Pong Ng – Reflection – Visualization

Challenge    I am a Product Manager in the digital space. My current project is to implement a complete  redesign of a government agency’s website. The goal is to drive up interest and therefore  increase the number of quality candidates applying to work at this agency. My team tackles  design challenges using a human-centered approach. We started our project off with a  Discovery period where we employed ethnographic research and affinity mapping to draw out  users’ deepest pain points and effectively synthesize those findings.     The challenge was figuring out a way to quickly translate those insights into designs, to validate  those designs with users, to update those designs, and to revalidate before pushing to  Engineers. We wanted to get the designs right as to avoid the additional cost of excessive  rework down the road.    Selection    I felt the best way to handle this challenge was with rapid prototyping using the Visualization  tool. Visualization is the act of translating thoughts into a visual format so it can be easily  shared and discussed among teammates and users. As opposed to written notes or just verbal  explanations, Visualization enables people provide an easier and more effective way of  communicating information. It provides context and helps jog peoples’ creative juices.    I selected Visualization based off Angela Myer’s discussion in Week 1. I learned that helping  folks visualize something may improve the chances of achieving a sense of agreement and  consensus. Visualization would help draw out conversation and solicit feedback in a way that a  verbal overview would not. In the end, it was the best tool to help align our designs to users’  mental models.    Application    I suggested that we begin the design phase by using low-fidelity prototypes. I wanted designers  to start sketching out solutions in a quick, iterative manner. Although the prototypes were not  in color or finely tuned, it allowed designers to flex the right side of their brains in a creative  way. As a Product Manager, I was also involved with sketching out various solutions.    These wireframes were no more than basic layouts with squares and circles. These were built  out for various pages throughout the website and allowed designers to rapidly create and test  different designs with users. Users would provide feedback on page structure and hierarchy,  not focusing too much on visual design. I would log that feedback and the designers would get  to work integrating the user’s feedback into their designs. We would repeat this process until  designs matched the user’s expectations. These simple sketches captured so much user  feedback and in context, too!

Once wireframes were finalized, we moved onto high-fidelity compositions. Here designers  applied color theory, visual hierarchy, and iconography to the designs that were validated by  users. These visual compositions were also clickable. This allowed users to be fully immersed in  the designs and yielded valuable feedback.     Once we gained consensus from users on the high-fidelity compositions, we were ready to hanf  off to our Engineers to bring these designs to life. Overall, I’d say the tool was incredibly  effective in helping solicit feedback, explaining abstract concepts, and gaining consensus on  various designs.    Insight    By applying the principles of Visualization to my team’s work, we were able to acquire key  feedback from our users. It also helped facilitate internal conversations between designers and  engineers.    It resolved the primary challenge I faced – that I needed to translate research insights into  design. But it did so much more than that. It fast-tracked the design validation process as  described above.    Throughout the process, I learned that it was so much easier to test something when there was  a visual aspect to it. I learned that users were happy to test using low-fidelity prototypes – they  even found it fun and didn’t require high-fidelity designs. It didn’t take colors and pixel-perfect  designs to solicit important feedback.    More broadly, utilizing the Visualization tool helped validate Design Thinking as a process to  use on future projects. I saw a lot of success using visualization and am excited to try the other  design tools taught throughout the course.     Approach    Although we experienced a successful implementation of Visualization. Next time I would want  to have other team members involved with wireframing – not just Product Managers and  Designers. I think it’s especially important for Engineers to get in on the fun. It helps build  empathy between Designers and Engineers and also helps them communicate their unique  perspectives for design.


Pong Ng – Reflection – Visualization Challenge I am a Product Manager in the digital space . My current project is to implement a complete redesign of a government agency ’s website . The goal is to drive up interest and therefore increase the number of quality candidates applying to work at this agency . My team tackles design challenges using a human - centered approach . We started our project off with a Discovery period where we employed ethnographic research and affinity mapping to draw out users ’ deepest pain points and effectively synthesize those findings . The challenge was figuring out a way to quickly translate those insights into designs , to validate those designs with users , to update those designs , and to revalidate before pushing to Engineers . We wanted to get the designs right as to avoid the additional cost of excessive rework down the road . Selection I felt the best way to handle this challenge was with rapid prototyping using the Visualization tool . Visualization is the act of translating thoughts into a visual format so it can be easily shared and discussed among teammates and users . As opposed to written notes or just verbal explanations , Visualization enables people provide an easier and more effective way of communicating information . It provides context and helps jog peoples ’ creative juices . I selected Visualization based off Angela Myer ’s discussion in Week 1 . I learned that helping folks visualize something may improve the chances of achieving a sense of agreement and consensus . Visualization would help draw out conversation and solicit feedback in a way that a verbal overview would not . In the end , it was the best tool to help align our designs to users ’ mental models . Application I suggested that we begin the design phase by using low - fidelity prototypes . I wanted designers to start sketching out solutions in a quick , iterative manner . Although the prototypes were not in color or finely tuned , it allowed designers to flex the right side of their brains in a creative way . As a Product Manager , I was also involved with sketching out various solutions . These wireframes were no more than basic layouts with squares and circles . These were built out for various pages throughout the website and allowed designers to rapidly create and test different designs with users . Users would provide feedback on page structure and hierarchy , not focusing too much on visual design . I would log that feedback and the designers would get to work integrating the user ’s feedback into their designs . We would repeat this process until designs matched the user ’s expectations . These simple sketches captured so much user feedback and in context , too ! Once wireframes were finalized , we moved onto high - fidelity compositions . Here designers applied color theory , visual hierarchy , and iconography to the designs that were validated by users . These visual compositions were also clickable . This allowed users to be fully immersed in the designs and yielded valuable feedback . Once we gained consensus from users on the high - fidelity compositions , we were ready to hanf off to our Engineers to bring these designs to life . Overall , I ’d say the tool was incredibly effective in helping solicit feedback , explaining abstract concepts , and gaining consensus on various designs . Insight By applying the principles of Visualization to my team ’s work , we were able to acquire key feedback from our users . It also helped facilitate internal conversations between designers and engineers . It resolved the primary challenge I faced – that I needed to translate research insights into design . But it did so much more than that . It fast - tracked the design validation process as described above . Throughout the process , I learned that it was so much easier to test something when there was a visual aspect to it . I learned that users were happy to test using low - fidelity prototypes – they even found it fun and did n’t require high - fidelity designs . It did n’t take colors and pixel - perfect designs to solicit important feedback . More broadly , utilizing the Visualization tool helped validate Design Thinking as a process to use on future projects . I saw a lot of success using visualization and am excited to try the other design tools taught throughout the course . Approach Although we experienced a successful implementation of Visualization . Next time I would want to have other team members involved with wireframing – not just Product Managers and Designers . I think it ’s especially important for Engineers to get in on the fun . It helps build empathy between Designers and Engineers and also helps them communicate their unique perspectives for design .