igniting user-centered design thinking at doe: challenges and lessons learned
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How to create a new culture of User Centered Design from User Focus 2014 in Washington DCTRANSCRIPT
Wendy Littman UX Consultant, TecEd User Focus 2014
Igniting User-Centered Design Thinking at DOE:Challenges and Lessons Learned
The wild, wild west…
Usability at EERE is born
Interested in institutionalizing UCD?
Helped your organization embrace UCD?
Helped an organization as a UX consultant?
Show of hands
Tip 1: Know your organization
To decide if an organization is a good fit for institutionalizing UCD, ask yourself:
How stable is the organization? Is it motivated to fix problems? How open is it to embracing change? How is Web funding allocated?
Tip 2: Find a champion.
Shows value of UCD in a persuasive way.
Understands how UCD fits current development process.
Can identify and address pockets of resistance.
Can direct resources.
Can keep the initiative moving long term.
Tip 3: Find the right wake-up call
Examples of useful wake-up calls:
Capitalizing on a product launch that bombs.
Sharing case studies from other groups going through UCD.
Having an expert review conducted.
Showing user click patterns.
Conducting a pilot usability study.
Tip 4: Partner with a UX consultant
UX consultants can help: Decide on a strategy. Invoke “outside authority.” Train staff on UX processes. Provide examples,
templates, and standards. Assist with overflow UX
work.
Look for consultants who: Are leaders in their field. Are a good cultural fit. Enjoy mentoring. Are easy to work with. Are experienced helping
organizations with UCD.
Tip 4: Partner with a UX consultant
No budget? Look for: Training/mentoring through groups
like UXPA. Free testing programs like First
Fridays. UX materials available online, such as
through usability.gov.
Tip 5: Grow top-down AND bottom-up
“Usability should not reside within a single group or team. In order to succeed, usability must permeate the entire organization and become part of the system.”
- Eric Schaffer, Institutionalization of Usability
Tip 6: Awareness first – then rules
Credit: Alan@flickr
Tip 7: Put an infrastructure in place
Consider providing:
Knowledge and skills training
Rules, standards, and processes
Templates and examples Analysis and design tools Testing facilities
http://www.eere.energy.gov/communicationstandards/analysis_usability.html
Additional resources
