Sarah Dzida

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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Research is a function of strategy.  "According to CB Insights, over 90% of all products fail, most commonly due to no market need." Leave yourself time to ask big questions about whether any actually needs your product or service before you decide to launch it. #UXstrategy #UXresearch #Marketresearch

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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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We're keenly aware that budgets aren't what they used to be and money isn't flowing' like it's 2012. I've seen a lot of companies, medium and large, pull back on experience strategy initiatives and hand it off to internal teams. Nothing wrong with that yet, they're struggling to make sense of how to approach the right problem, align changes with company directions, sift through user data, etc. When you aren't trained in a given profession, you're bound to stumble. So.... • What does an experience (ux) strategist DO!? • Do you need an experience (ux) strategist? Experience consultants ( 👉 me 👈 ) are an excellent way to "try before you buy". Be it to get things done at a reasonable cost or to test the UX waters. There's never a bad time to dip your toes into the waters and invest in the possibilities of experience design. Start out with a task then perhaps a small project. Then check to see if the needle is moving in the right direction. And what we do doesn't have to be for your users. It could be for your teams own sanity! "Hey team, can we dump this work on the ux strategist? We're swamped." UX is not just about creating design artifacts. Experience strategist's: • Analyze business opportunities • Dive deep into assessing problems • Build the approach to a solution • Align to business strategies • Validate audience needs • Establish success metrics • Create content structures • Build data migration plans • Compose micro-copy • Test and validate ideas & concepts • Interview teams, co-workers, executives ... and so much more. Human (and AI) behavior is constantly evolving. To stay on target with your businesses goals you must continually identify issues and explore opportunities. We're the persons in the watchtower, the sounding board looking out for you, the expert advisor to make sure you're on the right path. Leverage us. Leverage ux. Oh, ... and DM me if need UX strategy 😉 #uxLyfe

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A Product Narrative is a powerful tool for Product Managers and UX Designers. It is a great way to take your User Research and build consensus in your team around key takeaways. It is also a tool to help your stakeholders understand and remember the issues. In this particular example, I have focused on some issues related to nurses. Here the focus is more on the issues and less on the solutions. But, your needs will shape your narrative structure. If you have tried this tool or if you have questions, I would love to hear your feedback.

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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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I just read Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism by Kyle Chayka, and it got me thinking about the power of minimalism—not just in art and architecture that you hear so much about, but in how we experience the world. Chayka's core message is that minimalism isn't just about reducing clutter—it's about creating space for clarity, intentionality, and deeper meaning... principles that really resonate with me and the UX design discipline. Here are some thoughts looking at Minimalism through the lens of user experience design: https://lnkd.in/gnmJGfyM

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More UX and Product leaders need to hear Diana DeMarco Brown (she/her)'s wisdom. Diana is a pioneer in the UX field who takes a thoughtful and nuanced approach to assessing the current state of the tech industry. In our recent conversation, Diana shared many insights, including: - How to evaluate a company's culture during the hiring process - Why private equity ownership can result in design divestment - How Product and UX leaders can effectively influence business decisions - Why we don't need to panic with the rise of AI, but we need to think critically and prioritize regulation during this early stage Link to our full conversation: https://lnkd.in/eemDimVb

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Is Detailed Design Anti-Agile? https://lnkd.in/dbpShVPz A CERM Risk Insights article by Howard Wiener, MSIA, CERM. Discover the benefits of agile and detailed design for systems development projects. Learn how it can save time, reduce errors, and increase flexibility.

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Let’s be real: The "DIY, throw it up there, and hope for the best" approach is not cutting it. Design requires intention, strategy, and an understanding of user behavior to make a real impact. 3tone Approach: We regularly conduct usability testing throughout our design process. This helps identify pain points, allowing us to make informed adjustments based on data that will improve user experience. #websitedesign #figmadesigner

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Figma is a tremendous tool for designers and I love it—but I have a concern: Last week, it came out that Figma's “Make Design” AI feature created a design eerily similar to Apple’s Weather app. After many expressed worries about the AI's training, Figma temporarily disabled the feature, giving users until August 15th to opt out of allowing their content to be used for such training. In accordance with our confidentiality policies, Scoresby has opted out of allowing our content to be used for AI training—and we’re recommending our clients do the same. Whether you are a designer or exec at a company that uses Figma: ● How are you handling this? ● What policies are you putting in place to protect proprietary content? ________________ Articles for Reference: https://lnkd.in/gf4rzR95 https://lnkd.in/gxx_GGqW #Figma #AI #Design

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Hey there org design nerds! Spurred by my podcast conversation with John Cutler, and his proposal of moving away from 6-8-person 'squads' and toward 30-50 person 'pods,' I wanted to share some thinking I've done, drawing on a model first shared in "Org Design for Design Orgs." This video is 8 minutes long (I would have made it shorter, but I didn't have the time), and I hope is useful for those looking for new, and maybe better, ways to work. (EDIT: Find the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gFi4VEyS)

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For an organization committed to the practice of user experience design, the Interaction Design Foundation doesn’t seem to value their own ideology. I’ve been a member for years and recently served as a local leader (of which I resigned a year ago and they have yet to remove me from the role). I’m finding their billing processes to be on the verge of questionable UX practices: ·     My membership increased 31% with no notification before billing. I was told that a single notification had been sent a year ago buried in an email with a subject line of “We have updated our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Pricing Structure.” Do they not realize that subject lines such as this are white noise in people’s inboxes and begs to be deleted without reading? ·     To prevent the upcoming charge, the user must contact the main office and have them remove the store payment details. There is no ability for the user to do this themselves. ·     There is also no option to opt out of recurring charges. This is akin the dark practice of subscription services that lure users with trial period in hopes the user will forget to cancel before the period expires.   ·     The user can cancel their membership. However, the user loses access to all materials, content, and account details even though the user has prepaid for the upcoming year. This entices the user to delay cancelling only to encounter the same pain points the following year. ·     User is sent an invoice AFTER the charge has been applied. No notification of upcoming billings. ·     When asked to refund the membership charge, the admin basically responded with “The reason we’re unable to offer a refund guarantee on the renewal of memberships is that we already have a money-back guarantee after sign-up . . . we’d have to charge higher prices if we offered unlimited refunds and that’s why we make our policies crystal-clear, doing everything in our power to ensure members understand our fair terms.” This statement basically has the overtone of: It’s not that our communication and user experience is insufficient, it’s the user’s fault. IDF needs to reassess their membership and billing practices if they want to maintain any integrity in the field. As a hiring manager, I do not look at organizational memberships as having any influence in hiring decisions.  My advice for those wanting to increase their knowledge and break into design, rather than pay a yearly $264 membership fee, there are many free resources, podcasts, and articles that will help you achieve the same results. Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

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Excited to dive deeper into design systems! 🌟 This article breaks down the “parent-child” relationship between design systems and style guides, showing how they work together to keep designs consistent and efficient. A great read for anyone passionate about design! #designsystem #styleguides #uxdesign https://lnkd.in/eUamsNTH

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In my latest podcast interview, Greg Petroff shares insights about the state of design and the opportunities open to designers in these dynamic times. Check it out! https://lnkd.in/gTXpQgjn #UxDesign #Ux #Design #Leadership

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The more that designers can think with a business mindset, the more effective they can be at influencing key stakeholders and driving desired outcomes.

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The article is a little older, but really appreciate the discussion on how experience design isn’t synonymous with UX design. https://lnkd.in/gUKrw5Ed

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