Re: Experience Design Paths?

I do like the 3 distinct paths model outlined by Stephen.  Makes a lot of sense.  

Seems like there is some agreement that the scope I've outlined is a little too narrow—
not incuding enough disciplines outside of what would be viewed as creative, design or 
architecture teams.  There's probably validity to this and I'd have to think about it some 
more.  I'll offer a little rationale behind why I started this way:

So, specifically in my experience—we often find ourselves doing online advertising work 
(think banners to Subserviant Chicken) to highly transactional/web application type work 
(think Orbitz to Ebay).

And with the rise of Web 2.0 technologies, there is increasingly less division between the 
teams that could potentially be working on a rich interactive banner chock-full-of 
functionality vs. a Rich Internet Application.  Often times both types of work result in a 
compelling user experience.  That said, we still try to align skill sets as some individuals 
have specialized skills that you simply need to tap when applicable.   So sometimes there 
is overlap.  Sometimes there isn't.  At least that's been my personal experience.  

One POV that I'm developing in all of this regardless of discipline/industry.  I think the 
reaction that many have when the word "Design" is referenced—is often times too limited.  
(Possibly because the business world tends to see Designers in a pre-defined way—as 
creative types primarily or only aesthetic).  As our interdisciplinary teams continue to plan, 
architect and build experiences, then technically they all play a role in the "Design 
Process".

I've been in many a meeting where the word "Innovation" is used in place of Design though 
Design may have been technically more accurate as it relates to creative problem solving 
vs. meeting an unarticulated need.

But that's a whole other discussion. In short, I'll definitely put some more thought into how 
roles outside of Creative, Information Architecture and Human Factors fits into this.  If 
Design truly has a broad meaning as I'm suggesting, then it makes sense to look outside 
of the core disciplines.

Thanks.

-David
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/



--- In [email protected], "Stephen P. Anderson" 
<retrocentric@...> wrote:
>
> David,
> 
> I'm working on a similar project at my work (we're a
> smallish UX shop that has grown very quickly through a
> merger with an Enterprise tech shop, and now we need a
> more formal growth plan). Our situation is a bit
> different in that we also include the
> engineering/developer paths alongside these, AND the
> top destination blurs together into more abstract
> Enterprise focused knowledge/deliverables.
> 
> I originally had something like Peter Boersma's
> T-Model with "sliders" along every imaginable role,
> but ended up migrating to 3 (somewhat) distinct paths:
> 
> 1- Engineering/Development
> 2- Human Sciences
> 3- Design 
> 
> Part of the idea for this came from MAYA. They have a
> saying, "MAYAns come in threes," with the "3s" roughly
> corresponding to the three 'roles' I've listed above.
> While there is a lot of blurring of skills, more so at
> higher levels, these 3 classifications (at least in
> our situation) work well to define a person' origins,
> and offer some perspective on how they might
> approach/solve a problem differently from other people
> doing the 'same' type of work.
> 
> I share Diane's comment that this seems to 'top out'
> too soon, before getting to some of the more
> strategic/abstract/conceptual stuff done at higher
> levels. Also, how do you resolve Interactive Marketing
> and Web Apps/Sites. I've always found a sharp line
> between the two -- marketing is generally employed
> promote an idea or promise while and app/content sites
> are amore fundamentally about delivering an
> experience. Do you agree? Should this work it's way
> into your model? I think my friends who create
> immersive quicktime/flash experiences to promote a
> consumer brand have a very different skillset from the
> world of enterprise application development that I
> live in. 
> 
> I'd be curious to know more about your current
> role/background... Also, how are you using this... For
> what purpose did you create this?
> 
> -Stephen P. Anderson
> 
> www.poetpainter.com
> 
> 
> --- Diane Jacobsen <aadianej@...> wrote:
> 
> > David, 
> > 
> > I understand where you are going with this diagram
> > and
> > see the value of trying to explain it this way
> > however, the roles on the left and right are too
> > narrow. The titles do not support those of us
> > outside
> > design or marketing world.
> > 
> > I'm a Senior Manager with 8 years of experience at a
> > management consulting firm, former big 5. Although
> > my
> > skills map to the center of your diagram, Human
> > Interaction Background, including a Masters of
> > Design
> > degree (Human Factors focus)including many many
> > projects leading user experience, taxonomy
> > development
> > IA work and human factors research.  
> > 
> > I also have a project management background as a
> > former architect and work with technology teams in
> > developing strategies and designs for very large
> > unstructured information solutions. My work
> > interfaces
> > with the development side, change management and
> > user
> > adoption and business case validation and
> > measurement.
> > 
> > Where does this put me on your diagram?? 
> > 
> > I believe we could all benefit from broadening the
> > perception of our skills and value of our work by
> > not
> > referring to ourselves with "design" centric titles.
> > I
> > have a difficult time selling resources at my firm
> > because of the way we position ourselves.  Clients
> > have no problem understanding the value and are
> > generally not interested in our titles only in
> > results.
> > 
> > I'd welcome honest feedback from this group! 
> > 
> > Thank you, 
> > Diane Jacobsen
> > 
> > --- David Armano <darmano@...> wrote:
> > 
> > > Experience Planner?  Information Architect?  User
> > > Experience Architect?  Interactive Creative 
> > > Director?  Interaction Designer?
> > > 
> > > Different titles and depending on specifics,
> > > different roles�but nowadays there seems to be 
> > > some "blurring of the lines" when it comes to what
> > > these individuals actually do in an 
> > > interactive development setting.  I'm looking for
> > > feedback on an info-graphic I've created that 
> > > attempts to make a little more sense out of this.
> > > (or potentially makes it more confusing)
> > > 
> > > Can be viewed/downloaded here:
> > >
> >
> http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/04/paths_to_experi.html
> > > 
> > > Thanks.
> > > -David
> > > http://darmano.typepad.com/
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
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