My 5 Takeaways From UXPA 2018
Speaking and spending time at the UXPA 2018 conference was an inspiring and energetic experience. I wanted to share what I found meaningful and insightful with the experience design community. These are compilations of several talks, that spanned topics of practice excellence, to ubiquitous computing, digital lifestyles and the impact of bias in our processes and designed outputs. It takes to heart the advice shared by Carol Smith: “If we don’t ask the tough questions, who will?”
Uno
Consider that Artificial Intelligence is designed by a group of specialised people. How is their world view shaping the AI of our future? Artificial intelligence is proving to be all too human: quick to judge, error prone, and with a weakness for bias. It’s made by humans, after all. Humans make decisions about the laws and standards, the tools, the ethics in this new world. There’s no such thing as ‘raw’ data. Raw data is both an oxymoron and a bad idea. Who benefits? Who gets hurt? Now that humans are data, and humans are designers of systems that are meant to help us, can we democratise AI with a different approach to the way it is authored, trained and managed? It starts by first being more aware of, and empathetic to, the impact systems have on people’s lives. But it also requires a transparancy how it has been designed and a regulation to keep it from going off the rails.
[From the talks “How to use big data to drive UX strategy”, “UX in the age of AI”, “Deus UX Machina”, “Goldilocks and AI”]
Dos
The most important skill we can instil in our work and our relationships with clients/brands is empathy, and the ability to understand the needs and motivations of others. Is it for only those that are in the driver’s seat to have that kind of influence? Nope. Giving life to your ideas and thought, using data to compare and convince, crafting conversations and meeting people where they are, will establish any practitioner as a trusted advisor, and expand their UX influence. Our discipline has a broad palette of tools, techniques and constructs on offer, to allow any practitioner to get closer to understanding the mind and perceptions of their user. And with the right amount of awareness and intuition, activating the different ways to go behind the face value of a product, and understand the emotions and variables in play, solutions and conversations become free of ego and agenda.[From the talks “Opening Keynote by Carine Lallemand”, “Are You a Super Hero or a Super Villain?”, “Harnessing Empathic Design For Insight-Driven Product Development”, “5 Strategies to Maximize Your UX Influence”]
Tres
We often focus only on WEIRD users: Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratised users. This immediately incorporates bias in your research findings and insights, and ultimately the design solutions. Everything we research, test, design and prototype has a human imprint on it = our own thoughts, fears, hopes and beliefs. What is our responsibility as practitioners to limit bias? How do we recognise this in ourselves and in others? When what people say, what people do, and what people say they do is all different, can our practice discern itself to make better distinctions? There is a lot of self reflection needed for this. Quite often, even the way we think or present our ideas and findings will have a bias. As per Jasper Liu’s example: consider introducing your usability results as “16 out of 20 users completed the task” versus “20% of users failed to complete the task”. Both statements are identical, however each may distinctly steer a conversation or influence a decision. [From the talks “How to Minimize Research Bias in Your Projects”, “The Art of Direct Observational Research At Scale By Making it a Team Sport!”, “Designing for Human Behavior and Cognitive Bias”]
Quatro
Memories do not represent an experience; rather it recreates the experience. This recreation is what matters, not the facts of the memory. The recreation of what was experienced will expose motivations for future behaviours and expectations. This is not a one way street; as a researcher, you recall the memory of the experience of having interviewed/talked with users, and from there you recreate the event. This has immediate influence on what is recalled, highlighted and brought forward in affinity mapping. Research without consequence and engagement is worthless. Both these factors need to be assimilated and fluid throughout. When it comes to user research, share often, share early. Don’t wait until you go into debrief mode, so that others can input or mirror the recreations. [From the talks “The Art of Direct Observational Research At Scale By Making it a Team Sport!”, “ Know Thyself, and To Thine Users Be True: Understanding and Managing Biases that Can Influence UX Work”, “Designing for Human Behavior and Cognitive Bias”]
Cinco
We are increasingly shopping, learning, and even meeting our friends in information environments instead of physical environments. We are “living in information”: virtual structures that serve us and control our behavior. With physical environments each rooted as an intentional design gesture, the principles of physical architecture are transferrable to digital architecture. Now that we live in information, do (should) we apply the design intent of the physical to our digital environments to equal measure? Digital products are conceptually replicant physical spaces, and require a structure that serves a purpose, a role within a broader system, and an experience that is sustainable to and for human beings.
[From the closing keynote by Jorge Arango, who talked about his new book ‘Living in Information’ — which I highly recommend]
Puerto Rico is an amazing place. The location made UXPA 2018 even more memorable. The organiser donated their swag bag budget to charity, which I applaud. I enjoyed how this conference has its own culture and rituals (UX After Dark, board games during breaks, …) and how much care is given to the well-being of participant and speakers alike. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. Met more like-minded souls, and made lasting memories. Congrats UXPA International!
