Jason Ogle

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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✨ It's not about the artifact, it's about the insight. ✨ Heidi Trost shares her experience with personas that made an impact. 📝 Instead of complex deliverables, she focused on capturing core insights in a few simple phrases in an infographic. These insights tied behaviors to business goals – and that’s what resonated. 📊 It wasn’t about how it looked, but how well it communicated across the team. 🌟 #UXResearch #BusinessGoals #EffectiveCommunication

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Only one-third of CEOs could detail what their CDO oversaw at the company. In other words, 66% of CEOs couldn’t say what their CDO actually did, or how that success should be measured. No wonder only 10% of CEOs reported that a senior designer played a meaningful role in the company’s strategy. And only 17% of design leaders thought they were in the right position to give a company their full value. McKinsey concludes that 90% of companies aren’t using design talent to their full potential. https://lnkd.in/ePHAS4S3

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Is it just me World Usability Congress or should your website adhere to at least WCAG 1.0 standards? Text as an image over video, days with no month or dates, white text on teal, no ability to tab through content, hover drop-down menus... woud be great to see this brought up to a level its intended to represent. https://lnkd.in/gwU5mGim #usabilitystandards #accessibility #customerexperience #designstandards #ux #cx #uxaudit

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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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The UX adage “Design like you’re right, test like you’re wrong” captures the balance between confident strategic design decisions and the humility required for iterative testing, user feedback, and applying what you’ve learned. Orginal AI image created with Midjouney #userexperience #productdesign #uxresearch

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Figma’s ConFig ’24 released several new features that caused many to continue to sing their praises. However, there is a trend their business model that is problematic. New features are initially available to all in beta. Once the feature goes into production, there will be a charge to use the new feature. Figma seems to be building an a la cart feature menu creating a nickel and dime growth strategy. The problem is that Figma has already surpassed the exorbitant pricing of Adobe products. Has Figma considered the full spectrum of their user base? While some enterprises may be able to float that price tag (For managers, it still can be a hard sell for budget approval), small businesses and independent designers will find the cost to be challenging or prohibitive. While Figma may generate some initial profit, it may not work in the long-term once the romance is gone.

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Really looking forward to Product Design Week this year. I'm doing a talk - Why Talent & Culture Are Still Your Greatest Asset - on Day 1 of Design Leaders + (12:30-1:00 on November 11th). https://lnkd.in/gH_YVJR8 Anyone working in customer experience, design, product or strategy right now will know that we are living in - ahem - interesting times. The challenges facing leaders within brands, agencies and consultancies are more complex and fast-evolving than ever before. The experience design road has never been a smooth one, but it feels particularly rocky, potholed and full of hidden hairpins at the moment! Watching the conversations play out on LinkedIn you might safely assume that many are currently feeling pretty doom and gloom. But look at any disruptive cycle of technology-led adjustment in history and you will always see growth and positive progress right in there with the painful stuff. Personally I think that real opportunity can be found in the intersection between innovative, enabling technologies and the design of human-centred experiences - and after 30 years in the digital experience business I'm still convinced that's right where it's always lived. Teams who can combine the ability to deliver compelling customer experiences with the competencies to harness data, AI and genuine insight are going to be the real unlockers of value. And organisations that are able to access and attract those people - and provide the right environment and culture to empower and retain them - will achieve true competitive advantage and return on investment. My talk on the 11th is going to focus on those factors. Ultimately, technology comes and goes. It arrives all shiny and shouty, then it gets all habitual and legacy on you. What doesn't change is the importance of the skilled talent that can build magic from base metals - and making sure that that talent is supported by an environment in which it can create and deliver that magic. Hope to see you there! #PDW24 #Talent #Culture #Experience #Design #Leadership #Technology

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Figma does slides! I just made this quick study in minutes without training. Adding slides, duping slides and objects, and building transitions are easy. I’ll keep you posted as I try out all the features. I’ve just been using “smart animate.” So far, so good!! Share your experience so far in the comments. #figma #figmaslides #presentationdesign

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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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🔊 Design Leadership at Scale has a lot happening in August and beyond. Read on for all the info on Design Leadership at Scale: Operations, plus: ⚡️ Three FREE DLS Lightning Lesson + Team sessions ⚡️ Newly added course dates ⚡️ 20% discount code Design Leadership at Scale: Operations I'm busy putting the final touches on the August course modules, lessons, and projects, but you can expect to dive deep on the following: Module 1: Build and activate high-impact teams Module 2: Define and optimize your operating system Module 3: Identify and address common challenges I'm including many real-world scenarios, and will try to answer pretty much every question you might have during our seven live sessions together. We'll also be joined by special guests with extensive industry experience. If you are still deciding about enrolling in Design Leadership at Scale: Operations, consider joining one of the upcoming free Lightning Lessons or watch my recent Designing your Design Team 30-minute Lightning Lesson to get a better sense for how I teach. And if the August dates don't work with your schedule, I've opened up another cohort October 1-10, 2024. If you have any questions about whether this course will be a good fit for you, let me know, and together we can figure out. Free Lightning Lessons on Maven In August there are three Lightning Lessons from Design Leadership at Scale. All are free to attend. Join live or view the recordings after the session dates. ⚡️ Org Design For Your Design Org – Aug 7, 8-9am PT, with me ⚡️ Team Tactics For Increasing Influence + Impact – Aug 8, 1-1:30pm PT, with Doug Powell ⚡️ How Top Design Leaders Influence At Scale – Aug 16, 2-2:45pm PT, hosted by Rachel K. with Doug Powell, Bob Baxley, and me Grab your spot then spread the word! (links to register in comments) Quick reference: https://bit.ly/4c3UgNA to sign up for the August 19-28 cohort with a 20% discount code https://bit.ly/4cZcf9d to sign up for the October 1-10 cohort with a 20% discount code If your company offers an L&D or education budget, here's a reimbursement template you can leverage https://bit.ly/4fmDhcs

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I promised to share an illustration from my World Usability Congress talk, where I covered the topic "Implementing UX Triage: The Path to UX Restoration." This image shows a laundry list of things we need to address to right the ship for UX today. Have fun with this word cloud. Addendum: Here's the full list (for now)... ;-) • heuristic revival • renounce the ISMs • stop discarding seasoned UXers • digest UX history • revive UX generalism • respect the pioneers • stop emboldening neophytes • stamp out toxic positivity • restore accountability • exalt fundamentals • stop saying "UX/UI" • pick battles wisely • establish internal mentoring • optimize UX support • manage UX maturity • standardize gatekeeping • renounce straw man frameworks • optimize relationship building • learn to speak "exec" • stop normalizing mediocrity • hold learners accountable • improve UX embedding • stop making up UX job titles • remove shields • cease UX conflation • properly define the discipline • dispel UX factions • stop separating UXR from UX • downplay non-authoritative voices • reject neuroticism • reject ostrich-effect bias I'll take time to dissect each line item in an upcoming podcast episode. #ux #realuxtalk

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How I’m Incorporating "Jobs to be Done" into My Design Process💡 Over the past few years, I’ve been refining my approach to design, and one framework that’s really resonated with me is "Jobs to be Done" (JTBD). It’s not just about designing for users anymore—it’s about understanding what people are really trying to achieve when they "hire" a product or service. 🔍 Lately, I’ve been actively working to incorporate JTBD into my design process, and here’s why: ► It Keeps the Focus on Real-World Needs 🌍   Instead of getting lost in creating flashy features, JTBD pushes me to dig deeper into what problems people are facing and what they’re trying to solve. It’s helping me shift my thinking from “What should this product do?” to “What progress does this user want to make?” ► A Broader View of User Context 🔄   I’ve always found understanding the user’s environment important, but JTBD takes it to another level. Now, I’m more conscious of the user’s journey and the circumstances surrounding their needs. This has made my designs more practical and aligned with real-life challenges. ► It’s Personalizing My Process 🎯   Incorporating JTBD means I’m learning to step away from general user personas and focus on individual progress. This has been a big shift in my thinking—designing not just for who the user is, but for the transformation they want to experience. ► It’s an Ongoing Process 🛠️   I’m still working on fully integrating this mindset, but already it’s changing how I approach problem-solving in design. By focusing on the jobs people need done, I feel I’m creating more meaningful, impactful solutions. The journey isn’t finished, but JTBD has become a vital part of how I design—and I’m excited to see how it evolves in my work. 🚀 #JobsToBeDone #DesignThinking #ProductDesign #UX #ContinuousLearning

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Isn't it an odd thing that this feels like it needs discussion? Why do we treat digital design so differently than design in every other medium? When's the last time you met an architect who didn't know about structural materials? or an interior designer that doesn't understand fabrics? When's the last time you saw a public park open only to have neighbors complain that it doesn't look like the 3D rendering plastered on the fence during construction? Design is all about intent. Without understanding how your intent will be implemented - and experienced - in the medium of destination, your design is at best a hope. #digitalproduction #design #designtocode

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Join me on the latest episode of the #ProductBuildersPodcast featuring James Smet! Hear firsthand from a design system expert and learn how to tackle common hurdles in design system implementation. Whether you're an experienced pro or new to the field, you'll get valuable insights and actionable advice. 💪 Follow the link in the comments to listen to the full episode!

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I commented on this article from uxdesign.cc "UX design isn’t dead, you’re just confused: Get with the times." I've worked in or adjacent to UX for nearly 30 years. I'm teaching now and use Jesse James Garrett's book "The Elements of User Experience". (Yeah, it's over 20 years old. So what.) I just lectured on the Strategy Plan chapter and covered most of what was written here. So where are the new crop of UX people getting their information from? Jesse spoke about metrics and business objectives and how they fit into user experience over 20 years ago. So when did educators and pundits start getting it wrong? If we work in or for an organization we have one job as UX professionals: facilitate business objectives through effective, accessible, intuitive customer (oh, how I hate the word "user") interaction with our products. If we lean into that the value of user experience will rise to the top. So...what am I missing? https://lnkd.in/gz_pH7VA

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As a design leader, you work for your team—not the other way around. Learn how to keep your #UXteam happy, creative, and always on schedule. https://lnkd.in/eksZbUXM #DesignLeadership #TeamManagement #UXDesign #Productivity

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Does your design practice need an Information Architect like me? * Are you a design agency or product company of more than 15 people? * Do you primarily design websites? Mobile apps? Hybrid physical/digital experiences? * Do your experiences require navigation for menus, taxonomy to drive filtering systems, or recommendation engines? If you answered yes to any of those questions then you need an Information Architect. If you don't have an IA (or Content Strategist, UX Designer, or Technical Architect working in this capacity), then your project is missing out on: – Increased efficiency – Improved designs – More positive user testing results – Improved inter-operability among systems – Better team dynamics between content, design and dev [The last 2 are super important for enterprise orgs, but brands of all sizes experience the first 3.] If you're interested in Information Architecture work, I have one or two openings for new clients starting in September. I can provide samples, client testimonials, and references upon request.

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