Instructions for Becoming a Sketcher

I just posted some probably-too-personal reflections on learning to sketch over on the AP newsletter. If you’re the type of person who’s likes the gooey insides, check em out.

<3

Am I the only one who thinks this emoticon looks like a gnome squatting to poo in the forest? Or maybe a waffle cone? Anything but a heart.

Tipsy notes to myself…

… jotted down at the book talk last night. I should combine beer and social/professional outings more often. It’s good for the creative juices!

#1
Attention directly correlates to how it will (or won’t) impact the person listening.

#2
5-10 minutes is a safe demarcation point. Make sure you have an interesing point every 5-10 mins.

#3
The mark of a professional: His mic goes out. He asks if everyone in the back can hear him. He goes on.

#4
Points != arguments
Points = what you want them to do
Arguments = how you want to convince them

#5
An idea of my own! Perhaps deliverable fidelity should grow as the project grows on. Have fewer points at the beginning; have lots of details at the end.

Workplace Poetry

Very rarely in life is being
Comprehensive an asset.

(From Scott Berkun’s book talk at Adaptive Path last night)

Persimmon!

I just ate my first one. I’m ashamed to say that I had to look up how to do it.  I felt confident that this was something I might be able to tackle once I read the following:

“Cut into any shape you desire and eat by inserting a bite sized piece into mouth, chewing and then swallowing when safe to do so.”

- From wikihow’s “How to Eat a Persimmon”

Behold!

Couple of observations:

• They are super sweet. There’s something — dare I say it? — cupcakey about the flavor.
• They have a slightly disconcerting tendency to crackle when you bit down on them.
• Delish!

Minihan’s Mantras

Just came across Bryan Minihan’s thoughtful list of “mantras” for life in the UX trenches. This came from a discussion over on the IXDA discussion list about the firing of a disgruntled and vocal designer at American Airlines. I love these insights because they so clearly come from hard-won experience. You are wise, Mr. Minihan.

• Always assume, despite all evidence to the contrary, that most people want to deliver quality work
• If you feel your company is too slow in delivering quality, most likely, everyone else does, too
• If you hear “that’s impossible”, you’re not providing enough of a solution
• If you hear “we don’t know how to do that”, you need to show them how
• If no one else will do it, figure out how to do it yourself
• If you get pushback from management, marketing, sales, support, operations, development, or the PMO office, then you’re not involving them in your design process
• If you don’t like the bureaucracy, figure out how to change it
• Never bash your own company/department/colleagues in public.
• If you disagree with a group or person in the way of progress, talk to them about it, or drop it and move on
• The folks who drive real change in large companies don’t do the leg-work. If you want to make a difference, climb out of the cube, talk to people, and claw your way to a level where you can affect real change. If you’re not up for that, stop complaining. Yes, this can take years (and has).