I was able to attend and speak at Usability Professionals Association 2012 last week in Las Vegas, and it was quite a learning experience. I got a lot out of it, and was also grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts on design with a very receptive audience. Here’s some of the key insights (in my opinion) from the conference, courtesy the Twitter #upa2012 feed (any tweets that do not have an author listed are mine):
@agabojko: Don’t tell them their baby is ugly. Let them watch users saying their baby is ugly. (@cjforms)
@amandaux: Top reasons for not fixing usability problems were in two broad categories: politics and capacity. @cjforms @skrug
@UXtina: If you keep asking questions and not getting answers, you’re probably asking the wrong questions – Jeff Patton on agile challenges
@UXtina: A courageous follower stands up for and to their leader. @ronriggio
UX leadership needs to have a vision and a focus on that vision. They are entrepreneurs and risk takers. They aren’t comfortable.
@saffronboots: The brain is a holographic content-aware memory store. – Jeff Johnson
@josies: Modern consumers want to have access to exclusive experiences and information. @sdgates
Giving users tiny victories and letting them brag is a way to encourage and influence behavior.
“Small wins keep you going, and keeps you motivated to get to the next level.”
@susandra: Education us what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don’t. @steve_denning
@klgreiner: Focus on participants’ body language “It’s much harder to tell a lie with the body”
@laurafaulkner: “Good work is the single greatest threat to great work.” @sdgates
“Evangelizing #UX to executives is overrated. If they don’t get it you are in the wrong company.” Indeed.
Understand what the needs REALLY are & don’t fall into the trap of selecting a method before you know what problem needs solving.
@josies: Start with a concept to set direction. What is the experience we want? Everyone contributes. Start with paper. @sdgates
@josies: Any online experience has to be supported. If you step into social media, plan to engage fully to provide brand value. @sdgates
@laurafaulkner : #branding “Sending more emails is never the answer!” more talk does not equal brand building @sdgate
“It takes more time to write less words well than to write more words badly.” Indeed.
?@saffronboots: you will be respected by execs for providing solutions even if they’re not accepted. via @laurafaulkner
From @AmyCueva “Work with the business, look at that collaboration as a design challenge. Focus on what the organization values.”
@uxainscow: Provide executives with “The what, the so what, and the now what” #upa2012
@karenTL: #UX is as much about knowing when to get out of the way as it is about designing the way. @ronniebattista
“UX leadership has to have a solid grasp of the business and the goals of the business.” Here here!
@fixyerpixels: The best leaders are also the best followers- both together create leadership #upa2012
Communication is one of the most important skills UX leaders should have & the skill people surveyed said is the most lacking.