Principles to Build By
Having a shared vision, understood by all team members, is critical to product
design. But, between “putting a man on the moon” and the final countdown
are 1,000s of decisions-- decisions that need more input and direction than a
vision statement provides. How do you extend a vision statement such that it is
remains aspirational but is specific enough to clarify intention and make
difficult decisions easy?
Enter "design tenets."
Much like flying buttresses support grand cathedrals, design tenets support and
extend a grand core vision.
I've found these simple statements, typically 4-7 of them, to be one of the
most critical artifacts for any new product design process. Done well, design
tenets add character and definition to a product vision; where a clear vision
articulates “what” we hope to accomplish, design tenets clarify “how.”
More importantly, these statements provide specific design direction and help
products stay true to a clear vision, avoiding the inconsistent introduction of
features over time.
In this brief session, you'll learn how to identify and articulate design
tenets for your project in a way that anchors and inspires the design process.
This tactical presentation will cover:
-What design tenets are (and are not)
-Examples of design tenets from some familiar and not so familiar products,
and
-Specific tips on how to identify and write well-formed design tenets
These ideas can be introduced by anyone on a product development team.
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