Session	
  6B	
  -­‐	
  Solving	
  the	
  UX	
  Puzzle
Giorgio	
  Venturi
User	
  Experience	
  Lead	
  at	
  blinkbox
giorgio.venturi@gmail.com	
  
@gventuri	
  #uxpuzzle	
  
@ucduk	
  #ucd2013	
  

syntagm
Doing UX is
like solving a
puzzle…
Doing UX is
like solving a
puzzle…

… so many little
pieces that
need to fit
together
… my story …
UCD
? ADOPTION
design techniques
research methods
UCD
? ADOPTION
design techniques
research methods
management

communication
UCD
? ADOPTION
design techniques
research methods
management
UX KPIs
senior
support

competitor
analysis

communication
inside-in

inside-out
left research
(2005)

work for
digital & service design
agencies
left research
(2005)

work for
digital & service design
agencies
theTeam

Fjord

LBi
(2010)

Closertag
left research
(2005)

work for
digital & service design
agencies
theTeam

Fjord

LBi
(2010)

Closertag
(2012)

in-house
blinkbox
What I loved
•
•
•

Variety
Fast pace
Stimulation
But…
… I saw very little
UCD along the way
early focus
on
users

early
prototyping

active
user
participation
continuous
iteration
holistic
perspective
The client/agency
engagement model is broken

•

No much chance of
understanding user needs

•

Limited iteration
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Client

Agency
This is your engagement span
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts
Research

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

Test
Prototype

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts
Research

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

Test
Prototype

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts
Research

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

?

Test
Prototype

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts
Research

Development

Design execution
… not great if you are
doing UX agency-side

•
•

Superficial learning
Project fatigue
Other people said…
Ross-Popow Walker
UX Design at Digital Agencies is F*cked

Lisa Reichelt
Client/Agency Engagement is F*cked,
Waterfall UX Design is a Symptom
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

Client

back to
Start

Agency
Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

in-house

back to
Start

Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

in-house

back to
Start

Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Doing UCD in-house
•
•

Longer engagement span

•

More iterations

Deeper understanding of the
user & activities
Build

Learn

Measure
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

in-house

back to
Start

Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Brief

Launch
Evaluation

in-house

back to
Start

Ideation
Design concepts

Development

Design execution
Doing UCD in-house
•
•

Longer engagement span

•
•

More iterations

Deeper understanding of the
user & activities
Less documentation, more
collaboration
What is our
relationship with PM?

UX

PM
overlap
Separation of Marketing and
Product disciplines

Marketing
Comms
CRM
Social Media

Product
UX
VD
PM
Separation of Marketing and
Product disciplines

Customers

Marketing
Comms
CRM
Social Media

Product
UX
VD
PM
Personal challenges
in doing in-house UX
•
•

Monotony
Can generate tunnel-vision
agency vs. in-house
Pros

Cons

•

in-house

Variety
Fast-pace
Stimulation

•

agency

•
•
•

Longer engagement

understanding user
needs
Limited iteration
Superficial learning
Project fatigue

Deeper understanding

•

No much chance of

•
•
•

of users & activities
span
More iterations
Less documentation
Deeper collaboration

•
•
•
•
•

Monotony
Can generate tunnel
vision
Unique opportunity
•

Create a User Experience
culture
UCD
? ADOPTION
design techniques
research methods
management
UX KPIs

communication
inside-in

senior
support

inside-out
I’m still a big UCD fan
its principles
go to the roots
of what I believe
is right
serve
the user

bridge
the gap
between people
and technology

help people
achieving things
unimaginable
10-15 years ago
3 guiding principles
•
•
•

Leave your ego at the door
Build your empathy
Weave a UX culture into the
organisation
Thank you
UCD 2013 solving the UX puzzle

UCD 2013 solving the UX puzzle