Andy Vitale

Skipping strategy in UX design isn’t just missing a step—it’s missing the chance to lead. My latest post explains why UX strategy is essential to project success and how it transforms designers into strategic partners. https://lnkd.in/gtmnFA7a #userexperience #uxstrategy #businessalignment #productdesign #leadership #designleadership

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Have you thought about the physical accessibility of your digital designs? Getting physical controls right is really hard, and industrial designers spend a lot of time learning about how to use data as a starting point for making design decisions. As we create digital designs that we interact with using our bodies, it's going to become important for digital designers to understand physical ergonomics too.

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If we're not talking about design maturity, agile process, or craft, then us designers are probably talking about ✨quality.✨ I certainly see my interviewer's eyes light up when I mention this magical word. "Design is the one that has to hold the quality bar," I tell them. But what if that didn't have to be true? For a truly high-quality product, I don't think it should be design holding the line. It has to be something baked into the organization - everyone holds the quality bar. Even though "quality" is a slippery thing to define, if we can define it and hold ourselves to it, we can reduce the tension in the org and start to think less about the mere baseline quality for the product and more about raising that bar - delighting the user. I very much enjoyed Luke Anthony Firth's take on how they folded quality into their product building process. Have a read! https://lnkd.in/g4SenmYZ #designleadership #productprocess #productdesign #productquality #designquality #opentowork

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A lot of what we do as designers is clean up. Sure, we talk about story arcs and designing the experience, but the average presentation may not have the time or resources to think bigger than getting it done, even when it’s an essential pitch by the C-suite for a new initiative. That's where following the template, using it wisely to maximize variation, and keeping it simple comes into play. Much of what you need to say should be in the talk track rather than in the slide, and if you need to go into detail, use an appendix, preread existing material, or a download to let people dive deep. Designing for a screen comes with practice, like riding a bike. In my experience helping thousands of presenters, the less design YOU have to do, the better it is for you and the AUDIENCE. Focus on *design that matters.* Be *intentional with design.* #presentationdesign

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The Institute of Design (ID) at Illinois Tech recently released “Taking Responsibility in the Age of AI: The 2024 Institute of Design Report.” This report was informed by interviews with 29 design leaders, who identified five key challenges that other design leaders need to address for the field to remain relevant and effective. But how does a disruptive technology affect design leadership - and the design capabilities that activate value? The program also hosted an online discussion facilitated by Mark Jones with senior design leaders Kevin Bethune, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of dreams • design + life, Katrina Alcorn of Accenture Song, and Robert Fabricant, Co-Founder and Partner of Dalberg Design. Come with me to a discussion about the recent Writers Guild of America strike attempts to move to design up the macroeconomic ladder, the "Figmaization" of design activities, and seven critical skills for emerging design leaders to prepare at the executive table and manage their design team capabilities that benefit from AI integrations. A conundrum of uncertainty : Designers taking responsibility in the age of AI https://lnkd.in/gciDJie2 Thank you, Matt Mayfield, Chris Bernard, and Natasha Kallish, for reviewing this article and your constructive comments. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reading Time : 30 minutes Level of Difficulty: Moderate #designleadership, #iitdesign, #artiicialintelligence

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#BadassBookAlert Jeremy Miller’s Beyond UX is a compelling guide that transcends the surface-level practices of user experience (UX) design and dives into the deeper strategies that shape impactful, human-centered solutions. Miller positions UX as more than a set of tools or methods—he frames it as a strategic discipline that can drive organizational change and innovation when implemented effectively. The book is rich with actionable insights, blending theory with real-world examples that resonate across industries. Miller emphasizes the importance of aligning design practices with business goals, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and embedding UX thinking into organizational culture. His writing strikes a balance between accessible advice for beginners and nuanced strategies for seasoned professionals. One of the standout aspects of Beyond UX is its practical approach. The frameworks and methodologies outlined are not only clear but adaptable to varying levels of organizational maturity. Miller’s focus on metrics and outcomes ensures that readers understand how to measure the impact of their UX efforts—a critical skill for gaining executive buy-in. Jeremy also delves into the often-overlooked dynamics of team collaboration, highlighting how empathy and communication can break down silos and enhance the effectiveness of design processes. His emphasis on storytelling and advocacy equips UX practitioners to champion their work within the complexities of corporate environments. Overall, Beyond UX is an essential read for UX professionals looking to level up their strategic impact. By addressing the "why" and "how" behind effective UX, Miller provides a roadmap for moving beyond the tactical execution of design work into the realm of business and organizational transformation. "Great UX isn't just about pleasing interfaces—it's about aligning design with purpose, bridging silos, and proving that empathy is a business strategy, not just a buzzword." —Jeremy. Ah, you're speaking my love language sir. Don't just take my word for it Tom Greever did the forward and says nice things too. And Jeremy didn't even pay either of us. But he did let me write a little bit about Power Mapping and Stakeholder management in it. Buy it now and Krampus won't come get you. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who cares about experiences. In case you're too cheap to buy it, you can sample my bit in the comments. #UX #Innovation #Design #Craft

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Patterns for implementing human-centric design thinking and UX to GenAI #GenAI #UX #AI

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As a design leader, you work for your team—not the other way around. Learn how to keep your #UXteam happy, creative, and always on schedule. https://lnkd.in/eksZbUXM #DesignLeadership #TeamManagement #UXDesign #Productivity

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In this political season, we are reminded that every vote counts, and every vote must be counted. That applies to South by Southwest too! If you are a designer working in a large organization or on enterprise digital products, arguably the biggest conundrum facing our industry today lies in this question: does Enterprise Software require design to fit into a factory model, forever closing the door on Innovation? Or will our focus on empathy and human-centricity be a force for positive change in a sea of sameness? If you want to hear a unique perspective on this challenge, please vote for my panel, "Enterprise Digital Products: The Death of Design Innovation?". I will be joined by some truly amazing creative leaders, where we will candidly discuss how to lead Design teams in the creation of enterprise digital products. My panel will include... ...Barry Fiske, CXO Americas at Merkle (and co-host of #whatbubblesup), ...Valerie Vacante, VP, Solutions Innovation, dentsu, ...and Sara Alloy, Head of Design for CoreAI at Publicis Sapient. We will explore the benefits, challenges, myths, legends, and inconvenient truths of Designing for the Enterprise. So if you want to see us onstage, we'd appreciate your vote! (I'm Phil Golub, and I approve this message...) WongDoody Infosys P.S. - WongDoody has a bunch of great submissions. Vote us all in while you're at it!! https://lnkd.in/epA-aqcB

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My latest column for Forbes just went live, where I dive into the trends shaping the digital landscape in 2024. From AI-driven personalization and no-code platforms to accessibility and data-driven design, we’re witnessing a major shift in how we craft seamless, engaging user experiences. 👉 Curious about how these trends will impact your digital strategy? Check out the article to explore how you can stay ahead of the curve and create more meaningful, inclusive experiences for all users. #UXDesign #AI #Personalization #Accessibility #HumanCenteredDesign #Forbes #DigitalTransformation UX Trends of 2024: The Future with Human-Centered Design 🌐 https://lnkd.in/gQm3trAP

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Here's a slide from my October 2024 talk about triaging UX, showing a word cloud of several things we can do to help drive the discipline forward. Which ones stand out to you? #ux #realuxtalk #uxtriage

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Today might just be the day to brush up on some of your visual design skills. Check out these mini-guides for UX designers - available today in a bundle of all 4 mini-guides. https://lnkd.in/gG9K64nz #visualDesign #UXdesign

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Join me on the latest episode of the #ProductBuildersPodcast featuring James Smet! Hear firsthand from a design system expert and learn how to tackle common hurdles in design system implementation. Whether you're an experienced pro or new to the field, you'll get valuable insights and actionable advice. 💪 Follow the link in the comments to listen to the full episode!

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Check out my new article, Quality won't save designers from AI

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🚀 Are Companies Cheating UX Maturity with Design Systems? In a recent blog post (https://lnkd.in/etYdAjDW), I shared how some companies attempt to fast-track their design maturity by adopting a design system before determining the best designs to use in the system. The result is a false sense of UX sophistication followed by surprise, and the system doesn't meet expectations. In a recent conversation, a startup was eager to purchase an out-of-the-box design system but still needed to define their product market fit, audience, or user flows. It's like handing over the keys to a Lamborghini to a first-time driver—exciting but potentially disastrous. Imagine trying to build a spaceship without a blueprint—you might end up with a shiny but ultimately useless rocket ship. A well-defined UX process ensures you have the right tools for your specific product needs suited to your brand. How is your organization focusing on the tools or cultivating a culture? If you need guidance on integrating a design system or getting your organization ready for one, feel free to reach out to @Akendi. We're here to help you navigate the journey to design maturity effectively. 🌟 #DesignSystems #UXMaturity #ProductDesign #DesignCulture #Startup #Akendi #UXDesign

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The many faces of Jen BlatzChatz.... I am working on a video on How to REALLY Use AI in UX Research. If you want to be notified of when that video drops, please subscribe to the BlatzChatz (Youtube) channel. https://lnkd.in/gCBzyXQ2 This video involves: ⛈️ Thunderstorms 🤣 Mistakes 🤬 A few curse words 🤖 Real-world AI use

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I'm really enjoying this podcast from Invisible Machines about how conversational designers are key to unlocking the full potential of AI in customer experience design. As a Designer and English Teacher who often leverages Conversational AI to enhance accessibility, break down communication barriers, and ensure customer/students' practical interaction with materials, I whole-heartedly agree! https://lnkd.in/e3Rtt29J Conversational designers play a crucial role in shaping the future of design by leveraging the power of AI to create more personalized, engaging, and accessible customer experiences. Their expertise in natural language processing, conversational flow, and user experience design is essential for ensuring the success of AI-powered solutions in a wide range of industries. #Design #AI #CustomerExperience #Accessibility #InvisibleMachines

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Popular, but not often discussed opinion: It is significantly more fulfilling to support Product Managers/ Owners who "get" the value of User Research and data than those who don't. So this series, at least for now, is dedicated to them. After you watch it, let me know what else we should discuss.

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Join me and my guest, Sarah Doody, for Episode 137 of the #DesignThinking 101 #Podcast: Designing Your Career + UX for Small Business. Listen to it here: https://bit.ly/45lUCgN #CareerPlanning #UX #UserExperience

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