|
| | | Since my last Chirp, I participated in UX Lisbon (UXLx). This was the 15th year for this conference, bringing design, content, research, operations, and product insights to Europe in the delightful capital of Portugal. There were amazing talks from Brad Frost, Scott Jenson, John Whalen, Devon Persing, Erin Weigel, Peter Boersma, and more—but I especially want to share with you Chui Chui Tan’s work on designing products for global audiences. Like a typical American, I didn’t think Chui Chui’s work would hold many surprises for me, a person who has traveled, has a liberal education, respects and studies diverse cultures… but my assumptions were incorrect. I hadn’t grasped, yet, that making global products isn’t merely about localization, it’s about culturalization. It’s understanding the many facets of how a product might need to fit into the culture, from how people will pay, what motivates users, the format of addresses and phone numbers, to the history of product scarcity. I was startled by the differences that culture makes, way beyond language and the surface level that I’ve experienced as a traveler and a creator of global products. And I still feel like I shouldn’t have been so startled! Chui Chui’s professional work is to research those differences to inform usability and positioning of products in deeply practical ways. She shares this valuable work broadly at Beyō Global, including these works that she promoted during her talk: Even though I understand how important it is to understand the nuances of context, Chui Chui’s presentation reminded me how little I know of those nuances outside my own limited experience. I’m looking forward to applying these learnings in my work. |
| | | | A few days before I went to UXLx, I went to a Design and AI meetup in Seattle. John Maeda was reprising his annual Design in Tech report from SXSW, hosted by Albert Shum at Microsoft and the Pioneer Square Labs teams that provided the venue and snacks. During Q&A, another attendee asked a question something like, “but what about my content designers, in this AI world?” I didn’t expect John’s response, which was something like “My favorite book on UX is by a content designer, Strategic Writing for UX by Torrey Podmajersky.” 😮 I definitely didn’t expect him to go on to describe, in detail, the central principle of the book as captured in the “virtuous cycle” diagram in the first chapter. Tamara Adlin was kind and had the presence of mind to start recording. On the LinkedIn post where I shared the recording, John doubled down in a comment: “Greatest design book by far is by Torrey Podmajersky.” John and I had never met, until that event. He didn’t know I was there, nor that I live in the area. I waved from the back of the room, even though I felt like I must be actually dreaming the whole thing. I gave away book stickers to everybody who asked me about the book (and I still have more, ask me if you see me in person). What I fumbled in my excitement was not following up with people afterward, since (1) I had many more conversations than I was expecting, and my memory isn’t that good, and (2) I went to Lisbon a few days later, and jet lag overwhelmed my best intentions. It’s a good thing that my co-author Kim Mats Mats was there with me that night, or I might have gotten lost in downtown Seattle! If I said I’d be in touch, please email me - it’s not you, it’s me. 😅Heck, even if we didn’t make a plan, feel free to reach out. |
| |
| | A very good friend of mine told me that he’s in the wrong program at work. He’s studying product or project management in the context of his (unelected, procurement office) local government career. One of the requirements of a good PM, he was told, is “being a good leader.” “But I’m not a good leader,” he said. “Bullshit” was my first response, which wasn’t particularly helpful. Eventually, I had to explain to him that to me, he has been an influential leader. Not in any particular official community to which we both belong, since we don’t belong to the same workplace, religious or any other organization. His leadership transcends any positional authority he might hold. Because he shares why he makes the choices he does, I have been persuaded to change my own choices—from music to books to voting for local candidates. Because he set an example of getting involved in his religious organization, including taking on a board role even though he felt underqualified, I’ve gotten past my own fears of getting involved in my local volunteering group. Because he has a consistent, open presence on social media and in emails to his friends, even though he’s talked about how awkward or inadequate he sometimes feels doing it, I felt like I could get over myself and actually make a newsletter (Hi 😆). He thinks deeply about his relationships and his communication with people, but doesn’t overthink them to the point of paralysis.
This one person has been a leader to me in so many ways over the 20 years we’ve known each other, even though most of our time together is spent talking about nothing in particular and making dirty jokes. But until he mentioned it, I don’t think I had ever told him how much leadership I have experienced from him. I hope you also get the opportunity to recognize your leaders—especially the ones who lead by their own example, who share their path and their ideas with you. And I hope you take an opportunity to tell them how much that means to you. |
| | | When I can help you or your team, please get in touch. Design consulting: Solve problems with adoption, onboarding, usage for products and services, and design process and skill alignment for teams. Training & facilitation: Keynotes and other presentations, plus hands-on workshops in UX content, visioning, naming, and team building. Mentoring: I work with individuals to focus their own career development, including navigating change, constraints, careers, and more. Open office hours (free!) I hold 2 hours a week open on my calendar to connect with people who don’t have business with me, but just want to talk.
|
| | I write these newsletters myself, and I stand by what’s in them. If you have kudos, concerns, or questions, please tell me. —Torrey |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
