Articulating Design Decisions

With this practical video, UX designers will learn the principles and actionable methods for talking about their ideas with executives, marketers, and others who have influence over a web or app project—with the goal of winning over these stakeholders and creating the best user experience.

Every designer must justify their designs to non-designers, yet most lack the ability to explain themselves in a way that fosters agreement. This video will not only help UX designers articulate their ideas, but will also be valuable for non-designers who want to learn to work better with designers.

• Identify distractions and remove them so you can focus on the real issues regarding the usability and effectiveness of a design
• Make a case for your designs by directly connecting them to the needs of the business
• Use data, user testing, and other compelling research to justify your design decisions
• Ask your stakeholders to explain their needs and suggestions in ways that you can understand, and that everyone agrees on
• Be sure you uncover the real problem they’re trying to solve
• Filter out unnecessary information, and as soon as possible send a follow-up to the entire team

Tom Greever is a designer, consultant, and trainer for Bitovi.com, a web app design and development consulting shop in Chicago. Tom has been designing websites and interfaces since 1999 in a variety of environments, including internal corporate design teams and as a freelancer, with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100s. Tom also blogs and speaks about UX and design at industry conferences.