Words #Fail: Collaborating on the Unexplainable
Clear articulation of a challenge allows others to generate ideas that then
lead to a solution. This simple progression works fine in predictable
situations, like brainstorming how to improve an e-mail application or finding
ways to simplify a shopping cart experience. But what do you do when you’re
not even sure about your true challenge? The Xerox Palo Alto research center
started out developing a document management system in the early 1970s and
ended up inventing the personal computer.
Sometimes, breakthrough solutions start with ideas that can only be vaguely
described in words. And in the real world, developing a shared understanding
often needs to happen while the team is already in motion. Before we can trade
even the fuzziest concepts with collaborators, we have to find alternate ways
to make those concepts more explicit.
Visual thinkers Dave Gray and Dan Willis decided to explore the murky glory of
the unexplainable with an interesting experiment. Over the course of a large
scale challenge, they collaborated without the benefit of spoken words or
written narrative to first identify and define their primary challenge; then
create and winnow the list of potential solutions; before finally developing a
single solution.
Dave lives in St. Louis and Dan lives in Northern Virginia and they have never
compared notes on the blow-by-blow details of their experiment. The two will
discuss their silent, geographically dispersed effort as they meet for the
first time in front of the IA Summit audience.
The discussion will surface lessons learned and provide specific tips for user
experience professionals to use when words aren't enough to create a base
understanding of a problem. Participants will more fully understand how visual
thinking can feed and support collaboration that results in breakthrough
solutions.
comments
