Ryan Stinson

A hard requirement when developing a kiosk's user interface is a "Reduced Height" or "Wheelchair" Mode". Interactive elements have be reachable, so they can't be lower than 40cm or higher than 120cm from the floor in Canada.

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Just announced! This month's UX Salon Halifax meetup is all about... User Experience of course. That's it. Back to the basics. Ever wonder why some things just work so.... nice? Or why some other experiences are so frustrating? We can answer that. :) See you in two weeks! #uxsalonhalifax #halifaxux #userexperience #halifaxtech #uxdesign #uxresearch

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📉 As a PM, how do you balance speed vs. quality when stakes are high? This scenario is all too real—your engineering manager is pushing for a quicker release, but you know cutting UX will hurt adoption. Meanwhile, your designer’s drowning in design debt. How do you navigate this messy reality? Watch the video where our founder Bosky Mukherjee shared with 3 powerful strategies that work: 1. Pre-emptive framing to shift "what of the release" to "why of the release" 2. Strategic compromise to bring the unbiased pov in the room 3. Reverse ask to co-design the "what of the release" with your Engg Manager Watch the video to learn more, and let me know your thoughts! 🎥👀 #productmanagement #productleadership #careergrowth #productdevelopment #conflict #linkedin

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Does your software team speak the same language? Aligning on what basic UI elements are called is a great starting point. It doesn’t even matter what name your team chooses as long as everyone agrees on it. Names should hint at purpose. #productdesign #designsystems

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Remote work enabled me to hire an expert team of UX designers and researchers dispersed across Canadian cities. It allowed me to support employee wellbeing so that precarious child care situations, creative passions and needs at home could be balanced with flexible work. We never missed a deadline; our work was always of a top quality. I could hire for the best talent and recruit from outside government. I couldn't offer the pay of private sector, but I could offer a healthy work environment and flexibility - something which many creatives (and folks in general) covet more than money. A slow creep to the end of remote work will make this impossible for many managers working in the federal government in IT. And equally, it will make it hard to retain managers and executives who are also subject matter experts in the field. It's really disappointing to see, and I hope there will be flexibility given so that we can retain the best talent in house. When you foster a work environment that is enticing to IT talent, you build real functional IT capacity within the government. Haven't we learned from ArriveCan? #DigitalGov #IT #remotework #returntowork

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If your product team doesn't have a design system and is interested in creating one, consider conducting an interface inventory. This exercise will help identify any inconsistencies in your product and help in visualizing a taxonomy for your UI elements.

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As someone who’s relatively new to User Research, moving to a new country has made me even more curious about how Culture influences User experiences and technology adoption. Even in my short time here in Canada, I’ve noticed some interesting differences in how people interact with digital products and services compared to what I’ve seen before. These observations are already shaping how I think about User interviews and testing strategies in different cultural contexts. It’s fascinating to see how things like communication style, expectations, and preferences can vary, and I’m eager to dive deeper into this as I continue my research journey. For those who have experience conducting cross-cultural research, how do you ensure you’re adapting your methods to fit the local context? Any tips for a researcher still learning the ropes? Looking forward to your insights! 😊 #UserResearch #UX #CrossCulturalResearch #LearningJourney #LinkedInChallenge #CulturalDifferences

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Really annoyed at Figma's price gouging here. There is no reason other than greed: https://lnkd.in/gfdrEiWH Oh, and I emailed them about it and this line from their reply was particularly poignant: "Additionally the minimum for enterprise is a $5k invoice minimum. 6 enterprise seats or made up with other products." To put that in context... our monthly Adobe bill (for 8 CC, 7 PS, 6 Acrobat licenses) is ~NZ$2k... Amazing how quickly enshittification sets in... #Figma #Design #SoftwareLicensing

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A great episode of UX Potpourri by Darren Hood, MSUXD I recommend all hiring managers in UX or those that are responsible for interviewing for UX listen to this episode. https://lnkd.in/geGFP52v I'll only say my opinion on hiring practices in the industry from my experience. It can be incredibly burdensome to take on a role as a junior without the adequate support, especially when you know the company really needs someone more senior. I've seen entry level and junior UXers leave the field completely because of the poor experience. I agree with companies doing better in their hiring practices. I believe companies should hire juniors, bootcamp grads, and other entry level UXers, but they need the resources to help them. Also, hire a true senior before hiring any juniors who is capable of mentoring and leading. If that's not possible, have training available to them through different organizations or stipends. And finally, hire an experienced UX professional to do the recruiting. I had a GREAT experience at a company some years ago when I was a web designer. That was possible because they had senior and manager level web designers and developers fully involved in the vetting process from beginning to end. Anyway, just my two cents.

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Better, faster, more creative design work while building tighter relationships between delivery and design? That’s the promise behind the practice of #DesignOps, a formal approach to building processes that integrate design teams into product development. (More here: https://lnkd.in/gPZju3qP) The 2024 #DesignOpsSummit program that Rosenfeld Media has put together promises to help design teams define optimal processes that remove fragility and build resilience, while measuring the value of investing in process. It centers on three themes:  1. Impact: Learn how to optimize DesignOps impact within your organization. 2. Resilience: Discover strategies to build resilient design teams. 3. Innovation: Explore cutting-edge methodologies and tools to drive innovation. I’m attending the online conference from Sept 23-25 to learn how UX teams can protect the environments that allow their creativity to thrive, while still delivering timely, high quality work needed to keep Agile teams running. You can see the program and register here: https://lnkd.in/gDtX7ppC

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🌍 UX communities are more than just networking opportunities—they're where we learn, grow, and inspire each other. Whether you’re joining an established group like #CapCHI, which brings together the amazing UX community in Ottawa, or starting one yourself, being part of a UX network can make a big difference. I’ve found that connecting with others in the UX field really helps us stay ahead of trends and share valuable insights. 💡 It’s amazing how much we can learn from each other and how these interactions can fuel our creativity and problem-solving. What about you? How has your UX community impacted your work? What’s your go-to group or event? Let’s share in the comments and spread the word about the incredible UX networks out there! #UX #UserExperience #UXCommunity #Networking #DesignThinking

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Is WCAG already on your agenda? Last week we hosted a roundtable and a workshop to give product leaders a better understanding of the compliance process, where to start, who to involve and how to set up your audit system. 👇 The 5 key takeaways 👇 To help, we've create an audit template to give you a head start. Leave your name in the comments if you'd like to receive it and I'll send it to you!

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Risks are tackled up front, rather than at the end. In modern teams, we tackle these risks prior to deciding to build anything. These risks include value risk (whether customers will buy it), usability risk (whether users can figure out how to use it), feasibility risk (whether our engineers can build what we need with the time, skills, and technology we have), and business viability risk (whether this solution also works for the various aspects of our business-sales, marketing, finance, legal, etc.).

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The more I learn about business the less I understand why any company would go public when they can instead run their business 

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I couldn’t have said it better. Design and UX are often seen as nice-to-have resources, leading to their undervaluation and insufficient staffing on Product teams. As a result, we frequently find ourselves stretched thin, doing our best to keep up with demands. Instead of being recognized for our contributions, we’re often labeled as bottlenecks, with teams opting to go around us. Worse yet, we’re sometimes told to spend less time on solving problems and merely focus on making things "look pretty". To my fellow UXers: seek out organizations that genuinely value your work and the contributions you make. I understand that times are tough, and we’re all doing the best we can with limited budgets. However, if a company claims to prioritize user experience, they need to back that up with real investment.

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Tabs are everywhere, but do you use them properly? Distinguish between types of tabs, design them for visual clarity, and structure their content for usability. #UX #productDesign #usability https://buff.ly/3YyMXuf

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How many iterations does it take for a designer to feel like it's finally done? Answer: We’ll never know, because it’s NEVER done 🙃 But at some point, we’ve got to hit 'submit' and pass it on. So, here I am, doing just that. Check out my portfolio and latest work (yes, it's done... for now)! 💻👇 Portfolio link - https://lnkd.in/ei2rSpsa

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Simple portfolio presentation tip for design leaders today: Include something about why this job. Why do you want it? What do you like about it? Don’t overcomplicate. I added one slide at the end when I applied for the Maps role. Idea is it helps you confirm what you think this role is going to be about. AND, it tells the interviewers you understand the challenges and the landscape.

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Despite the mess on the market, I see a great shift of mentalities, careers, and aspirations. Should the Design Manager be hands-on? Can a Principal Designer move into a Leadership track? How much seniority defines the senior IC and leadership roles in design and UXR? What should you do if you are unsure? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄: 1. Leadership roles have shifted - there are no more 100% hands-off roles in design and UXR leadership. 2. Becoming a Staff designer has nothing to do with years of experience - companies need you to be able to understand the business and move metrics while juggling several XFN teams. 3. Roles and careers are becoming less and less linear. We see more cross-division moves and successful folks who move back and the between leadership <> ic, full-time <> entrepreneurship. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲: 4. If 100% hands-on is your desired role - consider fractional and consulting. 5. Staff role is all about impact and scale -> start moving in this direction and learning everything about business, stakeholder relationships, and solid storytelling. 6. If unsure about your path - seek what makes you happy now. Is it building complex products? Is it giving back your knowledge? Either way, it does not have to stay this way forever. There has never been the caliber of talent as it is now and there has never been as much freedom to be your own boss. So either path you choose, do not worry too much and trust the flow. It's hard to go forward, but you can always go back!

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