Influence is ideal, if the designer has mastery of the subject area and market. Failing that -- or in addition to it -- insight into the reasons behind the strategy is almost as important.
If I'm simply told to design Feature X, I'll do the best I can with it, given what I know about its context and users. But if I know that the real goal is to use Feature X to gain traction in a given industry, or to appeal to a specific user type, I can help the execs meet this goal more effectively and I may be able to propose high-value alternatives that I wouldn't have known were relevant without the insight. It's not just true of designers, of course. Comparing the two companies I've been at most recently (who fall on opposite ends of the spectrum), an organization that communicates not just orders but *information* has happier, more creative workers who can solve problems more effectively. -Sarah -----Original Message----- Full article: http://www.dexodesign.com/2009/02/23/successful-designers-must-influence -product-direction-and-strategy/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
