Hosting design reviews.

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A step-by-step guide to an effective review

Max Keetley – UX designer at Madgex

Why host a design review?

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Learn from additional expertise

Get feedback quickly

Make decisions as a group

Unexpected opportunities

Fresh eyes on designs

What can go wrong?

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Loss of confidence

Mismatched expectations

Wasted time

Poor design decisions

Missed opportunities

Unanswered questions

Today’s objective:

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To give you a step-by-step guide to running effective and valuable design reviews, every time.

Design reviews.

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Prepare

Conduct

Reflect

Prepare.

Prepare.

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Map your problem.

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Prepare

Document the design problem clearly and concisely.

Make sure you understand: �

• The purpose and context of the design

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• The target users and their needs

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• The key design directions

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• Questions you need answering

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Know your audience.

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Prepare

Select your participants and understand their needs.

Consider: �

• Who can answer the questions you have?

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• Whose approval is needed to progress to the next stage?

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• What is their current understanding of the design?

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Craft your invitations.

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Prepare

Explain when and why

*Hint: Use the notes you prepared earlier*

Be sure to explain : �

• The purpose of the meeting

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• The objective of the meeting

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• Any useful context

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Conduct.

Conduct.

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Set the stage.

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Conduct

Kick-off the meeting

*Hint: Use your invitation notes*

Make sure to : �

• Welcome everyone to the meeting

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• Explain the purpose

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• Tell them what to expect

Bring everyone up to speed.

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Conduct

Introduce the problem

*Hint: Use the notes you prepared earlier*

Explain : �

• The purpose of the design

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• The target users and their needs

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• The design directions

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• Questions you need answering

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Tell a story.

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Conduct

Guide the group through you design

Explain : �

• What led you to this design

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• How you think it meets the user needs

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• Highlight areas of strength

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• Highlight areas of weakness

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Ask for feedback.

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Conduct

Ask for feedback

*Hint: Use your “Questions we need to answer” to provide structure

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Question prompts�

• What do you think works or does not work about the design?

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• With your understanding, how do you think this design could be improved?

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• How does this design fit within our wider product/strategy?

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Address feedback.

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Conduct

Actively engage with the feedback being delivered to you

Steps : �

• Be an active listener

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• Reiterate your understanding

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• Discuss the next steps (if any)

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• Show your appreciation

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Wrap it up, concisely.

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Conduct

Wrap up the review by summarising the discussion

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• Cover what happened in the review

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• What have you learnt from the review?

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• What are the next steps?

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• Don’t forget to thank everyone for their time!

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Reflect.

Reflect.

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Follow up in writing.

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Reflect

Write up the results of the meeting and share them with the attendees

Include: �

• Actions and next steps

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• Final thanks for their time

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Hi all,

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As a result of today’s design review for [project name], we have agreed upon the following actions...

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[owner]

- [Action….]

- [Action….]

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[owner]

- [Action….]

- [Action….]

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Thanks again for your time and your great feedback.

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Kind regards/ Peace out

Max

Assess your results.

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Reflect

Reflect on how the design review went.

Consider: �

• Were all of your questions answered?

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• What could have gone better?

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• What went well?

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• Ask others for feedback

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To summarise…

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Prepare: Map your problem, know your audience, craft your invitations

Conduct: Set the stage, bring everyone up to speed, tell a story, address feedback, wrap it up

Reflect: Follow up in writing, assess your performance

Thanks and good luck!

maxjkeetley@gmail.com

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keetleydesign.com

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Max Keetley – UX designer at Madgex