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Articulating design decisions is a crucial soft skill for a designer to be effective and successful. Something else that I’ve come to learn from interviews and usability tests is to repeat the statements people are saying right back to them in the form of “What I hear you saying…” and rephrasing it in a way that moves the conversation forward. As such we understand the challenges in getting everyone on the same page and the need for articulating design decisions well.
Often, they don't come from a design background, and using jargon and technical terms may confuse them.Articulating Design Decisions” has quickly become one of my favorite design books that I’ve read during my career. Be open towards taking on feedback and suggestions, but challenge others by asking them “What problem are you trying to solve by suggesting this? I hope this little blurb helps you in whatever conversation you are prepping for or encourages you to get a hold of the book itself.
A prerequisite for a good brainstorming session is that the team be clear about the challenges they need to solve and the objectives they must achieve. To ensure that your clients understand and appreciate your design decisions, it is essential to provide a clear and concise explanation of how they align with project goals, user needs, and business objectives. And, in many cases, how you communicate with other designers, stakeholders, clients, or executives is more critical than the designs themselves. One of my peers was talking about how the engineers working on her team were uninspired by her designs and frequently asked questions about them until she mocked up the long-term vision.Well-documented design decisions act as a record of information that the design team can leverage for similar projects in the future. When you clearly articulate the problems that you are seeking to solve, you build context around why certain design decisions were taken. Tom suggested we practice the art of pause — introducing a moment of silence in our speech to open up the floor for others to chime in or share their suggestions, then listen with intent. Clear communication fosters a collaborative approach and ensures that everyone is aligned toward a common design goal. This means that you may have an incredibly innovative and problem-solving design, but you may not get the support you want or need because you can’t speak about the design or the reasoning behind it in an effective way.
The meeting ends, not with collaboration, but with grumbling compromise and, often, a crippled user experience. Moreover, it gives reassurance to clients that their product is in good hands and they will get the best results for their investment. These kinds of responses create a safe space for collaboration and critique vital to cultivating a successful team and project.As a product owner I value business goals and want to know how this is solving the business problem, so I should ensure that I outline how this solution will achieve that.
How do you respond to a suggestion you don’t agree with, or a question you don’t know how to answer? To effectively articulate design decisions, it's important to be confident in your choices, but also open to feedback and willing to collaborate with others.It’s about creating trust, demonstrating effectiveness, and doing so in a way that’s compelling and convincing.
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