In this first episode of The Web Project Guide, Corey and Deane discuss the opening beats of a project: what motivates a new project (the “initial spark”), the risks of onboarding stakeholders too late in the initial phases, and where the term “yak shaving” comes from. Then, we chat with Bill DeRouchey, former lead product designer for Zendesk, to discuss his history with vetting and researching a new project during the opening salvo, territorialism, and Mike Watt.

The Web Project Guide (webproject.guide) is sponsored by Blend Interactive, a web strategy, design, and development firm dedicated to making great things for the web.

Read Chapter 1: Know the Scope of the Project.

Show Notes and Further Discussion:

• Bill on Twitter: @billder
• "Yak Shaving Day" - Ren and Stimpy
• "The Glory of Man" - The Minutemen
• Ball-Hog or Tugboat - Mike What (Wikipedia)
• "The Power of Why" - presentation from UX Week 2012
• "The History of the Button" - presentation from User Experience London