Rethinking Design: A Collaborative Approach for the Future
In 1971, Frances Moore Lappé’s groundbreaking book, “Diet for a Small Planet,” highlighted the hidden costs of meat consumption, urging us to adopt a more sustainable diet. Today, the field of UX design is facing its own moment of reckoning, with companies reassessing their design teams amidst rising pressures from AI and a focus on immediate cost-cutting. As discussions intensify, it’s time for a “Design for a Small Planet” shift in our approach.
The current cost-cutting mindset often stems from a fixation on short-term goals characteristic of late-stage capitalism. While this strategy may yield temporary results, it ultimately undermines the creation of genuine user value—an essential element for long-term success. Unfortunately, the discourse around solutions can be polarizing, leading to extreme positions on social media. I propose a more balanced perspective: effective UX design hinges on user research, ideation, prototyping, and testing, yet there remains a troubling disconnect between design and company leadership, leading to drastic measures.
Design as a Team Sport
Let’s build on a fundamental idea: how can we demystify the design process and empower teams to implement smaller changes more efficiently? Not every design decision needs to be a cumbersome process. The traditional “Double Diamond” model, while valuable, can often be excessive. Initial design work is crucial for validating user needs and market fit, but much of our daily tasks involve making incremental adjustments. We should strive to streamline our processes to foster collaboration and efficiency.
When an experienced designer is tasked with making a minor change, they often rely on an internal checklist, subconsciously ensuring that no critical elements are overlooked. Unfortunately, this process is typically invisible to the rest of the team. Design should not be a secretive endeavor; everyone must be included in the conversation.
Collaboration is key. It’s essential for the team to understand what’s important, the rationale behind design decisions, and the trade-offs involved. The goal is to elevate collective understanding so that the team can implement changes accurately.
Introducing the GIST Checklist
The GIST Checklist is a simple, four-part framework designed to help teams quickly grasp the core of a design issue and reach consensus. It serves as a starting point to consolidate vital information, fostering clarity and discussion among team members. The four components are:
- Gather: Compile relevant information in one place.
- Impact: Assess the scope of the problem and identify potential risks.
- Sketch: Develop preliminary sketches of possible solutions.
- Team Huddle: Facilitate discussions among the product team to agree on a solution.
Note that not every item on the checklist is necessary for every situation; they are intended as guidelines to ensure critical aspects are considered.
1. Gather
- What user issue are we addressing?
- Frame the problem from the user’s perspective, avoiding technical jargon.
- Which users will benefit from this change? Reference personas if available.
- What is the potential impact of the change? Is it a minor adjustment or something that affects all users?
- Is there any previous relevant work that can inform this decision?
- Does this align with the product roadmap and business objectives?
2. Impact
- How does this change influence the user experience?
- Will this alteration require users to make additional decisions or simply be a minor edit?
- What are the engineering implications? Are there simpler alternatives?
- Are there any safety or accessibility concerns that need to be addressed?
3. Sketch
- Create low-fidelity mockups of potential solutions. Even rough sketches are valuable for feedback.
- Share these sketches with key stakeholders for initial reactions.
4. Team Huddle
- Compile everything into a concise, shareable document (1-2 pages).
- Present it to the team for discussion and critique.
- Aim for consensus on the best solution; this collaborative effort is essential for aligning everyone’s understanding.
- Reference this document when creating feature requests or tracking progress.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
This GIST Checklist is designed to promote teamwork and facilitate shared decision-making, echoing the collaborative spirit of UX design. While this is a preliminary approach, I invite you to test it in your own practice. As part of a collective effort—alongside voices like Pavel Samsonov—I hope to contribute to a conversation about improving design processes. Together, we can create a more efficient and user-centered approach to design.
