Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Articulate Design Decisions - Coggle Diagram
Articulate Design Decisions
In 2014, I had to submit talk ideas for a UX conference
topics were design techniques and articulating design decisions
Career Changing
UX is still fresh and young
Not that easy talking about design to others
Communication
Design is not only about the aesthetics/looks
Important to solve problems
Must be addressing the user needs
Learn/understand how users would be interacting with the product
Designs have good possibility of being misunderstood by stakeholders/others who may view it as purely subjective or decorative, rather than a strategic problem-solving process.
Stakeholders/customers may view the design as subjective or decorative
Stakeholders/customers don't really see the strategic problem-solving process
Very important to clearly communicate design decisions to stakeholders.
Clear communication helps align everyone and get them on the same page
Ensures that the design choices were made to focus on the user needs
Common challenges in design communication, such as the lack of a shared vocabulary between designers and non-designers.
Main problem is lack of a shared vocabulary between the designers and non-designers
Being subjective (personal feelings, tastes, or opinions) can lead to disagreements and misunderstandings
To prove designers are not being subjective, they must explain their choices and their reasoning in a way that makes sense to others
Designers need to translate their design thinking into terms that others can understand
Key is to incorporate feedback from stakeholders
But make sure the feedback does not hurt the integrity of the design
Balance their expertise with the input of others
Empathy- the ability to understand and share the feelings of others
Empathy involves putting oneself in the user's shoes to better understand their needs, goals, and perspectives.
Key is to design with users in mind
Designers can create products that resonate with them
Connection/relation can lead to better experiences and increased user satisfaction.
User interviews, observations, and usability testing to gain insight/understanding
Understand user behaviors, preferences, and pain points
Help in making design decisions and help designers understand the user's perspective
Empathize for the stakeholders as well
Understand the user's problems and concerns
Allows designers to address the user's needs effectively
Align design decisions with overall project goals/objectives
Assumptions can lead to misguided design choices
Empathy relies on real user insights and feedback.
Convey design decisions to non-designers
Stakeholders who lack design expertise
Designers can communicate effectively and build collaborative relationships
Incorporating empathy into design processes
Empathy enhances communication, reduces conflicts, and fosters trust between designers and users/stakeholders
Considering the needs/expectations of the audience
Designers should tailor their explanations to resonate with stakeholders' perspectives
Effective communication of design decisions requires more than just describing what was done
"Why specific design choices were made?"
Every design decision is rooted in a design intent
Purpose or reason drives the decision
Communicating design intent helps others understand the motivation behind a particular design choice
Don't make random design decisions without clear reasoning
Provide context and rationale
Designers can ensure that their choices are intentional and aligned with project goals
Must connect design decisions to user needs/goals
Explain how a particular choice enhances the user experience or addresses a user pain point.
Very hard communicating complex design decisions
Break down complex concepts into digestible explanations
Resonate with both design and non-design stakeholders
Asking "Why" should be tailored to the audience
Different stakeholders may require different levels of detail and emphasis on various aspects
"Why" helps prevent misunderstandings and disagreements
Conflicts can be minimized, and decisions can be better aligned.
Storytelling is a way to make design decisions more relatable and understandable
Stories capture attention and evoke emotions
Story narratives make it easier for stakeholders to see the impact of design decisions
A story that encapsulates the journey, challenges, and solutions involved in the design process
A well-structured narrative can communicate the evolution of design choices
Use metaphors and analogies
Comparisons help bridge the gap between technical terminology and the understanding of non-designers
"Hero's Journey" found in myths and stories
Help create a compelling narrative that engages users/stakeholders
Storytelling allows designers to provide context for design decisions
Helps stakeholders understand the circumstances that led to specific choices
User stories personas can be integrated into design narrative
User experiences and pain points adds depth to the narrative and emphasizes user-centered design
Effective storytelling strikes a balance between emotional engagement and rational explanation
Creates an emotional connection while conveying reasoning behind decisions
Adaptability is storytelling for different audiences
Make narratives to resonate with stakeholders, clients, team members, and users
Use visuals to convey complex ideas
Visuals can simplify information, aid comprehension, and enhance the overall communication
Choose visuals that align with the context and audience
Different types of visuals: sketches, wireframes, flowcharts, and diagrams
User flows can be used to show the user journey
Help stakeholders visualize the product's look
Wireframes and prototypes help communicate the structure and functionality
Effectively communicate data and complex information through visuals like charts and graphs
Clear visual representations help stakeholders grasp insights quicker
collaborative visual tools for real-time sharing and editing of design visuals
Remote collaboration
Tailoring visuals to needs of different audiences
Important for designers to adapt to their visualizations based on whether they are presenting to stakeholders, clients, or team members etc.
Visuals serve as conversation starters and facilitate discussions about design decisions
Visuals encourage stakeholders to give valuable feedback
Understand the background and perspective of the audience
Have explanations match audience's level of familiarity with design concepts
Use clear and accessible language when explaining design concepts
Avoid technical terms that might confuse non-designers
Use relatable analogies or metaphors to simplify complex ideas
Visual aids include sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and visualizations
Visuals help stakeholders grasp the intended design direction
Present your design decisions within the context of story
Describe the user journey and problem-solving process
Storytelling creates a relatable and engaging narrative
Outline the problem, the solution, and the reasoning behind design decisions
Predict the questions and concerns that stakeholders might have about your design decisions
Address these points proactively to demonstrate thoroughness and prepare for discussions
Build trust with stakeholders
Listen to feedback and questions from stakeholders
Be honest about limitations, potential challenges. Transparency enhances credibility
Respond thoughtfully and respectfully
Must base design decisions on data/evidence over personal opinions or assumptions
Make design principles to help guide decision-making
Have multiple design options
Use design sprints as a way to accelerate the decision-making process
Create prototypes to help visualize design concepts
Test design concepts with actual users to gain insight into their preferences and behaviors
Encouraging open and constructive criticism
Present designs within the context of user stories.
Address stakeholder's concerns and incorporate their feedback to ensure a well-rounded solution
Conflict can happen when different stakeholders have differing opinions
Gather quantitative and qualitative data
Use principles to help align the team's understanding and vision for the project
process of elimination to prioritize decisions by considering factors such as user needs, business goals, technical constraints, and potential impact
Design sprints involve intensive collaboration and prototyping
Prototypes can range from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive mockups
User testing validates assumptions and informs design decisions based on real-world feedback
Critiques enable designers to receive diverse perspectives and refine their work
Stakeholders to understand and empathize with the user's perspective