Example reflection - Visualization

Challenge & Selection

I work as a User Experience designer in a telecommunication company. My job is to make sure that  the applications we develop are user centered, meaning that they help the user achieve their tasks  effectively. I need to research and understand how our users do their daily jobs, what their workflow  is, what their pains are, and then I need to create visual designs on how our application would look.  So in summary I am a human centered person with visual skills and need of communication through  visual media.

On the other hand, my coworkers come from technical background, mostly with network and IT  engineering domains. They think and communicate differently. If I wanted to super simplify the  situation, I would say that they are left-brained (analytical), and I am right-brained (creative).

During the meetings I always feel the need to stand up and start drawing on the whiteboard. My  challenge is to move them out of their comfort zone, stand up, take a pen and use visual tools for the  discussions. I believe that using visual methods can enhance the discussion and can lead to a  common understanding faster. This is why I chose this visualization tool.

Application

I found different ways on how to approach people and how to encourage them to start drawing.  Some people are just scared or lazy or haven’t even thought of starting to draw or sketch, for them I  think if somebody starts then they will eventually join. Some people think they are not good at  drawing, for them you need to show that you are not good at drawing either. It is not about how  realistic your stick figure is and they need to understand that. So what I usually do is that I start  drawing and if somebody has something to fix or add, I hand over the pen and they can do their part  on the drawing. I also encourage them verbally and make positive reflection comments (e.g. “Aaaah,  now I understand, I pictured it in a different way) that proves them that it is indeed a very powerful  tool.

Insight

My general impression is that once people start using visuals to supplement their verbal or written  information, they get the hang of it. After a while they do not care if the drawings are childish or too  simply, or look ugly, or not colorful. My feeling is that it is only difficult to start.

The bad news is that this does not stick. Even though we started using the whiteboard during  discussions in one meeting, on the next meeting it feels like it never happened, nobody remembered  and behaved like before: sitting. So maybe you cannot change a person for good. Or maybe it takes  years. Not sure, we will need to see.

But I can say from the feedback I got from some of the coworkers is that they also found it very  useful to include more visual elements in the discussions because it did make things more  understandable, it brings up more ideas and more questions that need to be addressed. I believe this  is essential in a design thinking process.

Approach

I am a bit scared, but I should try the mind mapping method with the coworkers. I am very interested  in their reaction to this, if this is something they are shy at first but then get the hang of it, or it is  simply too much for a community of engineers. I hope that it lightens up their brains a little.


Example reflection - Visualization Challenge & Selection I work as a User Experience designer in a telecommunication company . My job is to make sure that the applications we develop are user centered , meaning that they help the user achieve their tasks effectively . I need to research and understand how our users do their daily jobs , what their workflow is , what their pains are , and then I need to create visual designs on how our application would look . So in summary I am a human centered person with visual skills and need of communication through visual media . On the other hand , my coworkers come from technical background , mostly with network and IT engineering domains . They think and communicate differently . If I wanted to super simplify the situation , I would say that they are left - brained ( analytical ) , and I am right - brained ( creative ) . During the meetings I always feel the need to stand up and start drawing on the whiteboard . My challenge is to move them out of their comfort zone , stand up , take a pen and use visual tools for the discussions . I believe that using visual methods can enhance the discussion and can lead to a common understanding faster . This is why I chose this visualization tool . Application I found different ways on how to approach people and how to encourage them to start drawing . Some people are just scared or lazy or have n’t even thought of starting to draw or sketch , for them I think if somebody starts then they will eventually join . Some people think they are not good at drawing , for them you need to show that you are not good at drawing either . It is not about how realistic your stick figure is and they need to understand that . So what I usually do is that I start drawing and if somebody has something to fix or add , I hand over the pen and they can do their part on the drawing . I also encourage them verbally and make positive reflection comments ( e.g. “ Aaaah , now I understand , I pictured it in a different way ) that proves them that it is indeed a very powerful tool . Insight My general impression is that once people start using visuals to supplement their verbal or written information , they get the hang of it . After a while they do not care if the drawings are childish or too simply , or look ugly , or not colorful . My feeling is that it is only difficult to start . The bad news is that this does not stick . Even though we started using the whiteboard during discussions in one meeting , on the next meeting it feels like it never happened , nobody remembered and behaved like before : sitting . So maybe you can not change a person for good . Or maybe it takes years . Not sure , we will need to see . But I can say from the feedback I got from some of the coworkers is that they also found it very useful to include more visual elements in the discussions because it did make things more understandable , it brings up more ideas and more questions that need to be addressed . I believe this is essential in a design thinking process . Approach I am a bit scared , but I should try the mind mapping method with the coworkers . I am very interested in their reaction to this , if this is something they are shy at first but then get the hang of it , or it is simply too much for a community of engineers . I hope that it lightens up their brains a little .