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Visual diary #14 | Blog updates

Trying something new

I had never regularly written blog updates or posts before this class. Doing the weekly visual diary became easier and easier as more posts were written, giving me the confidence to not worry so much about the details in each and every post. I don’t know if I will continue publishing Tumblr posts after this class, but I do plan on contributing more to my Medium account, which is linked to my design portfolio.

Regularly posting allowed me to focus more on the content and not stress about the details that may not matter as much to readers.

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Visual diary #14 | User Interviews

Conducting user interviews in a relaxed, casual setting

Conducting user interviews has always been an exercise that I’ve had low-confidence in. I believe this is because most of the user interviews I have been a part of in the past have been very high-stakes and costly for the companies I worked for. Because of this sizable investment, many measures were taken to make sure we were using our time and resources thoughtfully.

This wicked design problem allowed me to conduct user interviews in a low-stakes environment, giving me the confidence needed to ask the right questions. As I conducted more and more interviews, I felt more confident in the pacing and line of questioning which I believe allowed my participants to answer casually and honestly.

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Visual diary #14 | Miro

Trying something new

Working on this wicked design problem has given me the opportunity to conduct research in different ways than I have in the past. Throughout this process, I challenged myself to broaden my scope of tools and use different methods of data gathering and research methodologies.

Miro

I used Miro (formerly RealtimeBoard) as the main driver to house and store all the information I gathered. Within Miro, I was able to document and visualize everything in one place. I had used this tool in the past but never as the central repository to collect everything. It was helpful and easy to use. I plan on using it more extensively in my full-time work.

Lean UX Surveys & Affinity Diagrams

I had used these frameworks in the past to better understand the problems I was designing for, but never to the extent, I had during this class. In the past, I was part of a team that split up the work and contributed towards a single set of personas, diagrams, and surveys. This project gave me the opportunity to be responsible for all aspects of generating data for these diagrams. I gained a new respect for their use and power in helping guide a designer towards a relevant solution.

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Visual diary #13 | GoPro

The game-changer

GoPro burst on the camera scene in 2002 when they released their first camera. It was a 35mm camera ratcheted together with straps and old wetsuit material, but it worked. Most importantly, it validated the idea that would drive GoPro for years - that people were looking for ways to capture their most adventurous moments in photo and video. 

GoPro has grown a lot since those first days. They are now on their seventh generation GoPro lineup. Their cameras now compete with Sony, Nikon, and others in their image and video quality. GoPro’s have become synonymous with action sports for amateurs and pros alike. Their commercials are marketed towards athletes of all levels, inviting them to participate in their sport without having to slow down to record the memories. GoPro has ventured into other products as well, creating a line of drones, apps, and accessories.

GoPro is an example of designer leadership because they were able to create a product that filled an unmet need. Their first cameras weren’t spectacular, but they introduced the world to an entirely new line of cameras. They have come a long way, ushering in other products and improving upon their staples. Other manufacturers have also taken note, introducing entire lineups of their own to compete with GoPro and appeal to customers looking for outdoor adventure cameras. GoPro was already years ahead and had gained a reputation for creating the products that consumers wanted. They have stuck to that credo through up and down and continue to push the industry further in their direction.

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Visual diary #13 | BOOSTED

Mass market electric skateboards

The team behind Boosted Boards showed design leadership when they brought the first electric skateboard to market. Boosted was started by a group of students looking for a more fun and efficient way to get around campus. They put their idea and product on Kickstarter in 2012, resulting in one of the most-funded campaigns in Kickstarter history.

Boosted boards are electric skateboards that allow the rider to control their speed and braking with a handheld remote. Boosted Boards are designed with simplicity in mind. They do not have bulky batteries or unwieldy sizes. Upon first glance, Boosted Boards look like any other longboard. Underneath, the batteries lie in the center of the board to lower the center of gravity and allow the rider to take deep, carving turns.

Similar to Tesla, Boosted Boards are marketed and sold in tiers differentiated by the range and battery pack size. Boards are sold in two different lengths with three different battery pack sizes. Boosted Boards is an example of design leadership because of their original vision and execution. They didn't go looking for a 'hole' in the market. They simply built something they would want and figured others would too. The result is a hugely popular product that is practical and fun.

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Visual diary #12 | YETI

Make it durable. Then figure out how to sell it.

Yeti Coolers was founded in 2006 and was founded by two brothers with a love for the outdoors. They wanted to create an ice cooler that could withstand their weight while standing on it and fishing along the rivers in Austin, TX.

Yeti has come a long way since then, becoming “a company that is making an unprece­dented run in the outdoor-equipment market by taking a low-end commodity and turning it into a coveted brand.” [1] Their coolers are the highest-end version available, going for hundreds of dollars more than their competition.

The difference, and the reason they are able to sell for such a higher price, is the brother's design leadership. They didn’t cut corners with their goals when they began Yeti. They wanted to design a product they could actually use and stood by that desire when they introduced other products to the lineup.

References:

Saporito, Bill. (N.A.). How 2 brothers turned a $300 cooler into a $450 million cult brand. [Weblog post] Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/magazine/201602/bill-saporito/yeti-coolers-founders-roy-ryan-seiders.html

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Visual diary #12 | Pavati

A new material. A new experience.

The wakeboard boat industry is booming. Boats specifically designed to create huge wakes are the hottest models in manufacturer lineups. They seat more people, have more ballast (wake), big speakers, shade from the sun, and many more features to have a great time on the water.

This industry has been able to coast for years by following a similar model that car manufacturers have benefitted from. Many boat manufacturers make minor updates to their boats each year, but sell the latest model as if it stands head and shoulders above the very boat it is replacing.

In addition to the somewhat linear line of progression in the industry, most boat manufacturers use the same composite material to make their molds. They make specific engineering improvements to shape or alter the wake, but nearly every manufacturer uses this material.

Enter Pavati. Pavati is the only boat manufacturer to use Aluminum in their boats. This material makes their products the toughest and lightest, allowing their boats to be easily trailered when not in use. Aluminum also allows their boats to have a stronger, thinner hull. This means more room for ballast which means an even bigger wake.

This pivot to a new material is an example of design leadership, as Pavati was able to see that there was tremendous potential for disruption if someone approached the problem in a different way. 

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Visual diary #11 | Commuter train

Such potential.

Austin, TX. Is growing daily. People are moving to the state capitol in record numbers, which means the cities infrastructure is quickly being put to the test. To help combat the growing traffic congestion, a commuter train was installed to help ease the amount of drivers on the road. This was a fine solution, except for their stake in the ground being that they wouldn’t prioritize the trains stops or the amount of parking space dedicated to commuters.

The city added the train, but didn’t allocate enough money to make the train truly useful. So instead of a series of trains taking commuters all over north, south, east, and west Austin, there is a single line of track that runs north-south. If you happen to live or work close to the rail, it could be useful. But for the vast majority of commuters who don’t, it doesn’t seem to be a good option.

Residents were excited about the idea of a commuter train, but the actual development and priorities proved to make it unusable for most.

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Visual diary #11 | Toll-booths in Austin, TX.

Too expensive to be useful.

If you drive on the toll roads around Austin, TX. you will pass empty toll-booths when merging on and off the freeways. The cash toll-booths have sat vacant since 2012 because it is too expensive to tear them down.

The toll-booths were operational from 2006 to 2012. During that time, drivers would pay with cash or card. Every exit off a toll road has the booths, many having multiple stalls to accommodate heavy flows of traffic. Today, billing is handled automatically, charging the drivers TXtag account. Instead of opening all the lanes for traffic to flow, all drivers are funneled to a single lane of traffic going past a single toll-booth.

The problem with these booths is how quickly their use became outdated. They were expensive to install and were built around an idea that quickly became antiquated with the rapid developments in camera technology. I think the designers should have done more research and anticipated the automated future we were headed towards. Instead, drivers face longer traffic delays and useless toll-booths at every exit.

References:

Hammons, Adam. (2017, June 5). “Old cash toll-booths in Austin standing useless because of price tag to take them down.” Retrieved from https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/old-cash-toll-booths-in-austin-standing-useless-because-of-price-tag-to-take-them-down

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Visual diary #10 | Remote Year

Keep your job. See the world.

Remote Year helps workers make the transition to working remotely. Remote Year’s unique differentiator is their focus on pairing travel with remote work. Their stake in the ground is ascribing to the notion that work should not restrict one's ability to travel.

“Come with your job and a suitcase. We’ll take care of the rest.”

Remote Year charges a monthly fee that goes towards a travel itinerary and all associated logistics to make sure you don’t get bogged down with flights and hotels. You can focus on your work while traveling to see some of the worlds most beautiful landmarks. Not only will you travel, you will meet and collaborate with others who also work remote for companies all over the world.

Remote Year has different programs to suit the needs of different travel or work goals. Once you find a program that best matches your preference and schedule, you will receive a custom itinerary that outlines where you will be and when.

As working remote becomes more acceptable in more disciplines, I see programs like Remote Year becoming more popular. Once workers are free’d from offices and cubicles, it’s only a matter of time until they look for better desktop views.

References:

Remote Year. Retrieved from https://remoteyear.com/

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Visual diary #10 | Instances of Putting a Stake in the Ground

Trader Joe’s is in a league of their own.

In a time where more and more stores are closing physical locations, Trader Joe’s seems to be thriving. It is safe to say this is largely due to how they have differentiated themselves among other grocery store chains

Trader Joe’s is very different than its competitions. From the moment you walk into a store to the time you checkout, it becomes more and more obvious that there is something fundamentally different about their stores. Their employees are always out on the floor, stocking the shelves and looking for opportunities to chat with customers. Trader Joe’s doesn’t stock their shelves at night. They do it during the day so their employees can be home with their families and so there is always someone close by to answer questions.

The options for items at Trader Joe’s is also different. Instead of having dozens of different salsa’s, cereals, cheeses, and beers, Trader Joe’s only stocks a handful of options for every item. This keeps the choices simple without overwhelming the customer. It also makes it easier for them to source products and track which items generate a following or are a flop.

Many of the differences between Trader Joe’s and its competitors are obvious and are experienced after spending time in a store. Upon closer inspection however, the differences only deepen as you begin to look at how staff are hired, how food is selected, how artwork is chosen, and how locations are decided upon.

Trader Joe’s has thrived when many other stores have failed. I believe this is in large part due to every Trader Joe’s employee putting a collective stake in the ground and buying fully in on a simplified, straightforward shopping experience. Other grocery stores may look at Trader Joe’s and dismiss their decisions as flawed, but that would be wrong. It is Trader Joe’s thoughtfulness and long-term vision that has separated them in the industry.

References:

Benham-Archdeacon-Lattice, Hayley. (2017, Sept. 18). What Trader Joe’s figured out about work culture that my other past employers haven’t. [Weblog post] Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/40468445/what-trader-joes-figured-out-about-work-culture-that-my-other-past-employers-havent

Cop, Phillip. (2018, Sept. 6). Trader Joe’s Success Formula and What Can Other Retailers Learn From It [Weblog post] Retrieved from https://www.mytotalretail.com/article/trader-joes-success-formula-and-what-can-other-retailers-can-learn-from-it/

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Visual diary #9 | Working remote

Remote work has the potential to completely change the professional work / life balance.

Working remote isn’t an option for everyone, but it is becoming more and more common across different industries. Depending on what profession you are in, you may face more headwinds and friction when trying to work remote. For those that make it happen, many times they overcome the traditional mindsets that work must be done at the office for it to matter. I think the cultural shift of working remote represents a trend towards wanting to enjoy ones personal life, and working within the parameters presented to make it happen.

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Visual diary #9 | Netflix

Netflix’s business model shows design leadership by working within the parameters of different cultures and generations.

Netflix operates, unlike traditional media companies. It provides a service that appeals to all generations by leveraging the same parameters that have hampered traditional TV companies. Instead of letting it deter them like the others, Netflix operates better because of them.

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Wake foils enable riders to rise above choppy conditions that would otherwise keep them in the boat instead of behind it.

The term 'foil' in the watersports world refers to the pylon and wing that thrust the rider and board above the water's surface. Before foils were used, wake riders would need pristine water conditions because the board sat directly on the surface of the water.

Utilizing a foil setup behind the boat shows a creative approach to dealing with the parameters at hand. It is not difficult to visualize a group of riders distraught at seeing bad water conditions that didn't allow them to ride. By using a foil board, they can now ride all season and with any wave conditions.

Foil boards also allow wakeboarders to ride behind any type of boat. Before the foil was introduced, you essentially needed to be towed behind a wakeboard boat. These specially designed boats are incredibly expensive to operate and maintain. They create massive waves for riders to carve and jump across. With the foil, any boat that can reach 15mph can be used. This opens up wakeboarding for many more riders.

The parameters faced by the first wakeboarders to incorporate foils into their setup dealt primarily with tangible roadblocks. Cost of a boat, water conditions, and the sub-par experience of not being able to ride all lead towards foils becoming a 'must-have' item for wakeboarders looking to enjoy a longer season at a reasonable price.

Today, dozens of manufacturers create wakeboards specifically designed for this athlete in mind. Many offer setups that are modular, allowing the same board to be ridden behind a boat, in surf, or with a kite. The pylons and wings are also modular, able to be swapped out for different skill levels or weather conditions. This flexibility is getting more people into the sport.

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The High Line park is a park in New York City that is built on a repurposed freight line.

The High Line park is a success and a direct result of using parameters to build transformative public spaces.

The High Line park isn't your typical city park. It is owned by the city of New York, but operated and maintained by Friends of the High Line, a nonprofit that raises and contributes nearly 100% of the High Line's annual budget. This unique relationship benefits everyone involved.

The city gets a thriving communal space for nearly zero investment.

The park is meticulously maintained and features artists, musicians, and other groups on a regular basis.

Park visitors get a unique experience, leaving inspired by the results of transforming a railroad to a park.

Other cities see an example of a sustainable park building that they can apply to their own cities. 

The High Line park faced its fair share of problems and setbacks before opening. Many of these parameters and challenges had a profound impact on the end result.

The site was nearly demolished, but the local community stepped in to raise awareness and voice their desire for more public land. That community voice is felt while visiting the park, by keeping elements from the original railway intact.

The High Line team is dedicated to showcasing the park as an example of sustainable business practices. To align with that goal, all the greenery has been specifically chosen to thrive and contribute towards a certain ambiance at the park. The care and thoughtfulness in these decisions is obvious, as the park is beautiful and well maintained.

The materials used throughout the park have significance. When the team began the project, they removed all the abandoned rail line to prepare the site. Once the tracks were pulled and the structures were completed, the tracks were brought back to be repurposed as design elements and art installations. 

By understanding and leveraging the tangible parameters they were given, the High Line team created a park that tells a clear story about its own existence. By focusing on the details and creating unique experiences from the materials they were given, they have created a case study for other cities to use as they look for similar opportunities of their own.

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Visual diary #7 | Robinhood

Robinhood is an investing platform that allows users to make trades commission-free.

They entered an already crowded market but separated themselves by promising to simplify and demystify the world of stocks. Robinhood is marketed for newcomers and seasoned investors. They offer a wide variety of powerful tools and present them in a way to not intimidate people new to investing.

If you take a look at other investment products alongside Robinhood, the difference is clear. Other platforms expect users to arrive with a deep understanding of a very nuanced space. Robinhood simplifies the entire process and makes it easy to learn more.

Robinhood also offers all trades commission free, which means you can buy and sell stocks without paying a company to do it. This was unheard of (and still is!) which makes Robinhood a leader in bringing value to its customers by redefining the product category altogether.

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Visual diary #7 | SIDEWALKLABS

Sidewalk Labs is a group within Alphabet that exists to solve a singular problem: to reimagine how cities can improve quality of life. Sidewalk Labs is a pilot program within Google that has partnered with the city of Toronto to explore new ideas around leveraging technology within cities. This group believes that technology has more to offer in terms of how we plan, structure, and build our cities. They are using this opportunity to test assumptions in an attempt to inspire and lead other cities around the world.

This isn't just a concept either. Sidewalk Labs will be designing a singular district in Toronto's Eastern Waterfront. Sidewalk Labs is exploring the following topics (and more!), as part of their search for the most human-centered city plan:

Sustainability. How can a cities infrastructure adapt to its surroundings and reuse energy to create a truly "climate-positive neighborhood."

People first. Parks and public areas should be more accessible, safe, and comfortable. Sidewalk Labs is investigating ways to leverage emerging technologies to ensure their model makes the best use of existing infrastructures.

Communities. Take a holistic approach to social services to ensure all people have what they need at an affordable price.

Digital transformation. Technology has come a long way since most of our cities were built. How can we leverage the tremendous progress we have made to address the mounting problems our cities are facing?

I think Alphabet is a design leader, utilizing this group to explore huge problems that will face future generations. They weren’t assigned or commissioned to take this on. They saw the problem and realized they had the potential to offer a solution. That responsibility and self-awareness are the traits of a design leader.

References:

Bliss, Laura (2019, Feb 25). Critics Vow to Block Sidewalk Labs' Controversial Smart City in Toronto. [Weblog post] Retrieved from https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/02/block-sidewalk-labs-quayside-toronto-smart-city-resistance/583477/

Sidewalk Labs. https://www.sidewalklabs.com/