senses (time permitting)
Part 1
Close your eyes
Capture observations of other people using only sound
Part 2
Observe behavior (out of earshot) in this room
In another setting we’d go somewhere else, an atrium or upper level
Capture observations of other people using only visual

Resources, presentations and to purchase
http://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/interviewing-users/
More from Steve
Interviews with in-house user research leaders
http://www.portigal.com/series/DollarsDoDonuts/

Click to edit Master title styleQuestions/Comments/Takeaways

THANK YOU.
Please Contact:
Steve Portigal
Portigal Consulting
steve@portigal.com | @steveportigal
THANK YOU.
WORLD IA DAY 2015 The Designer is Present

The Designer is Present

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