Marshall Walker Lee

I'll expect more from you if you tell me you want to make something accessible and §508 conformant. The 508 digital accessibility standards are mirroring WCAG 2.0 AA. That version of WCAG came out in December 2008. In other words, that standard is 16 years old... So I'm going to push for you to, at a minimum, adhere to the latest version of WCAG. That is, WCAG 2.2. By doing that, you'll still conform to §508, but you'll also make things more accessible for your end users. Also, remember, accessibility standards are the starting line, not the target.

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Diversity in design isn't just a buzzword—it's a business imperative. 🌈 As a hiring manager, I've seen firsthand how diverse teams boost creativity, product quality, and profitability. I believe in building teams that reflect our users and bring fresh perspectives to every project. How do you ensure fairness during the hiring process when you have to look at portfolios? Here is my perspective on the challenges of inclusive hiring. #DiversityInDesign #InclusiveHiring #TeamBuilding

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Over the years I've tried many approaches to design critiques with the teams I've managed. Without fail these 4 simple principles impact the effectiveness of design critiques greater than anything else when established as ground rules. For presenters: ✦ Describe the problem you're solving ✦ State the target audience* ✦ Specify the feedback you're seeking All of the above can be done in less than a minute, either verbally or in written format. For participants: ✦ Ask questions before comments "I think you should go with blue instead of red" is less effective than first asking "Why did you choose red for this?" The additional context that comes from asking questions will lead to more effective feedback. Design critiques are the easiest and most important thing design teams can do to improve design quality. Alone they are not a silver bullet. But they are the foundation for all other improvements to design quality. If you're not holding regular design critiques (usually weekly), this is step 1 for improving design quality. If you're already holding regular design critiques but not doing the 4 principles above well, this is step 1 for improving your design critiques. Better critiques. Better quality. * "Everyone" is rarely acceptable as the target audience. Even if the feature being presented is intended for everyone, 99% of the time there's a specific segment or archetype you're aiming for. #design #critiques #quality

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🎙️ New Episode Alert: The Future of UX Research: AI, Advanced Methods & Jobs 🚀 Today, I’m chatting with Lawton Pybus and Thomas Stokes, UX Research veterans and founders of Drill Bit Labs, a research strategy consultancy. They have also researched and authored several UX industry meta-reports and educational articles that can help UX researchers, designers, and UCD leaders stand out from the crowd. In this riveting episode, we explore: 💼 The evolving UX industry job market: insights into the skills, roles, and opportunities defining the next generation of UX researchers. 🤖 AI's growing role in UX Research: how artificial intelligence is reshaping our methodologies and deliverables. 🔬 Essential and more advanced research methods: tried and tested, and innovative techniques that are pushing the boundaries of marrying user needs with tech advancements. And much more. You can find this conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, any other major podcasting platform (search “experience designed”) and of course via this link on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gbcxwTKh If you’ve enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to share this episode with your friends and colleagues—it's a conversation worth spreading! #ux #uxresearch #userresearch #podcast #uxstrategy #designresearch #productdesign

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Great advice for both sides of the equation.

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Some really thoughtful questions by my dear friend Bob Baxley and really solid debate in the comments. My thoughts: If Design is not driving what the product experience becomes—or at least co-piloting with Product and/or Engineering—then yes it has no need for C-level representation. On the contrary when Design is driving or co-piloting, not only is a C-level seat warranted but also it facilitates Design being held accountable to measurable, specific outcomes. Part of the issue here is that SaaS companies, B2B especially, have conditioned us to believe every company must have a CPO. And in many cases Design reports into this CPO. But there are still a significant number of companies in the industry where Design is a strong contributor to the roadmap and product experience, and even influences technology decisions heavily in some cases, and in extreme cases has Product reporting into it. And often these companies understand Design needn't be measured with same scrutiny as Technology or Product to warrant C-level representation—or Design's metrics are the metrics that other Product org-led companies typically assign to Product. There is no clear consensus on this topic, but it's a worthwhile debate.

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Wow, it is nice to see some of the impact the course I authored with Designlab is having on teams both big and small. Emilyann Gachko thank you for sharing this case study and how it was received by the team at The Home Depot :) If you are interested in increasing your design skills through #usability and #accessibility check out the course. #ux #design #hcd https://lnkd.in/gEdC3NBV

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For anyone wanting to learn more about how we're working on AI as a design team here at Klaviyo, have a listen to this interview with Alexandra Holness

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Attention Colorado UXers: We are getting together next Wednesday afternoon (9/11) at Pikes Peak Brewing company near Monument (north of Colorado Springs) for a UX happy hour (4:00-6:00ish). We'll tell UX jokes and share stories about our work. I'll sign copies of my book, if you're interested in buying one. Mostly though, I just want to meet some of the local UX folks. Add your punchline to this joke setup in the comments: How many users does a PM need to interview to get statistically significant user needs data?

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"What does it mean to be accessible?" and "How much accessibility is enough accessibility?" are two questions I hear a lot at Gartner - and this new research from myself and Brent Stewart aims to answer both. Despite the existence of guidelines such as the WCAG for over 20 years, a 2024 study by WebAIM found that over 95% of the web’s top one million homepages have detectable WCAG 2 failures. This highlights a significant gap in accessibility compliance versus stated intentions of organizations. The impetus for change is not just ethical, but increasingly legal. Countries around the world, including the United States and European Union member states, are enforcing laws and regulations to require compliance with digital accessibility guidelines. Penalties will vary as they are set by the member state, but can range from fines to criminal sentences. How can software engineering leaders bridge the gap between widespread WCAG failures and the stated intentions of organizations to produce accessible experiences? Link in my comment below... #a11y #accessibility #ux #uxdesign #dei #inclusion

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by all means, seek out mentorship and guidance from experienced designers. but don’t stop there. make a point of building relationships with people outside your immediate orbit. sit in on a sales call. shadow a customer support rep. ask an engineer to walk you through their code. if you really want to build a strong foundation for your career, start investing in those relationships now. you don’t need a mentor to tell you this. you don’t need anyone’s permission to start building these relationships, to start learning from the smart, passionate people around you. all you need is a bit of curiosity, a bit of humility, and not being afraid to send that message. will every conversation be a revelation? no. will every relationship be career changing? probably not. but every interaction will teach you something. and over time, those lessons will add up. they will compound. they’ll shape the way you think, the way you work, the way you solve problems. and that’s something that will serve you well no matter where your career takes you.

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🤝Designing Together: The Power of Trust in Cross-Functional Teams Let’s talk about something often overlooked in the hustle of deadlines, roadmaps, and launches: the human connections that hold our squads together. As product designers, we live at the intersection of user needs, business goals, and technical feasibility. In this space, our product managers and engineers aren’t just “other functions.” They are our partners—the people we rely on to bring ideas to life. Yet, the real challenge is less about tools, processes, or even skillsets, and more about building relationships rooted in honesty, transparency, and trust. Here’s the truth: without these values, even the most brilliant designs can falter. Why? Because product development isn’t a solo act. It’s a collaborative symphony, where alignment, constructive friction, and mutual respect drive success. Honesty: The Foundation Honesty starts with dropping the ego. Be real about what you know, what you don’t, and where you need help. For example, if a design direction feels risky, say so. Likewise, invite your PM and engineers to challenge your assumptions. The best ideas emerge when all perspectives are heard, not when we hold back to avoid discomfort. Transparency: The Glue Transparency isn’t just about sharing updates—it’s about inviting others into the process. Share your messy explorations, involve engineers in user research, and talk openly about constraints. A transparent team is a team that avoids surprises. And when everyone understands the “why” behind decisions, alignment comes naturally. Trust: The Multiplier Trust doesn’t happen overnight—it’s earned through actions. It’s being consistent in your delivery, showing empathy when conflicts arise, and treating criticism as an opportunity rather than an attack. When trust is solid, something powerful happens: debates shift from “proving a point” to “solving a problem.” The Role of Feedback Feedback is where these values are put to the test. Constructive criticism isn’t just about improving a design—it’s about building a better partnership. When a PM critiques your work, they’re helping align it with the strategy. When an engineer pushes back on feasibility, they’re ensuring it’s buildable. Embrace these moments. They’re not threats; they’re gifts. The Big Picture In a squad, the lines between roles blur. Success isn’t about who “owns” the best idea—it’s about delivering the best solution together. When honesty, transparency, and trust become your defaults, your team stops being just a collection of functions. You become a unit, operating with shared purpose and collective accountability. So, product designers: How are you fostering these values in your squads? What’s one thing you’ll do differently this week to strengthen your partnerships? Let’s commit to designing not just great products, but great relationships. That’s where the real magic happens. #Collaboration #ProductDesign #TrustMatters #Teamwork #productdesign

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Portfolio tip for design leaders: Unless your values/leadership style/‘how I lead’ slides are unique or clearly showing why they make you a good fit for this specific role, skip all that in your portfolio presentation. It’s a waste of time and if it sounds like what all the other candidates are also doing(which is true 90% of the time), it will make you blend in. Not good: Generic words like empathy, team building, servant leadership etc Good: Super specific values that apply to this role Better: Super specific values that are actually then evidenced in the work you will shortly present

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If you're a leader looking to build a better team, take a listen to Adam Grant's recent #podcast episode, How to design teams that don't suck. I particularly love the analogy that the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the back. What's not to love about leadership lessons from sports? (And movies based on sports stories?) #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoach ------ I'm Elisabeth Owen Hayes (aka EO). As a coach, I work with professionals who are ready to level up—whether it’s by expanding their leadership skills, transitioning into a new role, or navigating a career pivot. If you’re ready for more than just thinking about change, let's talk. After all, we already have one thing in common: we’re both invested in your success. https://lnkd.in/exx5ZqMV

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I have a lot of empathy for the situation many UXRs find themselves in. They were told to collaborate, facilitate, "democratize", share, up-level, and invest emotional energy in helping teams get better. ...and then were the first to be let go during layoffs (often with public statements that took a not-so-thinly-veiled jabs at glue people, etc.) If you're currently hiring, I strongly suggest considering hiring a skilled UXR, especially given the complex nature of AI. There's a good chance they have a multi-disciplinary background and are the perfect person to help you unravel tough problems.

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🚀 New Case Study - Building a Contrast Checker Tool for Accessibility Designing accessible digital experiences requires constant attention to detail, especially around readability contrast. After facing frustration with multiple tools and clunky interfaces that seemed frozen in the early 2000s, I built something better: a contrast checker that unites WCAG and APCA standards in a single, clean, modern tool. Check out the tool here: https://lnkd.in/exEK2FbX By combining the familiar WCAG algorithm with the emerging APCA standard, which provides a nuanced approach to contrast for self-illuminated screens, this tool offers designers a fuller picture of accessibility—without jumping between platforms. With an intuitive, clutter-free interface, it’s designed to give actionable insights, saving valuable time and ensuring accessibility at every step. Special thanks to Sondre Aasemoen for creating a11y-color-contrast, a fantastic Typescript implementation of the WCAG and APCA algorithms. #Accessibility #ContrastChecker #UXDesign #InclusiveDesign #WCAG #APCA #AccessibilityTools

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LSA Digital spent last week at the SAFe Summit conference in Washington, DC where things got interesting. We put on a skit with a scary Halloween theme featuring a WIP Witch, Energy Vampire, and other Scaled Agile characters. People stopped by our booth to have their picture taken with the life-sized cutouts used in the skit. We even won an award for Most Creative Booth. We also provided opportunities to interact rather than just read stuff. For instance, a popular attraction were our free self-assessments. Try one here: https://lnkd.in/gEGAM4n6 Our live website UX reviews were a hit, as well. People were surprised by how poorly their website’s UX was designed even though their UI designs were aesthetically pleasing. Visual appeal does not mean a good user experience. We heard comments like “I didn’t understand the difference between UI and UX until now.” Book time to get your free UX review https://lnkd.in/g6kwj4wu AI was a popular topic at our booth. Discussions focused on how AI can do things humans can’t, and humans do things that AI can’t. Combining AI and UX to create Human and Machine systems leverages the power of AI to go beyond “polishing reports,” and gets the AI to perform tasks that unburden the users.

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How do design system teams prove their value? Finding hard metrics around the impact of design system teams has historically been a challenge. A year ago, I met the design system team at Eventbrite who could confidently say that they saved 534 days of engineering effort with their design system. Here's their calculation: Time spent to develop a component pre-design system - time spent to install the design system component = Time saved In order to extrapolate this number, though, you need to know how many times a component has been used. And, that used to require a savvy dev on the team to build something custom. That's no longer the case. We built something at zeroheight that will allow you to track component use in a single repo or across all of your repos. This should help teams show how valuable they are, plus do things like: see which components to prioritize based on use see which product teams are adopting As an added bonus, anyone using the new feature set can also monitor design system packages, allowing them to quickly see which teams are using outdated packages. On a personal note, I'm hoping with data like this, more teams can confidently quantify their impact. And along the way, we'll get better as design system practitioners at identifying the right things to work on. This new feature set is in beta and totally free. Even if you aren't using zeroheight to document your design system, you can use it. Takes like 15 minutes and you've got rich data. Here's the sign up:

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