Podcast
We Can Do Better — The Show!
Hosted by We Can Do Better — The Show! · EN
A show about experience design.
6episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Pushing Back on Execs
Jan 9, 2020Tap to summarizeS01E07 Whether you’re internal or a consultant, we chat about when it’s appropriate to push back on the decision-makers and how to go about doing it. Transcript Matthew: I’m on antibiotics for the next five days and then. Matt: What do you have against Biotics? Matthew: They know what they did. Matt: So yeah what we’re gonna talk about pushing back on clients I think in general, giving clients feedback to their suggestions that might not be in line with what our suggestions or recommendations would be. If I could give a little background on where this topic kind of came from for me. Matthew: Yeah. Matt: During a workshop teaching a class with some folks last week. And it was all internal, they all work for the same company we were talking about well lots of things but, we were talking about UX design specifically and these were not trained experienced designers but they’re kind of transitioning into that role and they’ve had a lot of issues in the past and they’re good, they’ve got good instincts and they’ve had issues in the past pushing back on clients. Clients want the interaction to be a certain way and the design in their web based software and these guys would push back and the clients would basically railroad them and say no it has to be this way and they didn’t have any backup if you will, they didn’t have a leg to stand on in their arguments. Matthew: The clients you mean. Matt: Yeah my participants, my students to their clients. And what I’m asked point blank in the training like what are some techniques, how do you do that effectively? It was a really good question and when you’re asking it from a position of inexperience, you’re in for lack of a better word, a weak position to argue I think. And that how they felt like they didn’t have the confidence and the background to have to put up a good argument even though what they were saying they felt was right and from what they told me they were valid arguments. But the client just still feel, the client still kind of bullied them into what they wanted right or wrong. And with those cases it sounds wrong. So I hope that’d be a good topic for us to expound upon. Some techniques, ...
Transcribe →Remote Research & Testing
Jan 9, 2020Tap to summarizeS01E04 What are the benefits of doing remote research and testing? Well, they are numerous, that’s for sure! Transcript Matthew: Although, honestly I kind of want to be one of those people, that wears sunglasses all the time. Matt: I don't think you do, because I-- I've met those people Matt: So Matthew, I think we were going to talk about remote usability testing. Matthew: Or just, remote everything, right? Matt: Yep, alright. Bring it on. Matthew: Not all things, but like I think I do want to talk about testing, but also I think a lot of the things that we plan to talk about can be applied to just remote research in general, like we're just interviewing people remotely. That kind of thing. Matt: Sure, sure, sure. Matthew: Um, Literally mean everything? Matt: That's where I thought you were going, and I was curious to see where you led us, in this conversation. So where would like to start? Matthew: Well, I think I would like, as usual, and you're not going to be surprised by me saying this, I think I would like to start by setting a little context. For the most part, I want to focus on moderated, where the researcher is an active participant in the testing of the research. Go. Matt: End, scene. Matthew: End scene. Alright, goodnight everybody. Matt: So we know Matthew prefers moderated, which, yeah I do too. I, am I inferring that correctly? Matthew: You, you infer, and I imply. Uh, the same concept. Matt: So, so let's talk about moderated remote usability testing. Matthew: Okay. Matt: Let's see how many more words we can jumble in this subject. Matthew: I know Matthew: All these adjectives Matt: That's makes it much more interesting. Matthew: Moderated remote generative usability. Matt: Yes. Matt: So lets start at the beginning. Matthew: Okay. Matt: If, if you're working one of these projects and this method that you've chosen to, get to your study, Matthew: Right. <stron...
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There’s No Room for Derisiveness in Our Work
Aug 29, 2019Tap to summarizeS01E02 We talk dealing with people who are derisive toward research participants and a bit how to handle when participants … let’s just say, aren’t their best selves. You can watch the episode or listen to it. Transcript Matthew: I was... See dammit. I was trying not to start off by saying so, and I almost said it. Matt: It's a good lead, and I know it's hard to perforate that habit. Matthew: It's the I'm about to talk now. Matt: Right. Matthew: But somebody who I know who's here in Portland posted something about dealing with when you're presenting research whether you're showing videos, or audio, or just talking about what people did. How do you deal with team members if you're internal or I guess client representatives if you're a consultant. How do you deal with them being derisive toward the participants? Matt: I had that issue. Interesting. Matthew: Yeah and I've had that issue a couple of times, but one of the things she notes is they were in disbelief about things that they, the participants, said and did which was illustrated by shocked facial expressions, laughs, jokes, and questioning the participants' honesty. And I'll say that I've had times too where I've seen a participant do something and go... Where I sort of can't help myself raising my eyebrows because it was a very surprising moment. Yeah so I was wondering if I read that and thought if you'd ever had issues with presenting research where the people you're presenting to either acted derisively toward the results or toward the participants ever if you've ever taken clients out with you. Matt: Not derisive. I mean we've it's hard not to Matthew: Maybe derisive is too strong a word but... Matt: I've done interviews where the participant was perhaps kind of awkward or maybe even inappropriate. Matthew: Where the participant is? Matt: Yes. Matthew: Oh okay. Matt: And then jokes perhaps were made after the session like wow can you believe they said X, Y, Z. Matthew: When the participant was actually being rude or something like that? Matt: Right o...
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What Is UX?
Aug 29, 2019Tap to summarizeS01E01 Yep, we went there. Well … a little. We talk about pay rates, responsibilities, and career paths for people in “UX.” You can watch the episode or listen to it. Transcript Matthew: Set a reminder for a month from now for a check-in. Matt: Yeah. Matthew: And be like, hey, just want to check in and make sure-- Matt: We have something in common. We're both impressed with my experience. Matthew: So. Matt: You were saying? Matthew: I was saying that I was thinking, and you can tell I was thinking because I was sitting like this, six days ago, according to the LinkedIn post, I posted something on LinkedIn that was, I keep an eye on user experience design-related jobs in Portland because I'm always curious about what the rates are when they get posted. And this one was, the title of the job was experienced designer and the pay rate was $32-48 an hour. Matt: 'Scuse me, what were those numbers again? Matthew: $32-48 an hour. Matt: Okay, just wanted to make sure I heard you correctly. Matthew: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, to which I was like, F that. Like that's just, I'm sure you can make a case for that, like you found someone and they're on the street and you're like do you know what the letter U is? Yes. Do you know what the letter X is? Yes. Okay, I'm gonna pay you this much money to do some work now. Like there's where I feel like that pay rate really works. And so I posted the following on LinkedIn. I said, hey Portland, 'cause it was a Portland job, and brackets, likely a plethora, if you will, of other cities, no. Please no. Saying yes to this sets the market rate too, too low. You hurt your future self and others by buying into this. And then I ended with, and I'm not saying union, but I'm not not saying union. You know, not that stats are the only thing to go on but 7600 views of this post, which is high for my stuff, 42 likes, 28 comments, so the comments section kind of lit up on this one. A lot of, yeah! And a few people asking really good questions. To everyone who is saying just say no, essentially, do you still have jobs? Which I think is a really good question. You know, Matt: Yeah. Matthew: </strong...
Transcribe →The Pilot!
Aug 28, 2019Tap to summarizeS01E00 The pilot episode for our new show! You can watch the episode or listen to it. Transcript Matthew: I’m making a cup of coffee. Matt: Awesome. Matthew: So I’m gonna run. Come back. Matt:Okay. Matthew: One moment please. So. Matt: Hey so, I was reading the internet today. Matthew: Oh the internet, is that still going on? Matt: And two semi-interesting stories stuck out to me. Matthew: Really? Okay. Matt: Yes. Matthew: I’m listening. Matt: I’d like your thoughts. Matthew: Alright. Matt: One. Trying to decide which to lead with, ’cause they’re both. Matthew: Put a big one on the screen all of a sudden. Matt: Right. One is clearly more interesting than the other. Matthew: Well, I’ll tell you. Matt: Couldn’t they become more interesting. Matthew: I’m not telling you how to do good TV, but lead with that one. Matt: You decide people. Matthew: That’s right. I report, you decide. Matt: Right. So this. Matthew: Go ahead, go ahead. Matt: This story, with research out of the Ohio State University. Matthew: Oh. Matt: You might be familiar with them. Was about. Quality work. Was about peoples’ perception of restaurant menus, and the font of those menus. Matthew: Okay. Which like from a trustworthiness perspective? Or a. Matt: In how. Yeah let’s say trustworthy. How likely they were to interact with the brand. Matthew: Okay. Matt: Through social media. And so the initial finding that I was looking at is not too surprising. So they did it, maybe at a fictitious restaurant for this first piece of it. And it was, like, based on a wholesome, natural, organic, healthy style res...
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It Depends. Or Does it? Yes. Unless…
Mar 14, 2019Tap to summarizeS01E03 We talk about the dreaded, and yet, accurate phrase. When to use it and what comes after… Transcript Matthew: Yeah, even if we were being evil, it's not anybody could stop us. Well, is there any topic you'd like to tackle today? Matt: Good question. Matthew: Thank you. Matt: Great questions. Matthew: That's why they pay me the big bucks. Matt: My jaw is slack because-- this is not what we talked about yesterday, as far as, something-- Matthew: Oh, I see. Matt: Like, do I wanna open this can of worms. Like this, this fits more into like a, like a pet peeve, communication thing, like almost like the sports analogy conversation. Matthew: Oh, I've got one of those, but go ahead. Matt: Like do we wanna open up this can of worms. It's something we're both guilty of too. Matthew: Okay. Matt: I actually saw something on LinkedIn about it. Matthew: Okay, well I don't do it, but go ahead. Matt: Yes you do So it comes down to the "it depends." And why, even though I say it sometimes, it bothers me as a, as like an escape hatch for, I'll say specifically around designers, researchers, when they can't make a decision and they say "it depends." I guess it's more about not just saying "it depends," I believe we've talked about this before, but it's what they say after that. Matthew: Yeah, absolutely. Matt: Like the thing that drives me nuts is the "it depends" mic drop, walk out of a meeting, versus the "it depends," hey let's go find out and I'll get you an answer, which I don't hear nearly enough or at all. And so I saw someone mention it on a LinkedIn post that it's something they do and they're proud of Matthew: Of the mic drop. Matt: No, they didn't talk about the mic drop, but just the "it depends" without any other context around it. Matthew: Oh, okay, they shouldn't be proud of that, but go ahead. Matt: Right, that's kinda my point, and I know you and I've done it, even I think as recently as yesterday about something, where we, I can't remember what we were talking about, oh, well it depe...
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