Beyond the Waterfall Rethinking how we work.

@mayabruck // www.pixotech.com

Collaborative

Workflows

I

SERIOUSLY?

The

Epic Waterfall Adventure

Research

Research

Research

UX

Research

UX

Design

Research

UX

Design

Development

Research

UX

Design

Development

QA

#WATERFALLFAIL

#WATERFALLFAIL

ABOUT TO #WATERFALLFAIL

If it was with my dying breath,

I would caution anyone

against attempting the feat...

I would sooner walk up to the

mouth of a cannon, knowing it was

going to blow me to pieces than

make another trip over the Fall.

#NEVERAGAIN

The Post-Waterfall Workflow

Our methodology needs to respond to the

needs of each project

Programming…boils down to reducing

the number of “unknowns” on a project to

a manageable number. One is fine, two is

a stretch, and three is asking for trouble.

Mark Llobrera

Sketch Studio

Start with Research

Feature Report

A good sketch studio

needs clear objectives

Include the full team

UX

Design Dev

Keep it focused

Identify Priorities

Feature Brief

A Feature Brief

establishes the sketch

studio’s priorities

Sketch. Erase. Sketch.

Capture Decisions

Adapt It

Large Groups

Remote Team/Client

IPEVO Document Camera

Sketch Studio

• Build a shared understanding

• Iterate & test ideas in real-time

• Create a sense of ownership

Group Critiques

We need to get comfortable

exposing unfinished work

to the rest of the team.

When you get over the embarrassment,

you get more creative…It’s not obvious

to people, but starting down that path

helped everything we did.

Ed Catmull, Pixar

Design Digs

Ask the Right Questions

Questions I ask when

reviewing a design

by Jason Fried

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the simpler version of this?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the simpler version of this?

Why that order?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the simpler version of this?

Why that order?

Would it matter if someone missed that?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the simpler version of this?

Why that order?

Would it matter if someone missed that?

Is this better as a sentence or a picture?

What’s the takeaway after 8 seconds?

Why is that worth a click?

What’s the simpler version of this?

Why that order?

Would it matter if someone missed that?

Is this better as a sentence or a picture?

What problem is that solving?

Group Critiques

• Get feedback from a broad audience

• Push ourselves to innovate

AND NOW….

Another Client Story

Cohesive Teams

Avoid Hot-Potatoing Projects

Always Keep the

Team Together

Cohesive Teams

• More efficient

• Greater sense of ownership

• Build camaraderie and trust

Work in Parallel

Research

UX

Design

Development

QA

Research

Research

UX

Research

UX

Development

Research

UX

Design

Development

Research

UX

Design

Development

QA

Work in Parallel

• Saves time

• Gives room to respond to project needs

• Makes for super-happy clients

Communicate. A Lot.

Talking designed by Ian Kirkland from the Noun Project

Do you have what you

need to keep working?

Projects with more team

meetings are ones that tend

NOT to go over-budget

Communicate. A Lot.

• Keep projects moving forward

• Increase team accountability

• Help create trusting, cohesive teams

Agile Task Boards

To Do In Progress Blocked Done

Task

Task

Task

Task Task

Task

Task

Task

Ticket for task

Backlog of tasks

Tasks added to board

Agile Task Boards

• Provide transparency

• Address bottlenecks immediately

• Capture and organize project’s tasks/issues

• Prioritize and take action on what’s important

Task Boards

I

Beyond the Waterfall

Thumbs Up designed by Chris Brunskill from the Noun Project

Whatever tool or method you use, let

it be one that empowers your team

and allows them to be true partners

Thank you!@mayabruck // www.pixotech.com