This is the core presentation for the Workshop I ran at Sydney Project Managers Meetup, held at Thoughtworks office Sydney. Some additional resources: Sydney Project Managers Group: http://www.meetup.com/Sydney-Project-Managers Daily thinking lessons: http://schoolofthinking.org/ < signup box is on the right, on the homepage. The full course in PDF: http://bit.ly/softwareforthebrain This is another great book which incorporates key ideas from the daily training, along with the power of MEMEs. http://bit.ly/x10memeplex If you're interested in Thinking tools, Open Source, Design thinking, and or Running your own 'Design Studio' then you should definitely take a look.

1. OPEN
SOURCE
THINKING
TOOLS
IN DIGITAL
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
What about iterative design studio?
@MetaMikeBiggs

2. A bit about Mike...
Executive Producer @ Autumn:01 Digital Agency
Thinking Instructor @ School of Thinking
10 years in digital
Agency, Client, Government
@MetaMikeBiggs

3. WORKSHOP
& RANT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A few things about projects
The Thinking Tools
Applying it to Digital
Iterative Design Studio
Leveraging other services
Doing it earlier in the process

4. TWO
MISTAKES
WATERFALL is ONE WAY
& REQUIREMENTS can be GATHERED

5. A FUNNEL
OR A LOOP?
Idea / Design Phase……………………..delivery

6. A FUNNEL
OR A LOOP?
Idea / Design Phase……………………..delivery
All project structures are designed for
CONSOLIDATION

7. A FUNNEL
OR A LOOP?
Examples:
Hypotheses
Parallel Design
Research
A/B Testing
?
Catalyst for
Variations/
Options
Catalyst for
Variations/
Options

8. Creativity isn’t magic
“Synthesis doesn’t just happen”

9. The simplest thinking tool in the world.
‘Current view of the situation’ to a ‘Better view of the situation’
• A simple switch
• A mechanism to explicitly motivate you to generate more alternatives
• Can be applied at any point, at any time
• Multiple application generates varied, and sequential options
• IS ABOUT THE DIRECTING OF ATTENTION : TO ESCAPE AND SEARCH
CVS2BVS
Credit:
•
Tools belong to the schoolofthinking.org (http://www.schoolofthinking.org/) and are free to use by anyone.
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSDj9GA4qw
•
Software for the brain. Book Download: http://www.schoolofthinking.org/software.pdf
Defend or escape

10. X10
X10
•
•
•
•
Multiply your options by 10
Work best when applied to a specific element/metric/perspective
Works extremely well with scale, relative proportions,
Versions include: Divide by 10, adjacent 10, 10 parts etc..
•
Resource: The X10 Memeplex. Book
Download:https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B44Jw1ES0js6cDJGekwwWmJhd28/edit?pli=1

11. GBB
GBB [Good, Bad, Better]
•
•
•
•
Identify the good
Identify the bad
Suggest the better
Move toward a concept which is the result of explicitly defining the
bad, and the good.
• Uses tiny steps to develop and move a much larger idea ahead.

12. How do we apply it to digital?

13. Key stages to exercise the tools:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Requirements development >>Actually hypothesis synthesis
The validation process
The Idea generation process
The visual design process
The development process
Testing and feedback analysis
In summary: Constantly

14. LET’S DO SOME
DESIGN
DESIGN
STUDIO

15. The Iterative Design Studio Process:
•
Familiarise with the problem context
•
INDIVIDUALLY: Sketch/ draw/ document as many different concepts as you can to begin to attempt
to solve the core problem. This can include simple elements, features, or a specific experience.
CREATIVE TOOL: CVS2BVS X10
GROUP CRITIQUE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
INDIVIDUALLY: Drawing on everyone’s work in the first stage, combine and or elaborate on any of
the elements from the entire group, evolving the elements toward a more cohesive solution.
CREATIVE TOOL: GBB (Good Bad Better)
GROUP CRITIQUE
IN SMALL GROUPS: Iterate by taking the best of the individuals, and synthesising into a new, better,
unique solution.
CREATIVE TOOL: CVS2BVS <FOCUS ON PERSPECTIVES
GROUP PRESENTATION
Credit: @semanticwill

16. The Context:
•
•
•
Graffiti can be a problem
Public spaces where it occurs can be owned/managed by many different organisations including:
• Local council
• Transit operators via PPPs
• Australia Post
• Electricity Infrastructure Provider
• Private homes
If the affected area includes property of multiple ‘owners’ then it can be very difficult to have it all
cleaned up- and thus to restore the overall streetscape.
Customer / Audience
Varied members of the community- primarily residents overlooking the affected area.
Stakeholders
All ‘owning’ organisations, private property owners.
The Goal
To ensure all elements of the streetscape are cleaned delivering a graffiti- free ux regardless of who
‘owns’ each part.

17. •
INDIVIDUALLY: Sketch/ draw/ document as many different concepts as you can to
begin to attempt to solve the core problem. This can include simple elements,
features, or a specific experience.
•
CREATIVE TOOL: CVS2BVS X10
•
Time: 15 mins
•
GROUP CRITIQUE 10 mins

18. •
INDIVIDUALLY: Drawing on everyone’s work in the first stage as inspiration,
sketch/ draw/ document a many different concepts as you can to begin to
attempt to solve the core problem
•
CREATIVE TOOL: GBB
•
Time: 20 mins
•
GROUP CRITIQUE 10 mins

19. •
IN SMALL GROUPS: Iterate by taking the best of the individuals, and synthesising
into a new, better, unique solution.
•
CREATIVE TOOL: CVS2BVS <FOCUS ON PERSPECTIVES
•
Time: 30 mins
•
Be ready to present

20. DEATH AND DONUTS
REVIEW

21. HACKS YOU CAN LEVERAGE TO PRACTICE ITERATIVE DESIGN
CONSTANTLY
Remember we’re constantly validating hypotheses.
• Email –email first as a concept
• Social first
• Air Tasker
• Parallel design
• AB Testing

22. ONLY FOOLS CODE FIRST
“DON’T BUILD FIRST…HERE’S WHY
….
There are several types of risk that can kill your company.
Big ones include (but aren’t limited to):
- Team (are *we* the right people to execute)
- Market (do people want to buy it) ← usually the biggest risk
- Technology (can we build it) ← most hackers start here. Oops.”
Kareem Mayan
FULL ARTICLE
http://blog.reemer.com/why-only-fools-write-code-first

23. A few more thinking tools for the road…
• SDNT: Start – Do – Notice – Think <Thought based action tool, challenging the
generally accepted wisdom of PDCA.
• QRH: Quality – Reciprocation – Humour < Styleware
• And more…

24. NO..
THANK YOU
@MetaMikeBiggs
www.mikebiggs.com.au
AUTUMN:01 IDEAS
AUTUMN:01
Design Technology Strategy
Level 5, 88 Pitt Street Sydney 2000 Australia
Phone (AU): +61 2 9045 8135 | main: 8100 | Phone (US): +1 310 975 7009 | main: 7000
Web: www.autumn01.com