Category: Week 4: Reflection

During week 4 we were tasked with exploring agile development practice in order to promote greater creativity, flexibility and an iterative process. Using the university resources I have picked two sources that I found very interesting and will be looking to supplement my future practice with.

User-centered agile method by Dominique Deuff and Mathilde Cosquer

Published by Hoboken, N.J. : ISTE Ltd/John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2013.

Found: Library.fxplus.ac.uk

Published in 2013 this book analyses 10 years of work focussed on this ‘people first’ agile method.

Looking at combing two different methodologies; user-centred methods from industrial design and agile methods from software development. Mutually integrating these two processes into one methodology combines the project management and adaptability from software development with the user knowledge and testing from industrial design. The framework created brings in practical examples of how to implement the methodology and case studies of projects in which it has been used.

Creating a development culture that embraces change by Connor Crowley

GDC 18; Moscone Center San Francisco

This talk looks into the fluid and changeable manner of the market in which game developers operate in. New technologies, methods of consumption and trends make for a very unstable and constantly evolving market. This is equally true with other areas of app development where iterations and evolution is key. Crowley talks about how Jagex has adapted its team structure, processes and tools to keep Runescape surviving and thriving over 16 years. 

Flexibility and adaptability helps them to change with, and ahead of, the market. Describing his method to promote a culture of change Crowley focussed on the ‘scrum’ pillars; transparency, inspection  and adaptation as ways he promoted this mindset. Key take aways from his talk were that improvement is not immediate, use the pillars above to support change, smaller teams help to keep the iterations short and distributed decision making allow space for experimentation and growth. Finally he states that change isn’t a process but a behaviour which sums up his talk really well and the changes that he suggests implementing to be adaptable to change. 

My practice

During my app jam I applied a design method I have used in the past; the double diamond method. I thought the 4 sections and checkpoints would keep me on track throughout this short project. Sticking to the design method too rigidly, as I did at the start meant that I could not be as spontaneous and flexible as I would have wanted. I found out that keeping to the timings too closely does not work for app jams where rapid development of concepts is needed. A more agile and instinctive approach is needed rather than the more methodical approach that I applied. One method I highlighted design sprints pioneered by Google ventures. These 5 day projects have been used to solve problems and create prototypes rapidly. I have started reading Sprint by Jake Knapp in order to greater understand how this process works and what key parts I can use during this module and future projects.

Researching agile practices has been valuable to expanding my knowledge of methodologies, processes and ways to design and develop apps. Having a large resource of methods, mindsets and activities to promote agile thinking will allow me to pick and choose for each project. The Design Sprints, Scrum method and the User-centred agile process highlighted are just a few ways to promote and iterative and experimental development process in future projects.

Starting this course I was looking to diversify my skills base, whilst learning new ways to solve problems through the medium of app development. I see that apps will become a larger part of our lives from how we buy and consume products, how we will work to how we travel and much much more. I feel that right now it is important for me to start exploring the app development industry in order to solve problems in a holistic manner. 

In the future I am looking to explore jobs from product design, user experience, design strategy and all that come between. Whilst I have a product design background I am driven by solving problems in the best way possible. Becoming a multidisciplinary designer will set me up with the relevant skills to work from small startups all the way to multinational design agencies. Working on developing solutions rapidly and in a creative manner are also skills I am looking to learn in order to supplement my skillset.

During the two projects I have completed so far I have learnt a great deal. I have discovered that in software development an agile and adaptable process is required to constantly iterate and improve your product. I will explore these methodologies and techniques over the next few weeks and build a framework for future projects. Pulling all of these ways of working together will increase my knowledge of design thinking and set me up nicely for future projects. I also discovered that I whilst I am capable prototyping on Figma I do need to improve my workflow and speed in creating prototypes.

The two project have been really enjoyable as I have found exploring problems and creating solutions for them exciting and challenging. I have also enjoyed creating prototypes that can be shown off as proof of concepts to validate my ideas. However, there are some areas i do need to improve. Highlighted above my design process and Figma skills all need to be improved by the end of the module. Below is a plan to implement these changes and learn the skills required. 

S.M.A.R.T Goals:

User Experience 

Whilst I have knowledge and experience of user centred design techniques I have not applied these to app development before. The two projects explored so far made me realise that this is an area that I want to master by the end of the course and use strongly in all of my projects. Researching and testing user catered design methods, user experience techniques and activities will all start to build my skillset as a User experience designer. 

Specific: My goal is to improve my UX skillset of human-centred design, ideation and problem solving to find a new design method or skill each week.

Measurable: I will explore 2 UX methods each week, watch one hour of UX tutorials and read 2 chapter of Sprint by Jake Knapp.

Attainable: Focussing on spending an hour on each method each week will allow me to fit it in but explore it in a thorough way. The tutorials will be fitted in during the evenings after work and I have  started reading Sprint over the past two weekends. I have made a plan to fit this in to my schedule.

Relevant: This is highly relevant and important for my future career as a designer, and throughout the course.

Time based: This will be achieved in 6 weeks.

Figma

Whilst I have explored other UI-based prototyping software such Sketch and Adobe XD I found Figma was the best option for me to learn due to the ability to share projects easily and collaborate. The skills I will learn are highly cross-compatible as Figma and Adobe XD, my two preferred options, are very similar. 

I have highlighted this skill as one that I would like to improve as I feel this is how I would prototyped and test out my ideas most during this course and in future jobs. I will not come out of this course as a programmer so exploring other prototyping methods is key. 

Specific: Master Figma and improve workflow to a level where I can turn ideas into working concepts rapidly.

Measurable: 2 hour design and prototyping challenge each weekend

Attainable: With my current skillset this should not be a problem as I am looking to expand my knowledge and speed. I have made a plan to fit this in to my schedule.

Relevant: This skill will be really important to future project on the course and pursuing jobs in the future.

Time Based: This will be achieved in 6 weeks.

Conclusion:

To conclude I feel like the App Jam has come at a perfect time to test and reveal my skills, and limitations. This has allowed me to put in place a plan in order to complete the SMART goals by the end of the module. 

Keeping to this plan will broaden my knowledge and learn these skills which I feel are key to my personal growth as an app developer. Each week I will post a journal entry detailing the progress I have made on each goal and evaluate the goal itself. Reflection on my progress and ability has allowed me to set these goals and the plan up and will allow me to alter and change them in the future.