originally do title Party is this feeling, hahaha.
The topic of this issue is design and communication, this topic is too big, about 6 people sit together for three days and three nights also have to say not finish. To this end, we intend to restrict the topic to become "PM (product manager) and designer communication."
Considering the way in which people communicate with each other varies greatly (and precisely because of this difference, we call communication a kind of art, we first study the subject of communication, PM and designers, and all of us here are designers, study with each other is not too good, we focus on the PM bar, they are not, anyway, Speak ill of them and they don't know.
PM means Product Manager, in general, post responsibility is responsible for the whole product, in accordance with the principle of power, often their right to the largest product, determines the product development and future, we encountered a variety of problems, big to the President of the United States who should be when, small to a button color is red or green, is related to him. And we have to admit that some PM is a jerk, the left brain is flour, the right brain is water, as long as the problem will be stirred together into a paste, there is no communication, this does exist, the world is because of their existence and become rich and colorful.
OK, vent, everybody happy, say business.
In a design project, PM is the demand side, the designer is to meet the demand, but the middle of the boundary is not so clear, in the past when we like to say "PM and designers are you have me, I have you", so and PM communication is often the most difficult to do the designer and the most need to spend time to do things. I have heard the designer complain more than once two times, typical such as "Our products are all tube, button Red Green also want him to decide, very strong, his project I can't do." "PM just want to make money, just want to publish quickly, do not care about the user experience, often the designer has worked hard to complete a proud, PM a cold face, not here, there is no good, than the Wang Yu son-in-law is difficult to do, in the face of such a tense international situation, some people chose to silence, forget, PM say how it is. Such a designer, must not be a good designer, I believe that none of the present. We all believe that our design is good, just need some additional communication and persuasion work, so that we can design the real recognition and respect.
So what panacea do we have? The trick is as follows:
- Open Mind : Others to your design made a different opinion, serious listening, chance Wuzegamin. Do not have the idea of justifying, the children of their own pain, the mentality is not open, cooperation will not be happy.
- eliminates information asymmetry : Regular product managers tend to tell designers what they want without telling you why, inadvertently omitting a lot of information that is not communicated to the designer. As an excellent designer, you must dig up the information as much as possible, and each time you receive a request, ask a question, "Why" and do it as well as the information that the PM knows, the great Ford was designed to come out of the car.
Voice: Q: "Some information is the PM deliberately don't tell me, say to Secrecy" answer: "What?" Confidential? So you're still working on a project with him? Change it.
- Get involved in the project as early as possible: intervene as early as possible at the beginning of the project, even if the product is just a simple abstract concept, but this stage is often the most critical, most susceptible, often small suggestions will affect the decision maker's final judgment, At the same time, many directional decisions will be completed in the formation of the concept, the designer involved in the assurance of the first project in the strategic decision to take into account the user experience.
- To retreat : On a strategic basis, you have reached a consensus with PM and management, on more detailed issues, if you encounter different views, we can take a step back, to have reached a consensus on the level to see the problem to be resolved, who is better to serve the purpose of the idea? If PM and you agree that the product is mainly for business users, then it is not very reliable to deduce the main hue of the interface to green grass.
- from the user : If the user Experience Designer is an Aetna Russia, then the user is the Earth, the designer's greatest strength from the user. Some of the evidence from the direct user can often support your point of view, so, do some user study, more understanding of users, in some cases, users use products when the pain of the expression and a series of mistakes in the video, more than you can come to more convincing.
- The right to propose and decision-making is separate : The designer can advise on PM's marketing strategy, PM can also "finger-pointing" to the designer's button color, this is called the suggestion right. Finally a table, roared a "I call the shots", this is called decision-making power. As a member of the project, anyone has the right to advise on the development of the project. But after you have finished your comments, don't forget to add "This is my opinion, and of course, how do you decide?" The right to suggest and decision-making power to separate, do not overly involved in other people's professional field, since it is a team, the team members of the professional ability of respect and trust is the most basic prerequisite.
- Copycat : Look at how competitive products are done, they must have experienced a phase that is almost as painful as ours. There must be a reason for them to decide that they are not all silly X, think about why, this often can be used as a basis for decision-making, or to help us convince others.
- the power of the system : If you're in a big company, so before you, there must have been a lot of revolutionary pioneers on the same issue over and over the wall, if you are lucky, the company may be on some unknown server and the designer tears of blood condensed from the design of things called the code. This is not necessarily the best outcome scenario, but it is often the most practical solution in your environment. Yes, stand on the shoulders of giants and use your design codes to convince others.
- A/ B test: What? There are so many ways in the front that don't work? Well, the killer is here, A/b test, in simple terms, is to take out 5% of the users as a group, when they visit, show them a scheme A, the rest of the users are all plan B, the final data to speak, which performance better use which. This is often able to quickly and effectively eliminate the controversy to achieve a harmonious state. Please note, however, that this weapon is expensive and tends to drag high cost long project cycle and use caution.
Well, I thank you very much for reading these nine, it is not easy, if you have not shut down this page, I secretly leaked a final weapon, the average person I do not tell him, that is: to find the boss to make a decision. Low cost and quick, no environmental pollution, it is the necessary medicine for home travel arson. Think about it?
This article from the sixth phase of Uxday close to the door of the group of students to contribute, please forgive me not to sign, not well-known designers Liu Yaping records.
