User Defenders – UX Design & Personal Growth - 067: Design for How People Think with John Whalen

067: Design for How People Think with John Whalen

10/14/19 • 78 min

2 Listeners

User Defenders – UX Design & Personal Growth

Dr. John Whalen teaches us what it means to design for how people think. He reveals the powerful principals behind what he calls the six minds of user experience, and explains how anybody can harness them to build better products (no doctorate degree required!). He reminds us that it takes serious research to reveal the deep insights that genuinely make our products successful for the user and the business. He also encourages us to understand that no one is more qualified than anyone else in solving unique problems.

Psychology and UX (5:04)
Six Minds of Experience (8:48)
Impact of Psychology (10:54)
Acronym Cheat Sheet (16:03)
Three Phone Numbers (17:08)
Dark Psychology (25:21)
Designing for Delight (31:24)
Contextual Inquiries (42:50)
Upside-Down Design (49:37)
Design Superpower (56:09)
Design Kryptonite (57:04)
UX Superhero Name (58:43)
Habit of Success (59:05)
Recommended Book (1:08:02)
Best Advice (1:10:38)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/067

This episode is brought to you by UC Irvine’s executive master’s program for Human-Computer Interaction and Design. As a user experience professional, UCI’s hybrid program will allow you to maintain your job while pursuing the master’s degree that will propel your career forward. Visit userdefenders.com/uci to learn more.

This episode is also brought to you by Porkbun. Head to userdefenders.com/porkbun now and use coupon code DEFENDERS on the checkout page to get literally a free year of a .design domain name.

Psychology and UX (5:04)
Six Minds of Experience (8:48)
Impact of Psychology (10:54)
Acronym Cheat Sheet (16:03)
Three Phone Numbers (17:08)
Dark Psychology (25:21)
Designing for Delight (31:24)
Contextual Inquiries (42:50)
Upside-Down Design (49:37)
Design Superpower (56:09)
Design Kryptonite (57:04)
UX Superhero Name (58:43)
Habit of Success (59:05)
Recommended Book (1:08:02)
Best Advice (1:10:38)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/067

This episode is also brought to you by Porkbun. Head to userdefenders.com/porkbun now and use coupon code DEFENDERS on the checkout page to get literally a free year of a .design domain name.

Previous Episode

066: Is Web Design Dead? with Jeffrey Zeldman

Jeffrey Zeldman answers the provocative question, “Is Web Design Dead?”. He enlightens us to what the Web was, where it’s at now, and where it could go in the future. He touches on the many short-sighted predictions that tend to prod our delicate psyches such as automation and new technologies poised to replace Web Designers. He encourages us to ignore the rhetoric and continue to learn as tools change how Web Design is done. He also emphasizes that the Web was built on sharing, and that we must continue to share if we want to not only protect its spirit, but keep it alive and thriving.

Godfather of Web Design (3:58)
Is Web Design Dead? (5:58)
Moving to In-House Design (12:59)
Opposition (21:25)
How'd It Make You Feel? (26:14)
Ask Customer Service First (31:20)
Small Business Owners and The Web (39:27)
Early Days of The Web (41:13)
Keeping the Spirit Alive (49:40)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Cesar Lemus' astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/066

This episode is brought to you by Springboard. Start a new job as a UX Designer in just 6 months or your money back. With Springboard’s UX Design Bootcamp Course, you'll get: Unlimited 1-1 expert mentorship • Work experience on real business projects • Work with a dedicated career coach. Apply today at userdefenders.com/springboard the special code USERDEFENDERS to receive $500 off tuition.

This episode is also brought to you by Optimal Workshop. Imagine a world where the right things are in the right places. Try their tools for free today at userdefenders.com/ow

This episode is also brought to you by Porkbun. Head to userdefenders.com/porkbun now and use coupon code DEFENDERS on the checkout page to get literally a free year of a .design domain name.

Next Episode

068: People May be the Most Important Thing You Build as a Designer with Braden Kowitz

Braden Kowitz reveals how human-centered design has everything to do with the humans we design and build with every day. He advocates for a genuinely supportive environment where it’s okay to be who you are, and where you’re encouraged to speak up, and openly share how you’re truly feeling. He reminds us to acknowledge that life isn’t perfect, and neither are we...and that’s also okay. He articulates the origin story and evolution of design patterns and explains why ‘ugly’ may sometimes appear to win. He also challenges us to consider how the metrics we typically depend on, may not be telling us the complete story.

Free Time (7:49)
Grounding Techniques (8:36)
Mindful Techniques (9:26)
Origin Story (16:25)
Form, Function, and Balance (19:38)
Managing Design Ambiguity (26:50)
Establishing Design Patterns (37:57)
What Have You Been Up To? (47:05)
From Designer to Co-Founder (49:09)
Dealing with Tradeoffs (52:02)
Creative Side Hustles (52:41)
Who Is This Product For? (53:47)
Design Superpower (57:00)
Design Kryptonite (58:15)
UX Superhero Name (59:45)
Habit of Success (1:01:03)
Recommended Book (1:02:59)
Best Advice (1:04:13)
Tips on Culture (1:05:11)

Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/068

This episode is also brought to you by Porkbun. Head to userdefenders.com/porkbun now and use coupon code DEFENDERS on the checkout page to get literally a free year of a .design domain name.