Inconsistency is one of the most common points of breakdown and frustration in the interactions and experiences we have. Whether we’re interacting with other people, applications, our bank, our doctor, our government, anyone, we form expectations and understandings of what someone or something will do based on our previous experiences and their past behaviors. When something happens that doesn’t fit with those expectations–that seems out of character–we’re caught off guard. What do we do next? What should we expect now? Principles act as rules that guide how we think and act. Formed by our motivations, values and beliefs, we use them as “lenses” through which we examine information in order to make decisions on what to do. And because of their persistent influence on our behavior, they influence other’s views and expectations of us. Using these same kinds of constructs throughout the design process we can design interactions and consistent behaviors that set and live up to expectations for our audiences.

1. Building Character
Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles
ADAM CONNOR | VP ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN & TRAINING | @ADAMCONNOR |

2. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

3. Question
What's the best design for an artist’s
website?
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

4. Question
What's the best design for an artist’s
website?
Answer
It depends…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

5. …on what?
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

6. The people we’re
designing for…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

7. …on what?The goals we want
to achieve…
The people we’re
designing for…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

8. …on what?The goals we want
to achieve…
The people we’re
designing for…
The experience
we want to create…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

9. A vision of where we’re going.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

10. sense of where we’re going.A
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

11. Character
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

12. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

13. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

14. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

15. Has a hard time saying “no” to
people.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

16. Has a hard time saying “no” to
people.
Is a perfectionist to the point of
detriment.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

17. Has a hard time saying “no” to
people.
Is a perfectionist to the point of
detriment.
Rarely works alone, focuses and
structures work to include others.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

18. Has a hard time saying “no” to
people.
Is a perfectionist to the point of
detriment.
Rarely works alone, focuses and
structures work to include others.
Still collects toys and comics and
talks about fictional characters as
if they’re real.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

19. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

20. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

21. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

22. Principles
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

23. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

24. Values and
tenets and
pillars. Oh my…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

25. Design Principles
Directives that guide the “behavior” and capture the
desired or most emphasized qualities or characteristics of
the creation.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

26. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |
Capability
Motivation
Opportunity
Behavior
COM-B Model for understanding Behavior
Michie et al

27. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

28. Go with the flow…
Be cool headed…
Take it easy…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

29. Has a hard time saying “no” to
people.
Is a perfectionist to the point of
detriment.
Rarely works alone, focuses and
structures work to include others.
Still collects toys and comics and
talks about fictional characters as
if they’re real.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

30. Is a perfectionist to the point of
detriment.
Rarely works alone, focuses and
structures work to include others.
Still collects toys and comics and
talks about fictional characters as
if they’re real.
Always be helpful.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

31. Rarely works alone, focuses and
structures work to include others.
Still collects toys and comics and
talks about fictional characters as
if they’re real.
Always be helpful.
Anything worth doing is worth
doing right.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

32. Still collects toys and comics and
talks about fictional characters as
if they’re real.
Always be helpful.
Anything worth doing is worth
doing right.
A good idea can come from
anywhere or anyone.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

33. Always be helpful.
Anything worth doing is worth
doing right.
A good idea can come from
anywhere or anyone.
Just a geek…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

34. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

35. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

36. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

37. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

38. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

39. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

40. Shift from thinking to doing.
Move the focus of the experience from content and knowledge-gain to applying the
ideas and lessons to my job.
Learn Act Reflect
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

41. Fast. Every millisecond counts.
Google
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

42. Fast. Every millisecond counts.
Google
Wear it during sex. Make the product elegant, discreet, & comfortable.
Adaptive Path - Charmr
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

43. Fast. Every millisecond counts.
Google
Wear it during sex. Make the product elegant, discreet, & comfortable.
Adaptive Path - Charmr
Solve distractions, not discoverability. Reduce distractions.
Don't let features compete with themselves.
Microsoft - Windows 7
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

44. Fast. Every millisecond counts.
Google
Wear it during sex. Make the product elegant, discreet, & comfortable.
Adaptive Path - Charmr
Solve distractions, not discoverability. Reduce distractions.
Don't let features compete with themselves.
Microsoft - Windows 7
Foster productive and emotionally satisfying interpersonal dynamics. Users feel
like they are part of a team, where they can count on each other to do their part, and
feel like they’re moving forward towards a common goal.
Asana
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

45. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

46. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

47. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

48. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

49. Research
How do people talk about the way they wish things were?
The things they appreciate? The things that bother them?
!
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

50. Research
How do people talk about the way they wish things were?
The things they appreciate? The things that bother them?
!
Organization
Values, mission statements, brand identity can often be
carried over and expanded upon.
"
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

51. Research
How do people talk about the way they wish things were?
The things they appreciate? The things that bother them?
!
Organization
Values, mission statements, brand identity can often be
carried over and expanded upon.
"
Collaboration
What does the product team think? How do they envision
the future?
#
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

52. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

53. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

54. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |
Stages/Phases
Thoughts & Emotions
Actions
Channels/Products
Challenges & Opportunities

55. Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |
Stages/Phases
Thoughts & Emotions
Actions
Channels/Products
Challenges & Opportunities
(consider adding characteristics/principles here)

56. Clear and directive, not general and ambiguous.
“Fun” and “engaging” are not strong principles.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

57. Clear and directive, not general and ambiguous.
“Fun” and “engaging” are not strong principles.
Something you might do differently with another product or service.
Things that should always be done don’t help distinguish your product
from others.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

58. Clear and directive, not general and ambiguous.
“Fun” and “engaging” are not strong principles.
Something you might do differently with another product or service.
Things that should always be done don’t help distinguish your product
from others.
Push the team to say “no” to more options than they say “yes” to.
Strong principles act as a filter helping the team to focus.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

59. Clear and directive, not general and ambiguous.
“Fun” and “engaging” are not strong principles.
Something you might do differently with another product or service.
Things that should always be done don’t help distinguish your product
from others.
Push the team to say “no” to more options than they say “yes” to.
Strong principles act as a filter helping the team to focus.
Help to identify what shouldn’t be done, as well as what should.
Knowing what’s off limits is just as important as knowing where you
want to go.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

60. The real test of a design principle is how
well it helps the team discuss the design,
stay focused, and make decisions.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

61. Principles are only USEFUL
if you USE them.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

62. Generation (Divergence)
“How many ways can we come up with to
_______________?”
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

63. Generation (Divergence)
“How many ways can we come up with to
_______________?”
Editing & Revising (Convergence)
“Does this idea help us to
_______________?”
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

64. Principles should evolve over time.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

65. Applying them to specific design aspects/mediums
Applying a principle to content or visual design might drive you to
further tighten or clarify it.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

66. Applying them to specific design aspects/mediums
Applying a principle to content or visual design might drive you to
further tighten or clarify it.
Finding them too broad or too restrictive.
When principles stop making decisions easier, either because they
seem too ambiguous or they’re so constraining that nothing works,
you likely need to refine or even eliminate them.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

67. Applying them to specific design aspects/mediums
Applying a principle to content or visual design might drive you to
further tighten or clarify it.
Finding them too broad or too restrictive.
When principles stop making decisions easier, either because they
seem too ambiguous or they’re so constraining that nothing works,
you likely need to refine or even eliminate them.
Applying them to specific situations or contexts.
Not all principles will apply to every situation a user finds themselves
in. Some may seem inappropriate. Its ok for some principles to only be
relevant at certain times.
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

68. That story about bricklayers
and cathedrals…
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

69. Why ?
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

70. Why bricks?
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

71. Why
a wall?
bricks?
Why
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

72. Why
a cathedral?
a wall?
bricks?
Why
Why
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

73. Design principles direct action to
achieve vision.
“When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easier.” - Walt Disney
Building Character: Creating Consistent Experiences With Design Principles Adam Connor | @adamconnor |

74. Adam Connor
VP Organizational Design & Training
@adamconnor
aconnor@madpow.com
Discussing Design
Improving Communication & Collaboration Through Critique
Adam Connor & Aaron Irizarry
THANK
YOU!