Visualization

Challenge:

Hi, I am UX designer for a digital based service company (I am in a non-manger role). Earlier my typical  work was to design the application for Client. The client with which our company has already signed  contract for certain (vague) solution. However now my job has a new parameter to pitch ideas to non- client profile (selling the solution/capability/ go to market activity for possible client). The challenge I  face is to find the brief from our internal stakeholders. As a big company there are huge organizational  problem. Everyone wants the amazing aha solution within no time. Literally I gets 2days or maximum 3  days. The other thing which my company loves is doing conference calls every day. Hence, meeting over  phone is the only collaborative thing we do (can’t blame also as we all sit in different location of earth). I  had a big problem to really open up the people from domain, business and add value to the discussion  for a good solution. Also on personal front the problem was to document every small research I do and  present them in short span.

Selection:

Visualization is a great tool. Since my childhood I had a habit of taking notes in combination of  pictograms and words, a habit that has evolved considerably with time. Earlier I was shy to show the  scribble as part of discussion to my mangers. Everyone was used to PowerPoint presentation. My  internal stake holders were used to asking me “what you have done?” One day I got frustrated (wanted  to ask them back what you have done) and I showed them my scribble and said “this is my  understanding & I am working over it”. I found that everybody took interest and started giving other  important points. Slowly I practice this with other stakeholders and found it easy, engaging and quick to  discuss over and also to recall the whole discussion next time. It was easy to discuss over scenarios and  environment and pain points.  We have started practicing these methods in our client presentations as  well.

Application:

I start with taking notes and then google the main keywords (under image search). I spend time with  images surfing. The image searching itself starts building environment for me. I think my eye and brain  does a good job in secretly collecting all the actions in images, icon, new keywords, and related item  back in my mind. Then I re-read the notes from my stakeholders to understand there problem  statement. And then I simply scribble everything which comes to my mind, it can be a pain point, a  notification solution, a new connection. Not to mention the star-man I learnt in one of courser- Human- Centered Design: an Introduction. The Prof Scott Klemmer taught few quick scribbling techniques. I try  to group them to form a meaning and then present to my stakeholders. I use many tools to make these  drawing. Mostly Pen and paper or whiteboard. Secondly taking pictures from google (mood board). Or  making illustration on adobe Illustrator/Photoshop.

Soon with 1-2 discussion the scribbling turns into elaborately mapped story, a day in a life of users,  which further got developed to Journey Maps, scenario map in my organization. If I cannot connect  them, I simply leave them in chunks with bubble at background.

Insights:

Since drawing brings everyone on same page. They were able to add few key words which started giving  more flavor from different aspects like domain, business, and various solution types. This was helpful to  get connect with different personas of client (CEO, marketing, branding, etc). In doing so, we were able  to collaborate more with our clients, our colleagues, stake holders and the different verticals within the  company itself.

Graphic/pictures helps to bring focus to the team everyone start visualizing the environment and helps  to build the bridge or missing link in the story.

Client love to see a single page document over 30-50 slides of power-point presentation.

Apart from others, I found myself bringing more insights in due course of time analyzing how mangers,  sales, business, domain pitch to client. They all have different way of narrating story to same client.

Approach:

Since now I make a lots of scenarios, journey maps and concept screen. I see there are many layers in  same story while visualizing. Current state, future state. Sometime in store scenario and digital scenario.   I have started looking into other tools like PowerPoint and Prezi for interactive visualization. In a big  story each internal stakeholder wants to concentrate on selected part of story for specific client. Making  a popover or zoomed in/out within a story with more details helps to get into this. I am looking forward  to bring all information to one page. Currently reading: Knowledge is beautiful by David McCandless for  inspiration.


Visualization Challenge : Hi , I am UX designer for a digital based service company ( I am in a non - manger role ) . Earlier my typical work was to design the application for Client . The client with which our company has already signed contract for certain ( vague ) solution . However now my job has a new parameter to pitch ideas to non- client profile ( selling the solution / capability/ go to market activity for possible client ) . The challenge I face is to find the brief from our internal stakeholders . As a big company there are huge organizational problem . Everyone wants the amazing aha solution within no time . Literally I gets 2days or maximum 3 days . The other thing which my company loves is doing conference calls every day . Hence , meeting over phone is the only collaborative thing we do ( ca n’t blame also as we all sit in different location of earth ) . I had a big problem to really open up the people from domain , business and add value to the discussion for a good solution . Also on personal front the problem was to document every small research I do and present them in short span . Selection : Visualization is a great tool . Since my childhood I had a habit of taking notes in combination of pictograms and words , a habit that has evolved considerably with time . Earlier I was shy to show the scribble as part of discussion to my mangers . Everyone was used to PowerPoint presentation . My internal stake holders were used to asking me “ what you have done ? ” One day I got frustrated ( wanted to ask them back what you have done ) and I showed them my scribble and said “ this is my understanding & I am working over it ” . I found that everybody took interest and started giving other important points . Slowly I practice this with other stakeholders and found it easy , engaging and quick to discuss over and also to recall the whole discussion next time . It was easy to discuss over scenarios and environment and pain points . We have started practicing these methods in our client presentations as well . Application : I start with taking notes and then google the main keywords ( under image search ) . I spend time with images surfing . The image searching itself starts building environment for me . I think my eye and brain does a good job in secretly collecting all the actions in images , icon , new keywords , and related item back in my mind . Then I re - read the notes from my stakeholders to understand there problem statement . And then I simply scribble everything which comes to my mind , it can be a pain point , a notification solution , a new connection . Not to mention the star - man I learnt in one of courser- Human- Centered Design : an Introduction . The Prof Scott Klemmer taught few quick scribbling techniques . I try to group them to form a meaning and then present to my stakeholders . I use many tools to make these drawing . Mostly Pen and paper or whiteboard . Secondly taking pictures from google ( mood board ) . Or making illustration on adobe Illustrator / Photoshop . Soon with 1 - 2 discussion the scribbling turns into elaborately mapped story , a day in a life of users , which further got developed to Journey Maps , scenario map in my organization . If I can not connect them , I simply leave them in chunks with bubble at background . Insights : Since drawing brings everyone on same page . They were able to add few key words which started giving more flavor from different aspects like domain , business , and various solution types . This was helpful to get connect with different personas of client ( CEO , marketing , branding , etc ) . In doing so , we were able to collaborate more with our clients , our colleagues , stake holders and the different verticals within the company itself . Graphic / pictures helps to bring focus to the team everyone start visualizing the environment and helps to build the bridge or missing link in the story . Client love to see a single page document over 30 - 50 slides of power - point presentation . Apart from others , I found myself bringing more insights in due course of time analyzing how mangers , sales , business , domain pitch to client . They all have different way of narrating story to same client . Approach : Since now I make a lots of scenarios , journey maps and concept screen . I see there are many layers in same story while visualizing . Current state , future state . Sometime in store scenario and digital scenario . I have started looking into other tools like PowerPoint and Prezi for interactive visualization . In a big story each internal stakeholder wants to concentrate on selected part of story for specific client . Making a popover or zoomed in / out within a story with more details helps to get into this . I am looking forward to bring all information to one page . Currently reading : Knowledge is beautiful by David McCandless for inspiration .