Articulating Design Decisions: Communicate with Stakeholders, Keep Your Sanity, and Deliver the Best User Experience

Description

Talking to people about your designs might seem like a basic skill, but it can be difficult to do well. In many cases, how you communicate with stakeholders, clients, and other nondesigners may be more important than the designs themselves. Because if you can't get their support, your work will never see the light of day--no matter how good it is. This practical guide focuses on principles, tactics, and actionable methods for presenting your designs. Whether you design apps, websites, or products, you'll learn how to get support from people who have influence over the project with the goal of creating the best user experience.  Walk through the process of preparing and presenting your designsUnderstand stakeholder perspectives and learn how to empathize with themCultivate both implicit and explicit listening skillsLearn tactics and strategies for expressing the most effective response to feedbackCreate the right documentation for your decisions to avoid repeated conversationsDiscover why the way you follow through is just as important as the meeting itself [ contents ] [ Preface ] Chapter 1. Great Designers Are Great Communicators The Big Meeting Design Is Subjective...Sort Of Too Many Cooks Everyone Is a Designer! The Interface Is Your Interface There Is No U or X in Team Communication Is the Job Being Articulate Means Success Becoming a Great Designer Chapter 2. Stakeholders Are People Too See Their Perspective Identifying Influencers Stakeholder Values Stakeholder Stories Build Good Relationships Chapter 3. Design the Meeting Set the Context Optimize for Memory Remove Distractions Anticipate Reactions Create a Support Network Do a Dress Rehearsal Chapter 4. Listen to Understand Implicit Listening Explicit Listening Chapter 5. Get in the Right Mindset Understand Your Role Check Your Ego at the Door Lead with a YES Establish a Positive Persona Change Your Vocabulary Make a Transition Chapter 6. Form a Response A UX Strategy for Responding Tactics Are Actions Chapter 7. Choose a Message Business Design Research Limitations Chapter 8. Lock In Agreement From IDEA to IDEAL Putting It All Together Chapter 9. Follow Up Afterward The Meeting After the Meeting Follow Up Fast Apply Filters Seek Out Individuals Do Something, Even If It’s Wrong Chapter 10. Dealing with Changes Changes Are the Purpose, Right? What’s Really Going On? Making Lemonade The Bank Account of Trust When You’re Wrong Managing Expectations Over, but Never Done Chapter 11. How Executives Can Help Designers The King and the Blind Man Ten Tips for Working with Designers Design Project Checklist A Seat at the Table [ Index ] [ About the Author ]