How to Get Stakeholders to Sketch: A Magic Formula

Summary

This script offers a strategy to involve non-designers in sketching activities, crucial for gaining buy-in and understanding the UX process. It suggests using fat markers to emphasize idea generation over precision, limiting detail by using small drawing spaces like index cards or 8-up sheets, imposing time constraints to prevent overthinking, and showcasing rough sketches to alleviate the pressure for perfection. These tactics aim to make stakeholders comfortable and encourage creative participation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Getting non-UX professionals involved in collaborative sketching increases buy-in and understanding.
• 😟 People often feel stressed about sketching in front of others, especially if they don't do it regularly.
• 💡 To make stakeholders comfortable with sketching, emphasize that anyone can draw and it's about generating ideas, not creating detailed designs.
• 🖍️ Use fat markers to discourage detailed drawing and support the idea generation process.
• 📏 Provide small drawing spaces, like index cards or 8-up sheets, to reduce anxiety and prevent detailed sketches.
• ⏳ Set time limits to prevent overthinking and over-censoring of ideas.
• 📉 Use timers with visible countdowns and audible alerts to enforce time constraints.
• 🖼️ Avoid showing polished, finished sketches as examples; use unpolished, hastily-sketched visuals instead.
• 📝 Combining these four variables—fat markers, small spaces, time limits, and ugly examples—helps stakeholders feel at ease while sketching.
• 🚀 With these techniques, you can facilitate effective and anxiety-free sketching sessions, generating great ideas quickly.

Q & A

Why is it important to involve non-UX professionals in sketching activities?

Involving non-UX professionals in sketching activities helps increase buy-in and allows them to understand the UX process better, fostering a collaborative environment.

What is a common concern expressed by those who are not used to sketching?

A common concern is the fear of not being able to draw well, often expressed with statements like 'I’m not a designer! I can’t draw!'.

What is the speaker's formula to help stakeholders feel more comfortable with sketching?

The formula involves using fat markers, providing tiny spaces to draw, imposing time limits, and showing unpolished examples to reduce anxiety and encourage participation.

Why are fat markers recommended for sketching activities with non-designers?

Fat markers are recommended because they suggest that the focus is on generating ideas rather than creating detailed designs.

How can the use of a tiny space to draw help reduce anxiety during sketching sessions?

A tiny space, like an index card or a small cell on an 8-up sheet, limits the scope of the sketch and reduces the pressure to produce a detailed and perfect drawing.

What is the significance of time limits in sketching activities?

Time limits are crucial as they prevent overthinking and over-censoring of ideas, encouraging quick and free-flowing creativity.

Why is it suggested to use a timer with a visible countdown and an audible signal in sketching sessions?

A timer with a visible countdown and an audible signal helps maintain the pace of the activity and ensures that participants stop sketching when time is up, preventing overworking on a single idea.

What is the potential issue with showing beautifully composed sketches as examples during sketching activities?

Showing beautifully composed sketches can inadvertently send the message that the sketch must look good to be accepted, which can increase anxiety and hinder creativity.

What alternative to beautiful sketches is suggested to help stakeholders feel more at ease with sketching?

Using unpolished and hastily-sketched visuals as examples can help stakeholders feel more at ease, as it shows that the focus is on idea generation, not on the quality of the sketch.

How can the combination of the four variables help in generating ideas during sketching activities?

The combination of fat markers, tiny spaces, time limits, and unpolished examples creates an environment that encourages quick, uninhibited idea generation without the pressure of creating a perfect final product.

What is the intended outcome of using this formula for sketching activities with stakeholders?

The intended outcome is to create an inclusive and anxiety-free environment where stakeholders feel comfortable contributing ideas through sketching, leading to a richer pool of ideas.

Outlines

00:00

✍️ Collaborative Sketching for Non-Designers

The paragraph discusses the importance of involving non-UX professionals in sketching activities to foster collaboration and understanding. It highlights the common fear of sketching among non-designers and suggests techniques to alleviate this anxiety, such as using fat markers, providing limited drawing spaces, setting time limits, and showing rough sketches as examples. The goal is to emphasize that anyone can sketch and to create a comfortable environment for idea generation rather than detailed design.

Keywords

💡UX professionals

UX professionals are experts in user experience design, focusing on creating products and services that are user-friendly and meet the needs of the end-users. They are central to the theme of the video, which is about involving non-designers in the sketching process to foster collaboration and understanding of the UX design process. The script mentions that these professionals aim to increase buy-in from others by involving them in sketching activities.

💡Collaborative

Collaborative refers to the act of working together with others, often across different disciplines or roles, to achieve a common goal. In the context of the video, it emphasizes the importance of including non-UX personnel in the sketching process to encourage a shared understanding and commitment to the project's design direction.

💡Sketching activities

Sketching activities are informal drawing exercises used to generate and communicate ideas quickly. They are a key part of the video's message, illustrating how these activities can help stakeholders feel more comfortable with the design process. The script discusses strategies to make sketching less intimidating for those who are not professional designers.

💡Fat markers

Fat markers, such as thick-tipped markers, are suggested in the script as tools to help participants feel more at ease with sketching. They symbolize the idea that the focus is on generating ideas rather than creating detailed or polished drawings, as the markers do not allow for fine details.

💡Tiny space

The concept of a 'tiny space' refers to the physical limitation of the drawing area, which can be an index card or a small cell on an 8-up sheet. This technique is used to reduce anxiety by limiting the space where ideas can be sketched, as mentioned in the script, thus preventing overthinking and promoting quick, rough sketches.

💡8-up sheet

An 8-up sheet is a standard letter-sized sheet of paper folded into 8 equal cells. It is used in the script as a method to create a small drawing space for each idea, which helps to constrain the detail and focus the participant on the essence of their idea.

💡Time limits

Time limits are constraints used to prevent overthinking and encourage quick, spontaneous idea generation. The script highlights the importance of using a timer with a visible countdown to ensure that participants do not spend too much time on any one sketch, keeping the process dynamic and pressure-free.

💡Ugly examples

Ugly examples refer to rough, unpolished sketches that are intentionally displayed to participants to show that the goal of sketching is not to create a perfect drawing but to generate ideas. The script points out that showing beautiful sketches can create unnecessary pressure, whereas ugly examples can help to normalize imperfection and encourage participation.

💡Anxiety

Anxiety, in this context, is the stress or apprehension that individuals may feel when asked to sketch in front of others, especially if they do not consider themselves creative or artistic. The script discusses strategies to reduce this anxiety, such as using fat markers and time limits, to make sketching a more inclusive and comfortable activity.

💡Idea generation

Idea generation is the process of creating new concepts or solutions. The script emphasizes that the primary goal of sketching activities is to generate ideas, not to produce finished designs. This concept is central to the video's message, which is to encourage all stakeholders to participate in the creative process without fear of judgment.

💡Stakeholders

Stakeholders are individuals or groups who have an interest or concern in a project or initiative. In the script, stakeholders are non-UX professionals who are being encouraged to participate in sketching activities to enhance their understanding and investment in the design process.

Highlights

Encouraging non-designers to participate in sketching activities can increase buy-in and understanding of the UX process.

The fear of sketching in public can be a barrier for some stakeholders.

A formula is presented to make stakeholders comfortable with sketching.

Using fat markers can help convey that the focus is on idea generation, not detailed design.

The choice of a fine-tipped marker can suggest a need for detail, which is not the goal in early sketching.

Providing a tiny space to draw can limit the level of detail participants feel they need to include.

Using an 8-up sheet is a simple method to create small drawing spaces without special materials.

Time limits are crucial to prevent overthinking and over-censoring of ideas during sketching.

A visible countdown timer can help enforce time limits and keep the sketching process focused.

Ugly examples of sketches can help alleviate the pressure to create polished work during initial activities.

Beautiful sketches as examples can unintentionally communicate unrealistic expectations.

Unpolished and hastily-sketched visuals can serve as better examples for initial sketching sessions.

Combining these four variables can help stakeholders feel more at ease and participate actively in sketching.

The formula aims to generate a relaxed environment where ideas can flow freely during sketching activities.

Stakeholders can be empowered to contribute creatively by reducing the pressure to draw well.

Creating an inclusive sketching environment can lead to more innovative and diverse ideas.

Transcripts

As UX professionals, we know that getting people outside of UX involved in collaborative

sketching activities can help increase buy-in and help others see behind the curtain into what we do.

"But wait...

I’m not a designer!

I can’t draw!!!”

Ever heard that?

Oftentimes, the thought of sketching in front of others just raises the stress level of

those people who don’t do it as much as we do.

So how do help these stakeholders feel more comfortable with sketching?

How do we get them to believe us when we quip, “Hey, don’t worry! Anyone can draw!”

Well, I have a formula for you that will help you plan in advance to keep even the biggest

protesters calm and open to sketching activities.

The first variable: fat markers.

Check out the tips on these two tools of the trade: Your standard sharpie and a fine-tipped one.

One suggests the ability—and perhaps even the requirement—to get detailed.

One does not.

Give your participants fat makers in this case, to support your verbal insistence that

we are only sketching to generate ideas, not design a detailed interface.

The fat sharpie, though, is just the beginning.

I want to further restrict my participant’s ability to get detailed.

So I’m going to pull in a second variable: a tiny space to draw.

You can make tiny spaces in a couple of ways.

Instructing participants to sketch one idea per index card is one approach.

My favorite, though, is the 8-up sheet, because it requires no special materials.

Just have participants fold a standard letter-sized sheet into 8 cells, and then instruct them

to sketch one idea per cell.

Shrink down the space and you shrink down the anxiety.

The third variable, is time limits.

This is arguably the most important factor.

Time is a constraint that prevents people from overthinking or over-censoring their ideas.

Try using a timer like this one that has a visible countdown and that will make a noise

when the time is up to stop people from sketching. *beep beep*

Finally, ugly examples.

When we’re first introducing sketching activities to participants, we often put up examples

of finished sketches to help people understand the end goal.

That’s great.

But we often do it with a fatal flaw: beautiful, neatly-composed sketches.

Look at this sketch.

It’s lovely, right?

But putting up sketches like this as an example sends the silent message: “Make this thing

look good, or we’re gonna judge you!”

Nix that message by using unpolished, hastily-sketched visuals, like this one.

There you go.

Four simple variables you can combine to help stakeholders feel at ease while sketching.

With their powers combined, you’ll be able to get fat markers and great ideas flying in no time.