Ever wondered what happens when the sleek world of product design collides with the quirky ways of office life? Let's just say, it's not all about making things look pretty. Imagine you dive into some serious number-crunching and come up with results that could flip our whole game plan on its head. But when you pitch this game-changing idea, it's met with a grin and a pat on the back from the big boss man, as if you've just shared a wild conspiracy theory about aliens baking cookies on Mars. So, armed with nothing but stats and a stubborn streak, I turned this office standoff into a comic strip that's can be as real as it gets. And trust me, it's the kind of spicy plot twist that could make us rethink everything we thought we knew about user research.
Breaking stereotypes that UXers cannot crunch data is a constant uphill battle. It can feel sometimes like you're the only voice of reason in an echo chamber of outdated catchphrases, mantras and buzzwords.
Imagine you're on "America's Got Talent," but for UXers the hottest show where you show user centric insights to a "jury" of cross-functional non-user-centric stakeholders—think your usual suspects: product managers, execs, developers, and marketers.
"So, folks," you start, "our deep dive into user behaviour produced some unsuspected results. Turns out, our primary paying customers prefer their ol' faithful desktops for transacting on our website. And we've been, chanting the 'Mobile First' design mantra."
The jury's faces? A mixtape of surprise and skepticism'. You can almost hear their thoughts, "This can't be right!" The room's energy is buzzing with the unspoken truth—veering off the 'Mobile First' path now would mean admitting they've been wrong this whole time.
Reminiscent of Cialdini's wisdom, regarding consistency. Makes me wonder if we've all been so vocal about our 'Mobile First' approach, that flipping the script now could feel like admitting defeat.
"It was [those] who had publicly recorded their initial positions who most resolutely refused to shift from those positions later."— Robert Cialdini, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Your pitch wraps up, leaving the jury with a choice: stick to their guns or pivot based on the "statistically significant user insights." Either way, you've shaken the foundations of their mobile-first dogma, all in a day's work of a UXer on "America's Got Talent", and think to yourself wouldn't it be cooler to do the right thing and adjust, rather than to keep going down the wrong path with confidence?
Turns out: No.
You can't help but empathize. How can one backtrack on a stance so publicly championed? Yet, as you watch the 'Mobile First' flag being waved with fervor, you can't shake off the words of Emerson, hovering in the back of your mind like a silent observer:
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines."— Ralph Waldo Emerson
And so, we find ourselves at a crossroads. In one direction lies the comfort of 'best practices', a path well-trodden and safe. In the other, the road less traveled by UX designers—paved with data, user feedback, and a touch of bravery. This is our call to arms. It's time to pick up the torch of evidence and user empathy, and illuminate the way forward. We're not just creating user experiences; we're crafting a narrative that champions the user, challenges the status quo, and ultimately, transforms the digital landscape for the better.
Let's unite in our mission to reshape not just our products, but the very conversations that surround them. Let's be the pioneers of a new paradigm where 'data-driven' isn't just a buzzword that make leadership look good (like agile), but the cornerstone of every decision we make. Together, we can redefine what it means to be a UX designer in a world that's always just one click away from the next big thing.
