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on March 1, 2016
While the book focuses on effective user experience and design, it turns out this is a tremendous resource for team communication in general. Articulating Design Decisions offers some terrific insights on how to communicate with other stakeholders in an effective manner; and thus how to become more persuasive in your interactions regardless of the subject matter.
I work with designers on a regular basis, and while I do not do much design work myself, I found the methods outlined by the book to be extremely insightful and immediately applicable. Key strategies such as asking the right questions at the right time, tailoring your approach to key decision makers, identifying important influencers, and managing successful interactions. Also, the book contains is a terrific checklist of tips for more effectively working with designers - which I found instantly useful.
If you work in any type of collaborative environment, whether you are an actual designer or not, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It offers wisdom you can use to be more effective at your own communications, thus allowing you to expand your own influence and value.
I work with designers on a regular basis, and while I do not do much design work myself, I found the methods outlined by the book to be extremely insightful and immediately applicable. Key strategies such as asking the right questions at the right time, tailoring your approach to key decision makers, identifying important influencers, and managing successful interactions. Also, the book contains is a terrific checklist of tips for more effectively working with designers - which I found instantly useful.
If you work in any type of collaborative environment, whether you are an actual designer or not, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It offers wisdom you can use to be more effective at your own communications, thus allowing you to expand your own influence and value.
on October 20, 2015
This is one of those books you WISH you had when you started out. I spent a lot of un-fruitful time becoming annoyed with clients who opposed my design choices, even when I had data, personas and teams backing me up. Toms book has reminded me that Stakeholders are People Too (http://www.uxbooth.com/articles/stakeholders-are-people-too/).
Tom opens the discussion up by explaining why clients, non-designers they are, have opinions about your work. This had never clicked with me before, but after realizing why stakeholders had so much to say about the position of my buttons and widgets, I could feel myself letting go of ego and pride, which gives me the clarity to uncover the actual problems the client is trying to solve.
Resources that teach you HOW to design are good (and plentiful). Resources that show you how to effectively communicate with clients and get sign-off are splendid. This book show you how to do just that.
Tom opens the discussion up by explaining why clients, non-designers they are, have opinions about your work. This had never clicked with me before, but after realizing why stakeholders had so much to say about the position of my buttons and widgets, I could feel myself letting go of ego and pride, which gives me the clarity to uncover the actual problems the client is trying to solve.
Resources that teach you HOW to design are good (and plentiful). Resources that show you how to effectively communicate with clients and get sign-off are splendid. This book show you how to do just that.
on January 13, 2016
Tom Greever explains reasons for problems which I have had and gives solutions from his experience that make sense to me.
Here are three:
Do we think our designs speak for themselves? Because the most articulate person often wins, we need to describe our designs to other people in a way that makes sense to them. (page 38)
Do we know what to say when stakeholders respond according to their likes and dislikes? Rephrase their response in a question that forces them to talk about it in a way that’s more helpful. (page 97)
Do we have a “no reflex” to suggestions that might not work or even seem impossible? Leading with a yes creates a space where everyone recognizes that we’re all on the same team. (page 108)
Even if you have learned most of these lessons the hard way, if you are a leader or mentor of less-experienced designers, you can read through this book together with them.
And if you aren’t a designer, but want to improve the way you work with designers, Tom wrote chapter 12 for you.
Here are three:
Do we think our designs speak for themselves? Because the most articulate person often wins, we need to describe our designs to other people in a way that makes sense to them. (page 38)
Do we know what to say when stakeholders respond according to their likes and dislikes? Rephrase their response in a question that forces them to talk about it in a way that’s more helpful. (page 97)
Do we have a “no reflex” to suggestions that might not work or even seem impossible? Leading with a yes creates a space where everyone recognizes that we’re all on the same team. (page 108)
Even if you have learned most of these lessons the hard way, if you are a leader or mentor of less-experienced designers, you can read through this book together with them.
And if you aren’t a designer, but want to improve the way you work with designers, Tom wrote chapter 12 for you.
on August 19, 2016
I started reading Articulating Design Decisions due to some serious problems we were having in our product design team. Despite our best efforts to move forward on decisions, make the most of meetings, and design the best possible product, our team was floundering in a sea of miscommunication.
I'm still working on implementing a lot from this book, but have already seen many of the benefits from Tom Greever's suggestions. The advice in this book is practical and doable.
This book is truly one of the most relevant and essential books on designing within organizations I have read. It should be on every designer's shelf and should be referred to often.
I'm still working on implementing a lot from this book, but have already seen many of the benefits from Tom Greever's suggestions. The advice in this book is practical and doable.
This book is truly one of the most relevant and essential books on designing within organizations I have read. It should be on every designer's shelf and should be referred to often.
on August 24, 2016
I highly recommend this book for any designers out there who are sometimes baffled by how their conversations with stakeholders go off the rails.
I often find professional development books somewhat unhelpful because they give you the goal you should strive for but very little practical advice for implementing it. I found this book much better in that area. The number of things the author says you need to do for good communication can be overwhelming. But, when I stopped worrying about the big picture for a minute and focused in on one or two pieces at a time, it's very helpful. I felt I could immediately apply it to my work.
I often find professional development books somewhat unhelpful because they give you the goal you should strive for but very little practical advice for implementing it. I found this book much better in that area. The number of things the author says you need to do for good communication can be overwhelming. But, when I stopped worrying about the big picture for a minute and focused in on one or two pieces at a time, it's very helpful. I felt I could immediately apply it to my work.
on September 15, 2016
Tom’s book is an amazing resource for designers. He explains (in a conversational tone) how to effectively articulate and defend your design decisions, with a focus on presenting to, and persuading stakeholders.
As a UX designer, I struggled the most with explaining my design decisions to a room of executives. This book helped me become a better designer and taught me to think differently about communicating my designs. My key takeaway was that presenting designs is a learnable skill — take time to write down design decisions, practice for meetings out loud, anticipate reactions, and continually build empathy for stakeholders.
As a UX designer, I struggled the most with explaining my design decisions to a room of executives. This book helped me become a better designer and taught me to think differently about communicating my designs. My key takeaway was that presenting designs is a learnable skill — take time to write down design decisions, practice for meetings out loud, anticipate reactions, and continually build empathy for stakeholders.
there are 100's of books that help you become a better designer, but this one will help make you ...
on August 21, 2016
I'd put this book in the top 5 books every designer must read. Lets face it, there are 100's of books that help you become a better designer, but this one will help make you a successful one.
There is something in here for designers of all levels. Early career designers will learn about designing in the real world, experienced practitioners like myself will feel like a much needed therapy session. The scenarios presented are very relatable, and I came out with a blueprint to deal with some of the many difficult situations you find yourself as a designer. I'm going to make everyone in my team read this book!
There is something in here for designers of all levels. Early career designers will learn about designing in the real world, experienced practitioners like myself will feel like a much needed therapy session. The scenarios presented are very relatable, and I came out with a blueprint to deal with some of the many difficult situations you find yourself as a designer. I'm going to make everyone in my team read this book!
on October 4, 2016
So much design writing is overly lofty, so I appreciate this pragmatic guidebook to communicating & getting things done. It's written with knowledge of how everyone's input is critical to good design, and yet how designers also have a special set of skills to integrate and manage expectations and goals inside of organizations.
Tom gets super specific and walks you through real-world scenarios (for example how to handle the person who has terrible ideas but needs to be a "genius" -- derailing the meeting!)
Tom gets super specific and walks you through real-world scenarios (for example how to handle the person who has terrible ideas but needs to be a "genius" -- derailing the meeting!)
on November 16, 2016
I find the book to be long winded and repetitious. The author repeats the same thing over and over, the book could have been significantly shorter and had the same impact. I do enjoy the example stories, some of which I can totally empathize with, others I find utterly ridiculous (that the author was able to come out of situations smelling like a rose) and not at all like my experience as a designer.
At nearly every step or point of illustration, the author says something to the effect of "this is THE key step to articulating design decisions"; not every step can be THE step, they're all part of a process. If there is a singular step that is the key, stick to your guns and declare that that step as the one and only key step. If they're all THE key to articulating design decisions, then none of them are!
The majority of the book centers around establishing a friendly relationship with your clients. I read til about the 7th chapter, more than half the book, before there was actual concrete methods for articulating a particular design aspect to a client. I suppose though if the author had led with concrete technical advice, it would be easy to ignore the rest of the book.
I wasn't interested in reading a book about business ethics and establishing better personal relationships. I was brought up to believe that personal relationships have no business in business. Perhaps that's an antiquated philosophy that I need to let go of, and no longer the way business is conducted, particularly with younger generations. I'm pretty stubborn, so I'll likely read this again and again until I get it in my head the proper way to approach business relationships in the current marketplace.
At nearly every step or point of illustration, the author says something to the effect of "this is THE key step to articulating design decisions"; not every step can be THE step, they're all part of a process. If there is a singular step that is the key, stick to your guns and declare that that step as the one and only key step. If they're all THE key to articulating design decisions, then none of them are!
The majority of the book centers around establishing a friendly relationship with your clients. I read til about the 7th chapter, more than half the book, before there was actual concrete methods for articulating a particular design aspect to a client. I suppose though if the author had led with concrete technical advice, it would be easy to ignore the rest of the book.
I wasn't interested in reading a book about business ethics and establishing better personal relationships. I was brought up to believe that personal relationships have no business in business. Perhaps that's an antiquated philosophy that I need to let go of, and no longer the way business is conducted, particularly with younger generations. I'm pretty stubborn, so I'll likely read this again and again until I get it in my head the proper way to approach business relationships in the current marketplace.
