#jon kolko

[censemaking]

The Empathy Gap

Empathy is considered to be at the bedrock of good design. But what if how we’re thinking about empathy is wrong?

Empathy is certainly having its moment. Anywhere you look for writing on design and innovation and you’ll likely find a big role for empathy.

Designers are encouraged to empathize with their potential customers and see the world through their perspective. Apart from being a…

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[unknown-adoration]

CREATIVE CLARITY

Creative clarity is about four main things. First, it’s about having a vision and choreographing a creative strategy – envisioning a crisp future even among the blurry business landscape. Next, it’s about growing a team that includes those creative unpredictable outcasts, and giving them the space to produce amazing work. Third, planning the work takes process, but not a process characterized by boring stage gates or stale gantt charts. It’s an iterative process of conflict, resolution, and trust. Finally, it’s about actually delivering creative new products and services that bring everything into focus.

~ Jon Kolko

[oneforabillion]

Jon Kolko - Design Synthesis

Something you do automaticly Jon Kolko explains loud and clear. It’s not magic, it’s using your logic to come up with new design idea. 

I saw this + I know this = Insights + Design pattern = Design idea

Reframing means changing the environment, change form based on applications. Primary use goal changes. The toothbrush story was inspiring for me personally.

[mistersmall]

If you can achieve product-market fit, you product will be successful. The terms to judge success are relative. A new product may achieve product-market fit simply by gaining visibility among early adopters, while an established product might need to turn massive profits or disrupt competition in order to claim product-market fit. You’ll note that I’ve chosen the word ‘fit’ on purpose instead of a word like ‘sales’ or ‘performance’. Profit and revenue are important but the relationship between the product and the market is more complex than simply the number of units sold. This fit describes the way the market broadly responds to what you have to offer, including competitive positioning, collaborative relationships, and even technological adoption.

Jon Kolko, Well Designed

[mistersmall]

When you introduce design into your process, you’ll experience a new level of emotional resonance and a unique connection with the people who use your product.

Jon Kolko, Well Designed

[mistersmall]

Design takes and optimistic stance about the future by assuming that there are infinite ways to work to improve situations.

Jon Kolko, Well Designed

[youexdee]

Don’t ask for critique if you only want validation. If you want a hug, just ask.

Jon Kolko (Full article here)

[trnsprntlabs]

I like humble pie.

Recently I've been working on a redesign of a major portfolio site for a class assignment and emerging from the hole that is a rigorous design education to conduct contextual inquires into the hiring ecosystem.  In my research I've found that you never know as much as you think you know, which of course feels like such a boring cliche.  I guess what makes a cliche a cliche is it happens so frequently it becomes one.

It's been interesting to dive deeper into how designers present themselves to each other and to the outside world.  Jon Kolko's article The Conflicting Rhetoric of Design Education came up in my IxD department meeting the other day, and I inquired if we were being trained as generalists or specialists surfaced.

The reply to the question was "Both."  I am not sure how to reconcile that in my head, but it feels like it echoes some of Kolko's commentary.  

One thing I do know is investigating this topic has helped to clarify the opportunities a designer has when crafting their portfolio, some opportunities to facilitate how designers can think about showcasing their work when using online portfolio tools, and how the tools can better facilitate the designers process in presenting their work within the context of a portfolio.

I also have uncovered a perception that design is purely a craft based work that yields a visual or physical asset through interviewing some non design professionals who collaborate regularly with designers .  A lot less is know about design also being used as a problem solving process.

I read a job post recently looking for a Digital Marketing Director that knows how to do user flows and interface design, which further illustrates this disconnect.  I'm not sure which side is responsible for it, but I do know for a moment it can feel humbling when designers from other disciplines, and non designers ask, "so what do interaction designers actually do?"  Then, I realize it's my opportunity to share more about the practice that is interaction design, and explain some of the tools we use to solve 'wicked' problems.  

Some walk away from the conversation with a deeper understanding, but some walk away with a questions mark...which reminds me that I can always improve the way I communicate about the interaction designers perspective and tool set.

One of the best things that comes from the discomfort of learning is the reflection that follows and the discoveries you are able to make when you are in that place.  If I can become truly comfortable with being uncomfortable the silver lining is that there will be a plethora of reflective moments and the insights that accompany them.