Presentation & Workshop for Black Tech Week 2024

Understanding your users is more crucial than ever in a fast-paced, competitive market. As an experienced product designer, I’ve seen firsthand how integrating psychological principles into design can transform a product from merely functional to exceptionally engaging.

My presentation and this post introduce some fundamental principles and concepts, exploring how you, as entrepreneurs and business leaders, can leverage psychology to create better products and services. Whether you’re developing a new app, designing a website, or enhancing a physical product, these insights can help you connect more deeply with your users and drive success.

The recently released New Wave Report for Fall 2023, a project by Climate Designers, presents a comprehensive look at the role of designers in combating climate change. Climate Designers is a global hub that brings together designers and creative professionals committed to using their skills for climate action.

The report aims to inspire and equip design educators and students to integrate climate-focused content into their curricula and professional practices.

What’s the New Wave Report?

The New Wave Report serves as a critical resource for understanding how design education can evolve to address climate change. It emphasizes the need for designers to develop skills that go beyond aesthetics and functionality, focusing on sustainability and social responsibility.

The report aims to bridge the gap between design education and the urgent need for climate action. It encourages educators to incorporate climate-related content into their courses and inspires students to see themselves as changemakers.

Key Findings

Awareness and Action

Students recognize their potential to influence behavior and create real impact through design. However, there is a significant gap in understanding how to integrate climate-conscious practices into their work. Many students feel a burden to ensure their creations do not harm the planet but lack the education and resources to make informed decisions.

Educational Disconnect

There is a disconnect between the desire to make a positive impact and the practical knowledge needed to achieve it. Design students often feel unprepared to address climate issues due to insufficient coverage in their curricula. This lack of confidence among educators in teaching climate-related content exacerbates the problem.

Sustainable Practices

The report highlights the importance of understanding products’ lifecycles and the environmental impact of materials used in design. It stresses the need for a shift from theoretical knowledge to practical, hands-on projects that address real-world challenges.

Student Sentiments

Students are eager to contribute to climate action through their work. They want more hands-on learning experiences that connect design processes to real-life scenarios, including social and environmental issues. They also express a desire for more technical knowledge and skills relevant to sustainable design practices.

Actionable Steps for Educators and Students

Integrate Climate Content

Educators should incorporate climate-related topics into every aspect of design education. This can be achieved by including climate design principles alongside traditional design principles and by using project briefs that focus on sustainability.

Hands-On Projects

Implement project-based learning that allows students to apply their skills to real-world climate challenges. Field trips, collaborations with climate scientists, and practical assignments can help students connect their design work to broader environmental issues.

Resource Utilization

Use available resources such as the Climate Designers Resource Library, which offers videos, articles, and information on sustainable materials and practices. Podcasts like Climify can also provide valuable insights and connect educators with climate experts.

Community and Support

Join the Climate Designers community to share experiences and resources and support each other in bringing climate content into the classroom. Collaboration with peers can boost confidence and provide new ideas for integrating sustainability into design education.

Encourage Exploration

Allow students to explore areas of interest and create solutions that address both social and environmental outcomes. Empower them to think beyond traditional design constraints and innovate for a sustainable future.

By following these steps, educators can help shape a new generation of designers who are not only skilled in their craft but also equipped to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. The New Wave Report is a call to action for the design education community to embrace their role as culture makers and changemakers, driving meaningful impact through their work.

For more information and resources, visit Climate Designers.

I’m excited to be joining a panel discussion this week hosted by MassChallenge and Out in Tech. The discussion will focus on AI ethics and algorithmic bias, and I’ll be able to bring my experiences in digital transformation and AI implementation.

Join Out in Tech Boston at MassChallenge for an inclusive networking night with LGBTQ+ individuals in the tech and innovation fields across Boston. Enjoy complimentary drinks, refreshments, and networking opportunities, where you might meet your next friend or discover a new job opportunity.

The event will feature LGBTQ+ speakers discussing topics such as AI ethics and algorithm bias, educating us about intersectionality and inclusivity in navigating algorithms and digital spaces around us.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to a more inclusive tech community!

Register for the event.

Reading Kate Crawford’s “Atlas of AI”

The growth of awareness and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in many sectors has also prompted a wide-ranging discussion about its ethical implications, both in their formation and use. Kate Crawford’s book, “Atlas of AI,” not only provides comprehensive insights into the complexities of AI systems, including the resources they consume, the labor behind them, the data that powers them, and the perspectives and biases that structure them but also empowers you with the knowledge to navigate these complexities. 

Crawford’s research builds awareness of the inherent ethics and bias in current AI systems, highlighting the challenges and responsibilities facing developers and business leaders.

Power and Inequality in AI

Crawford’s examination of AI through political, economic, and environmental lenses reveals that AI is not merely a technical phenomenon but a manifestation of power. AI technologies often reflect and amplify existing social hierarchies and inequalities, making the ethical deployment of AI not just a technical issue but a socio-political challenge as well.

Reflect on the Power Dynamics:

Recognize that decisions about which technologies are developed and how they are employed can reinforce existing power structures. This requires a commitment to not only understanding but actively countering these dynamics.

Equitable AI Development:

Ensure that AI development processes involve stakeholders from varied backgrounds to prevent perpetuating existing inequalities. This includes hiring practices, team compositions, and partnership decisions.

The Materiality of AI

“Atlas of AI” also delves into AI’s material aspects, such as the environmental impact of data centers and the ethical concerns surrounding the mining of physical resources needed for hardware. This materiality underscores the environmental and human costs of AI technologies.

Sustainable Practices:

Implement environmentally sustainable practices in all stages of AI development, from data center operations to the end-of-life disposal of AI technologies.

Transparency in Resource Usage:

AI systems’ energy consumption and resource requirements should be transparent to allow informed decisions.

Labor in AI

The labor required to produce and maintain AI systems is often invisible but is a critical component of ethical AI deployment. This includes not only the data scientists and developers but also the usually underpaid or unpaid workers who label training data, often in precarious conditions.

Fair labor practices should be enforced and adhered to for all workers involved in the AI lifecycle. This includes fair compensation, safe working conditions, and recognition of the contributions of data annotators and other often overlooked roles.

Labor needs to be Highlighted in AI Narratives. Educate stakeholders about the labor that supports AI technologies, challenging the myth of AI as an autonomous technology and acknowledging the human workforce that makes AI possible.

Data Ethics Beyond Bias

While data bias is a significant concern, Crawford’s analysis encourages a broader view of data ethics. This includes considerations of how data is collected, used, and stored, emphasizing respect for user privacy and autonomy.

Strategic Initiatives:

• Consent and Data Governance: Develop robust mechanisms for user consent and data governance that respect user autonomy and privacy. This involves transparent data practices and substantial user control over their data.

• Data Provenance: Implement systems to track the provenance of data, ensuring its ethical sourcing and maintaining records of its origins and transformations.

Expanding on the initial discussions of bias and ethics in AI with insights from Kate Crawford’s “Atlas of AI,” it becomes clear that addressing these issues requires a holistic approach. Developers and business leaders must consider not just the technical aspects of AI but also the broader implications of their work, including the environmental, labor, and socio-political dimensions. By adopting comprehensive, informed strategies for ethical AI deployment, they can lead the way toward a more equitable and sustainable future with AI.

Design in Driving Digital Transformation and Value Creation

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly striving to keep up with the ever-changing landscape while simultaneously driving value creation. It’s a challenging task, but one that is essential for success in the modern era. Brian Eastwood’s insights on the “4 levers that create digital value” provide a compelling framework for understanding how businesses can leverage organizational change to enhance their competitive edge. However, an often-overlooked aspect of this transformation journey is the pivotal role of design. As a design leader and business strategist, I believe integrating strong design practices is crucial for navigating these changes effectively and realizing their full potential.

Enhancing Customer Experience through Design

The customer lever focuses on identifying unique customer types and delivering tailored journeys. From a design perspective, this lever benefits immensely from employing design thinking to empathize with and understand various customer personas. Design practices encourage iterative learning through user feedback, which aligns perfectly with developing a nuanced understanding of customer journeys. By integrating design workshops and prototyping, businesses can uncover innovative customer engagement strategies and personalize experiences effectively.

Eastwood highlights the importance of identifying and delivering tailored customer journeys. Design thinking plays an essential role here by centering the customer in the development process. Empathy allows us to deeply understand customer needs and behaviors, leading to insights that drive innovative solutions. Design practices help visualize complex customer journeys and interactions, making them easier to understand and iterate upon. This not only aligns with the goal of focusing on specific customer types but also enhances sustainable growth through improved engagement and acquisition.

Streamlining Capabilities with Design Systems

When discussing capability, the article highlights the importance of creating shared business capabilities to enhance speed and efficiency. Design methodologies play a pivotal role here by fostering an environment where cross-functional teams collaborate to standardize and automate processes. Through techniques like service design, organizations can visualize entire service ecosystems, allowing for more precise identification of standard capabilities that can be streamlined or shared, reducing redundancy and enhancing efficiency.

Design methodologies can significantly benefit the discussion on creating shared business capabilities to gain speed and efficiency. Implementing design systems offers a structured approach to standardizing and automating interfaces and user experiences across different customer touchpoints. This not only ensures consistency and enhances user experience but also speeds up the process of rolling out new features. Moreover, a well-established design system enables organizations to swiftly adjust to alterations in the market or changes in customer preferences, supporting the agility required in today’s digital economy.

Design’s Role in Commercialization

The commercialization lever—turning internal capabilities into new revenue streams—resonates deeply with the principles of design-led innovation. The design process is inherently explorative, making it ideal for identifying and developing new uses for existing capabilities. By adopting a design-driven approach, companies can more effectively prototype and test these new offerings in real-world scenarios, ensuring they meet market needs before full-scale deployment.

If you’re thinking of commercializing an internal capability, take a cue from Eastwood and dive deep into understanding your target market and what your customers really need. This will go a long way in making your venture a success!. Design contributes significantly here by providing tools and frameworks to prototype, test, and validate new ideas quickly and efficiently. This iterative process helps minimize risks associated with new ventures and maximizes the potential for success. Additionally, design can help communicate the value of new services or products in a way that resonates with customers, thereby enhancing the commercialization process.

Component Design for Scalability and Reuse

The component lever’s focus on driving consistency and speeding up the market launch of digital models is where design’s role in systematizing and standardizing elements can truly shine. In design, particularly within the realm of digital products, modular design frameworks are utilized to ensure components can be easily reused and adapted across different parts of the organization. This approach not only accelerates development but also maintains a high level of consistency and usability, which are critical for user acceptance and satisfaction.

The goal to “drive consistency and speed to market with embedded digital models” can be excellently supported by design. Modular design principles can be applied to create components that are reusable and easily integrated across different systems and platforms. This not only reduces the time and cost of development but also ensures that high standards of user experience are maintained. Effective design governance can aid in the management of these components, ensuring they are updated and optimized continuously for maximum impact.

Leadership and Governance in Design

Finally, governance and leadership in design are as critical as in any other business area. Establishing clear design leadership roles, such as a Chief Design Officer, can help in aligning various design efforts with organizational strategic goals. This role can also facilitate communication among different teams and stakeholders, ensuring that design maintains its customer focus and drives innovation.

The article rightly asserts that navigating these levers requires iterative efforts and strong governance. Design thinking adds a layer of adaptability to this governance by encouraging a culture of experimentation and iteration, where rapid prototyping and continuous feedback are embedded into the change management process. This approach helps in quickly identifying what works and what doesn’t, allowing for agile responses to market changes or internal feedback.

Moreover, design leadership can advocate for a holistic view of the organization’s strategy by aligning these four levers with a central vision focused on user experience and innovation. This alignment ensures that every department, from IT to customer service, from marketing to product development, is working towards a unified goal that enhances overall business value and customer satisfaction.

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Eastwood rightly points out that metrics are crucial. In design, this translates to measuring user satisfaction, engagement, and usability. These metrics not only inform design decisions but also help demonstrate the ROI of design initiatives, thus ensuring continuous support from senior management.

Eastwood’s article provides a valuable framework for organizations seeking to maximize their digital value through strategic reorganization. Integrating strong design practices into each of the four levers discussed can significantly amplify their effectiveness. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to champion these design principles, ensuring they permeate every layer of our strategic initiatives, from conception through to execution. By doing so, we not only enhance our ability to deliver outstanding value but also foster a resilient organization capable of thriving in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

While the levers identified by the MIT CISR research provide a robust framework for digital transformation, incorporating strong design practices can magnify their effectiveness. Organizations that recognize and integrate design at the core of their strategy are better positioned to navigate the complexities of digital transformation and help them emerge as leaders in the digital age. This strategic integration not only enhances user experience but also drives innovation and creates sustainable competitive advantages.

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If implementing these strategic methods in your organization seems daunting, or if you’re unsure how to integrate design practices effectively with your existing processes, I’m here to help. At Nick & Scratch, I specialize in marrying design thinking with business strategy to unlock maximum value and efficiency. View my services or schedule a call with us for a personalized consultation, where we can explore tailored solutions to ensure your reorganization efforts are as successful and seamless as possible. Let’s transform your challenges into opportunities together.

Announcing the World Usability Day 2024 Theme:

Designing for a Better World

Designing for a Better World is both hopeful and practical. This year, we will organize events that demonstrate all the different ways that better design can improve our world. We take a Universal design approach to ensure the work is inclusive and diverse and reflects our aspirations.

In addition to computer systems, devices, and software, look at architecture, environment, and service design.

Find out more

The theme of “Designing for a Better World” manifests in many ways:

• influencing positive behavioral changes toward more sustainable practices

• accessibility in public places

• sustainable architectures and urban planning

• water reduction and management

• eco-friendly packaging

• accessible public spaces

• software developers prioritizing universal digital design

• community engagement platforms enhancing civic participation

• sustainable transportation solutions prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists

• educational materials designed for exclusivity

• green architecture emphasizing energy efficiency and occupant well-being

• healthcare that bridges the digital divide

Together, these efforts contribute to a more accessible and environmentally conscious world.

Speaker Series

If you have an idea for a session, please send an email to Director Speaker Series.

Volunteer

Volunteers run World Usability Day. If you are interested in getting involved, please send an email to worldusabilityday1@gmail.com.

On December 19, 2023, MIT Sloan Executive Education hosted a LinkedIn Live event titled “Building and Scaling an Inclusive Workforce Development Pipeline.” This session, featuring Kate Isaacs, Malia Lazu, and Tom Giordano, focused on the urgent need for collaborative efforts in workforce development to achieve regional economic growth and competitive advantage.

The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice.

You can watch a recording of the session here.

Finding and keeping talent is a big pain point for companies today. However, the problem can’t be solved by individual companies alone. Instead, it takes companies working together in partnerships with local workforce leaders. During the event, they discussed questions about power, equity, and authenticity.

The central theme revolved around the collective action of businesses, not just singular efforts, to address talent retention and development challenges. The panelists emphasized the importance of reflecting on power, equity, and authenticity to foster a diverse and skilled workforce.

Dr. Kate Isaacs, a co-founder of the BILT Lab, highlighted the need for organizations to adapt to rapid global changes and trends like reshoring of work, decarbonization, and addressing wealth inequities. Tom Giordano, with his extensive experience in public affairs and fundraising, stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in addressing societal and business challenges. Malia Lazu, an expert in diversity and inclusion, underscored the significance of creating a company culture that’s attractive and inclusive to all, especially marginalized groups.

They also touched upon the critical need for companies to develop 21st-century skills in their workforce, such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and distributed leadership. There was a strong call for leaders at all levels to engage in self-reflection, embrace vulnerability, and foster an inclusive culture where diverse thoughts and perspectives are valued.

Actionable Takeaways

1. Foster Collaborative Efforts: Engage in partnerships with local businesses and community leaders to address workforce development.

2. Embrace Global Trends: Adapt to changes such as reshoring, decarbonization, and addressing wealth gaps.

3. Cultivate Inclusive Cultures: Build company environments that attract and retain diverse talent.

4. Develop 21st-century Skills: Focus on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills in your workforce.

5. Encourage Self-Reflection in Leadership: Promote vulnerability and open-mindedness among leaders to understand and address biases.

6. Utilize Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with various sectors to understand and meet the needs of a diverse workforce.

7. Prioritize Psychological Safety: Create safe spaces for employees to contribute their ideas and perspectives.

8. Invest in Communities: Look beyond charity and focus on sustainable, impactful community investments.

9. Adapt to Societal Shifts: Recognize the changing expectations of younger generations in terms of workplace culture and values.

10. Embrace Learning by Doing: Engage in programs like MIT Sloan’s BILT Lab to practically apply these concepts.

This event marked a crucial step in understanding the complexities of workforce development and the collective action required to build an inclusive, skilled, and competitive workforce for the future.

Firsthand Learning

Want to take a deeper dive? Use promo code LINKEDINLIVE10 to save 10% when registering for the related Executive Education course:

Businesses for Inclusive Local Thriving Lab
Start Date: March 18, 2024

As 2023 comes to a close, it is time to decide on the theme for World Usability Day 2024!

Please take the survey and let us know your choice.

World Usability Day is a global event that takes place for one day each year. Its purpose is to bring together professionals, educators, citizens, government groups, and industrialists with a common goal of improving the accessibility and usability of products and services that are essential to our daily lives.

It is a day of celebration and education, marking the progress we have made in creating more user-friendly products while also raising awareness about the impact of usability on our daily lives. The ultimate objective is to make our world work better by empowering the ordinary citizen and spreading the message that poor product design and human error are avoidable.

No one should have to endure products or services that hinder them, and technology should not make people feel unintelligent.

In his article published this Christmas Eve, “Straight Talk for Hard Times: Using Ethnographic Thinking in Interstitial Moments,” Jay Hasbrouck explores the challenges of navigating a volatile job market, especially in the field of applied research. This insightful piece is a guide for professionals at any career stage, focusing on how to use ethnographic thinking to reevaluate career paths and make informed decisions during these uncertain times.

Key takeaways from the article include:

1. Understanding a Company’s Core Value: It’s crucial to comprehend how a company makes money and what it fundamentally offers. This understanding shapes your ability to determine if a company’s focus aligns with your passion and skills, which is vital for long-term job satisfaction.

2. Assessing Organizational Culture and Fit: Investigate whether a company’s culture and values align with your own. This includes understanding the company’s practices, reward systems, and how decisions are influenced. I think feedback from others about your work can be important in this assessment.

3. Recognizing and Navigating Power Dynamics: Understand the official and unofficial power structures within a company. This knowledge helps in identifying key stakeholders and decision-makers who may impact your role.

4. Leadership Analysis: Analyze the leadership style and effectiveness within the organization. Leadership gaps can be indicators of either challenges or opportunities for change and impact.

5. Approach to Innovation: Inquire about how a company approaches innovation. Whether it’s an integral part of product development or a separate entity, it can significantly influence your role and the value of your contributions.

6. Emphasizing Humility: Assess whether the company culture values humility, learning from mistakes, and supporting each other. This can significantly impact your job satisfaction and growth.

7. Dealing with Job Responses: Hasbrouck advises on how to handle different types of job responses – ‘no,’ ‘maybe,’ and He s’ He suggests using each response as a learning opportunity to understand more about the company and your own candidacy.

8. Broadening Career Perspectives: Careers are often non-linear. Be open to opportunities that might not initially seem appealing, as they can offer significant growth.

9. Career Game Realities: Finally, Hasbrouck notes that while navigating one’s career, it’s essential to enjoy the journey and not be overly fixated on ‘winning’ the career game, as this rarely correlates with happiness or fulfillment.

Actionable Insights:

From reading the article, here are some actionable items researchers can try:

• Conduct Thorough Research: Before applying or interviewing, research the company’s business model, culture, and values to ensure alignment with your own.

• Seek Diverse Feedback: Regularly seek feedback about your work from various sources to understand your strengths and areas for growth.

• Engage in Strategic Networking: Understand the power dynamics within an organization and identify key influencers.

• Evaluate Leadership: Pay attention to leadership styles and strategies, and think about how they align with your approach to work.

• Consider Innovation’s Role: Reflect on how you fit into the company’s innovation strategy, whether in a dedicated team or as part of product development.

• Cultivate Humility and Learning: Look for environments where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities and humility is valued.

• Be Open to Various Opportunities: Expand your job search to include roles and industries that may not be your first choice but offer potential for growth and learning.

• Enjoy the Career Journey: Focus on the experience and growth offered by each role rather than solely on career advancement.

Hasbrouck’s article serves as a comprehensive guide for professionals navigating today’s challenging job market, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values and strengths with potential employers for a fulfilling career path.

Julia DeBari, has stepped up to lead the next World IA Day Boston on March 2, 2024. This is exciting because it will be Boston’s first event since 2021!

Julia is looking for people to help make this happen. There are lots of ways to participate: event planning, helping to find sponsorship, or supporting marketing/communication/social media, graphics, A/V, and other day-of-event stuff.

Would you like to be involved, or do you know someone else who would?

If you would like to hear more, please reach out to Julia directly. 

Wherever you are, don’t forget to book March 2 on your calendar to attend or livestream a WIAD event.