"Prototype" vs "Prototype"--Breaking Down and Rebuilding Our Understanding of What We Do

Key Insights

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  Differences in professional language between UX and industrial design can create significant communication barriers.

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  Words like prototype and designer are often overloaded with multiple meanings, causing misunderstandings.

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  Forcing people to avoid contentious words encourages clearer articulation of actual work and value.

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  Affinity diagramming from the bottom up helps teams build a shared language and trust.

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  Physical artifacts like sticky notes serve as 'objects of discourse' to anchor difficult conversations.

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  Digitizing team mapping outputs preserves momentum and enables deeper analysis and framework creation.

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  Involving the entire team in both collective and individual reflection fosters vulnerability and connection.

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  Skills self-assessment tools must be tailored with team input to avoid resistance and promote engagement.

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  Encouraging teammates to see and support each other's growth potential can be surprisingly powerful.

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  The process and dialogue behind artifacts are more important than the artifacts themselves.

Notable Quotes