Shannon Leahy explores the importance and versatility of using common office tools for UX deliverables. She shares her experience as a self-taught designer, the benefits of democratizing design processes, and tips for effective team collaboration.  She also offers a candid perspective on the ever-evolving world of UX and design. She addresses the hesitancy some professionals feel about stepping away from brand names or expensive tools, and also speaks to emerging designers and educators about fostering a resourceful and adaptable mindset.

The Genesis of Necessity

• Shannon emphasizes that her journey began from a need to adapt due to budget constraints.
• Working at smaller companies initially, she couldn't afford "fancy design tools," so she relied on accessible office software.

Democratizing Design

• Using common office software makes design more approachable for non-design team members.
• These tools are familiar to people across various departments, reducing intimidation and making it easier for them to participate in the design process.

Innovative Use of Simple Tools

• Examples include using word docs and spreadsheets for user journey maps, ideation sessions, and even complex service blueprints.
• By harnessing the basic functionalities of these tools creatively, Shannon has been able to produce valuable UX artifacts.

Boring Design is Good Design

• The focus should be on creating artifacts that are well-organized and help move the project forward.
• Pretty designs are fine, but the path to getting there may involve "ugly but effective" steps.

Collaboration and Communication

• Shannon stresses that the tool is secondary; what matters is good communication and relationship-building within the team.
• Tips for effective collaboration:
  • Clear expectations and boundaries.
  • Setting the stage by explaining where you are in the process.
  • Making sure everyone has access and knows where to find shared documents.

Legal Inclusion

• Including departments like Legal early in the process can be enriching and prevent roadblocks down the line.
• Setting the context of the design phase helps in managing expectations and allows for more constructive collaboration.Balance and Context in Tool Selection
• Shannon advocates for a balanced approach when choosing design tools.
• Importance of context: Tools can be powerful but need to fit the task at hand.

Balancing Between Different Design Tools

• Shannon emphasizes the importance of balance in choosing design tools.
• Sometimes less glamorous tools like wireframes or word processing documents are just as effective as high-fidelity design tools.
• When a project got stuck at the high-fidelity design stage, Shannon broke the deadlock by stepping back to create basic wireframes that facilitated discussions.

Open-Mindedness & Experimentation

• Keeping an open mind is essential for growth and innovation.
• She advocates for using existing resources in new and unexpected ways.
• Different tools can complement each other; they are not necessarily in competition.

Advice for Early-Career Designers

• Shannon encourages those who are new to their careers to "make stuff up."
• There is room for all kinds of approaches and it’s not about one "right" way.
• She stresses the importance of sharing your unique methods and experiences; someone out there will find it valuable.

Adapting Design Frameworks & Processes

• Design is not static; it evolves based on context and needs.
• Shannon believes that one should declare their design process and then adapt it as they gain more experience.
• She emphasizes focusing on core behaviors like creative thinking, problem-solving, and research, rather than sticking to a particular method.

Encouragement for Design Educators and Leaders

• Educators should expose students to a variety of tools and tactics.
• The end goal of design is to achieve something, be it a conversation, an agreement, or a solution.
• Provide designers with the flexibility to mix and match their approaches.

The Importance of Sharing Ideas

• Even if you think you have a "weird" idea or approach, share it.
• You never know how your contributions could spark interest or become beneficial to someone else.
• Shannon shares an anecdote about how sharing her favorite design tools led to engaging conversations and new opportunities.

Takeaways:

• Don't overlook the power of accessible and common office tools for UX deliverables.
• Always prioritize clear communication and inclusivity in the design process.
• Be open to "boring design" if it effectively serves the purpose.Context matters in design, both for tool selection and approach.
• Flexibility and an open mind can be your greatest assets in UX design.
• There's value in sharing your unique approaches and methods with the community, as it fosters innovation and collaborative growth.
• Embrace the variety of design tools and methods available.
• If you're new or transitioning into the field, dive in, experiment, and make your mark.
• Don’t hesitate to share your unique perspective; someone out there will find it valuable.

Memorable Quotes:

• "It was all about what can I do to meet a need now in the moment."
• "It made them feel like they had a seat at a table that they did not usually understand."
• "We will eventually get to the beautiful, polished, high fidelity stuff, but on the path to that, oh yeah, I will bust out an ugly thing if it helps us make a decision."
• "It's less about the tool and it's about relationships, and it's about communication."
• "It's about balance because yeah, there's a time and place to use a prototyping tool."
• "How I ended up getting us unstuck was I made a really crappy wireframe of a couple key screens where we got stuck."
• "These things are not in competition with each other. Again, they're complementary to each other."
• "It's to achieve something. There's a conversation you need to have. There's agreement you need to reach with somebody."

Chicago Camps hosts irregularly scheduled Tent Talks with people from all across the User Experience Design community, and beyond. Who really likes limits, anyway--If it's a cool idea, we'd love to hear about it and share it!

What is a Tent Talk? That's a great question, we'd love to tell you.

Tent Talks are short-form in nature, generally lasting from 10-20 minutes (ish) in a recorded format--we like to think of them as "S'mores-sized content" because that's pretty on-brand. Tent Talks can be a presentation on a topic, a live Q&A session about the work we do, or the work around the work we do, or really just about anything--we don't want to limit ourselves, or you.

You should send along an idea or topic of your own so we can learn from you, as well! You don't have to be a published author or a professional speaker on a circuit to be good at your job, so please, put yourself forward, and let's have some fun, talk, and share your experience with others!