Config 2025: Influencing via prototyping with Cheechee Lin

Summary

In this video, Chi-Chi, a designer at Instagram, discusses the power of prototyping to influence design decisions and outcomes. She emphasizes how prototypes, whether low-fidelity or detailed, can spark joy, align teams, and initiate strategic conversations. By sharing examples from her work at Instagram, including animations, AI integration, and design iterations, Chi-Chi highlights how prototypes can shape user experiences, refine product strategies, and bring ideas to life. Ultimately, prototyping serves as a powerful tool for influence, turning ideas into actionable, real-world concepts and fostering collaboration across teams.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prototyping is a powerful tool for influencing decisions in design, even when designers don't have direct authority.
• 😀 The act of prototyping makes an idea tangible early on, allowing for quick feedback and iteration to decide whether an idea has potential.
• 😀 Influence in design is about shaping the outcome by presenting ideas in a way that others can connect with and advocate for.
• 😀 Prototypes can help spark joy by showcasing delightful design details that encourage others to support and prioritize them.
• 😀 A well-crafted prototype can bridge the gap between design and engineering, helping teams understand and implement creative ideas effectively.
• 😀 Prototypes serve as alignment tools, ensuring all stakeholders are on the same page by visualizing concepts and exploring technical constraints.
• 😀 Prototyping is essential for testing ideas in real-world scenarios, such as user data or latency, to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
• 😀 A prototype can help communicate complex concepts in a simple, clear manner, making it easier for teams to debate and align on the right solution.
• 😀 Effective prototyping often starts conversations by presenting a vision that is simple, believable, and relevant to the right audience at the right time.
• 😀 Prototyping can turn abstract ideas into actionable plans, creating invitations for stakeholders to engage in discussions and help bring the concept to life.

Q & A

What is the primary theme of the presentation?

The primary theme of the presentation is the power of prototyping in design, particularly how prototypes influence decisions, shape product outcomes, and drive collaboration within teams. The speaker discusses how prototyping is not just about creating interactive models but also about influencing stakeholders, aligning teams, and sparking conversations.

How does the speaker describe the role of influence in design?

The speaker highlights influence as an underrated superpower of designers. They argue that designers may not always have the final authority in decisions but can significantly impact the direction of a project through clear communication and effective prototyping. Influence is about getting others to reconsider their positions and drive change without direct authority.

What example does the speaker use to demonstrate the power of prototyping?

The speaker uses the example of the iconic Instagram Stories animation, which was prototyped by Josh Dickens. Despite initial resistance from the engineering team, the prototype helped communicate the design's value, and it was eventually implemented in both platforms, highlighting how prototypes can inspire teams and overcome technical challenges.

What is the significance of 'spark joy' in prototyping?

The concept of 'spark joy' in prototyping refers to the ability of well-crafted prototypes to evoke positive emotions and excitement within a team or stakeholder group. This emotional response can be crucial in persuading others to go the extra mile and invest in the design, making it harder to dismiss small yet impactful design details.

How do prototypes help with alignment in teams?

Prototypes are used to align teams by creating a tangible representation of an idea, which helps in clarifying the scope of the project and ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page. The speaker provides examples like internal tools for simulating feed models and using real-world data to refine UI decisions, demonstrating how prototypes can spark focused discussions and resolve uncertainties early on.

What does the speaker mean by 'prototypes as conversation starters'?

Prototypes act as conversation starters by presenting ideas in a way that invites feedback, discussion, and collaboration. The speaker emphasizes that prototypes allow teams to envision a product's future, assess its feasibility, and gauge interest, ultimately helping to build conviction around the idea.

Why is timing crucial when using prototypes to influence decisions?

Timing is crucial because a prototype must align with the right moment in the development process or company priorities. The speaker provides an example of how a prototype called 'Imagine Me' gained traction because it matched the AI team's interest in integrating generative AI into products, demonstrating how the right prototype, introduced at the right time, can accelerate decision-making.

What role does prototyping play in strategic decision-making?

Prototypes help in strategic decision-making by offering a visual and interactive means to explore different directions. The speaker uses the example of content notes on Instagram, where prototypes helped align the team on potential solutions for a safe way to share thoughts on content. The prototypes created a shared language for debate and helped clarify the path forward.

What was the challenge with the first version of the 'notes app' prototype for creators?

The first version of the 'notes app' prototype failed to meet the desired impact because the execution was lacking the 'yes factor.' The team then iterated on the concept, focusing on getting the details right, which eventually led to a more successful version of the app that resonated with creators, showcasing how iterative prototyping is key to refining ideas.

How does the speaker relate prototyping to the broader goals of design?

The speaker relates prototyping to the broader goals of design by emphasizing that prototyping goes beyond creating clickable interfaces or static designs. It's about influencing the product's direction, sparking emotional connections with users, aligning teams, and starting crucial conversations that lead to actionable decisions. Prototypes are described as invitations to turn ideas into reality.