Product teams often consist of team members with various disciplines and approaches to product design, this can often present communication hurdles with team members (designers, devs, product managers, marketing,research, etc) as well as kinks in team collaboration. In this talk, Aaron will provide tools, tips, and insights into using sketching to help improve communication and collaboration within product teams.

1. A Sketch is Worth a Thousand Words
sketching as a communication and collaboration tool
aaron irizarry
product designer Nasdaq OMX
@aaroni

2. Communication is one of the largest
hurdles we face in the product
design process.

3. Sketching can help us
communicate and collaborate
better, by filling in gaps created
by varied understandings and
experiences.

4. Sketching is a visual aide that will
help communicate product
concepts, flows, and designs.

5. Sketching can be used to quickly
communicate concepts and direction to
stakeholders helping get them on board
earlier in the design process.

6. When there seems to be a roadblock in
communication during a meeting you can
use sketching as tool to open up
communication by visualizing ideas and
concepts out in the open.

7. “Words are powerful, but sometimes they
don't cut it. We can try to describe what we
are imagining, but a diagram often gets us
to a common ground quicker.” ~ Jared
Spool

8. Sketching is for everyone
You really only need to be able to draw a
square, a circle, a triangle, and a wavy line
to sketch design concepts and flows.

9. Sketching allows us to quickly communicate
ideas to other teams members during
collaborative exercises.
Sketching also allows for rapid exploration
and idea generation.

10. Things to keep in mind.
You don’t have to be an artist to sketch.
Sketching is a quick way to vet your own ideas.
Anytime is a good time to sketch.
Sketch in whatever way works best for you.

11. Tools
Sketchpads.
White Boards.
Copic Markers (or any pen).
Drafting dots or Painters Tape.
iPevo web cam for sharing remotely.

12. iPevo Remote Sharing
Real time preview of sketches
iPevo Camera pointed at
sketches and tattoos.

13. As with all things the key is finding what works
best for you in the context of your organization
and with your clients.
Don’t be intimidated by self imposed limitations
or concern over buy in, start small, every bit helps
contribute to positive progress.

14. Resources
Sketching: The Visual Thinking Power Tool - Mike Rohde
iPevo Document Sharing Web Camera
Why We Sketch - Jared Spool
The Fear of Sketching - Yaron Schoen
Sketching User Experiences - Bill Buxton
Sketching Interfaces - Michael Angeles
The Sketchnote Handbook - Mike Rohde
Sketching Interfaces - Sam Smith & Jason Mesut

15. Thank you.
aaron irizarry
@aaroni
thisisaaronslife.com
discussingdesign.com