If you like Netflix, Audible, motorcycles, movies, or online shopping, we've got examples from all of the above and more. Join us for a thorough analysis of key usability principles and how many of the products you use incorporate them (or don't).

Links from the episode:

• 10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design
• Google slides from our show
• Slidesgo Templates

In this episode we have a great conversation about product strategy, where design fits in strategy, and how to involve your product team, including UX designers in the strategy and vision.

• Where does strategy fit?
• What are the major headaches for product managers?
• What difficulties are there in getting support for product strategy?
• How can we create the product vision, strategy and measure it to ensure success?

We also tackle other important questions:

• Star Trek, Star Wars, or Battlestar Galactica?
• What is a Timberking 2000 and why Kyle needs one

Why don't teams have designers?

What can you do if you don't have a designer?

• Get inspirations from wherever you can
• Find tools and libraries to leverage
• Utilize UI kits

What if you have a little budget for contract work?

• There are some good options such as Upwork
• Understand and be upfront about your budget, timeline and scale

Links from our discussion:

• Collect UI
• Dribble
• Adele UXPin
• Jakob Neilsen 10 Heuristics of UI Design
• Canva Presentation Templates

We cover an array of topics, including

• Jordan's background before design
• How he got into design
• How he moved into product design from graphic design
• How is background contributed to the move
• What he wished he knew before

What is inclusivity?

How does it align with accessibility?

Why is inclusivity important in product design and development?

How can we begin to identify and overcome some of our own blind spots?

References:

• Why does Siri sound white?
• Census Data

Very few of us take a straight-line path into product management, and Chris is no exception. He talks about how his background helped prepare him for a career in product management, and what he learned along the way to help him be successful.

A few things Chris wishes he knew coming into product management:

1. Product managers often make decisions without all the information. How can we better prepare for this?
2. Not everyone understands the value of product management. How can we do better?
3. Product management is incredibly fun. As much hard work as it is, there are few careers as rewarding.

Listen for a ton of other great information on moving into product management, the origin of Doritos, hamburgers, and using tacos to gauge your purchasing habits. 

What is product discovery?

• It is the process of building great products
• It is about building the right product and ensuring we build the product right

Why is product discovery important?

• We need to address risks in product development

How do we do product discovery?

How does remote work impact product discovery?

• We need to think about communication

What are some examples?

What is design thinking?

• Empathizing
• Defining
• Ideating
• Prototyping
• Testing
• Implementing

Why is design thinking important?

"Design thinking gets us out of our normal way of doing business and opens the door to numerous possibilities"

How can we implement design thinking?

What are the most important aspects?

Links and mentions:

Design thinking framework (Nielson Norman Group)
Sprint (book)
Lightning Decision Jam

What is user research?

• A tool to understand needs
• A way to find out what you don't know

What are types of research?

• Interviews
• Focus groups
• Field studies
• Usability tests
• Surveys
• Questionnaires
• many more...

Why do research?

• To inform the design, the direction and gather insight
• "Be ready to be surprised"

Tips

1. Have a plan
2. Do it often
3. Doesn't have to be perfect
4. Adopt the mindset of a scientist
5. Have fun and get the reps
6. Volunteer to be on the other side to understand what it's like

Referenced in the show:
User Research Basics

Stop doing user research. Start having conversations.

How are we dealing with working from home currently?

How has working remotely changed workflows for product managers?

What are some tools and practices product teams are using to bridge the gaps?

What are businesses doing to adapt now and in the future?

Is this the new normal?