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[Sunday random UX thread]
Was reflecting on one of the most underrated things that helped me grow as a designer:
....scribing meeting notes
Scribing = note taking on the whiteboard or in some collaborative tool while presenting your screen
Was reflecting on one of the most underrated things that helped me grow as a designer:
....scribing meeting notes
Scribing = note taking on the whiteboard or in some collaborative tool while presenting your screen
Scribing ≠ facilitating (although it's a way to dip your toes in)
It's pretty scary at first, but then you realize that in most meetings absolutely nothing gets written down. Even doing a crappy job is better than that default
And what incredible practice in active listening
It's pretty scary at first, but then you realize that in most meetings absolutely nothing gets written down. Even doing a crappy job is better than that default
And what incredible practice in active listening
I remember early on as a designer feeling like I had to make a big impression with beautiful designs in order to get people excited and persuaded
It's still important to do that! (It's a designer superpower to be able to visualize things that don't exist yet)
It's still important to do that! (It's a designer superpower to be able to visualize things that don't exist yet)
But that old adage of "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together" holds.
Moving together happens in a thousand tiny decisions, not one big bang moment
Moving together happens in a thousand tiny decisions, not one big bang moment
By the same token, misalignments start tiny.
Two people walk out of a meeting having said the same words but understand them in a different way.
The group has a great conversation but don't agree on next steps—or do agree... and forget them.
Two people walk out of a meeting having said the same words but understand them in a different way.
The group has a great conversation but don't agree on next steps—or do agree... and forget them.
(The number of times I thought I would totally remember the outcome of a really good Friday meeting, then realized on Monday that the weekend has zapped my mind to nothingness...)
Scribing is also a point of leverage to help fix less than ideal dynamics, for example noticing who hasn't spoken and giving them a voice
Looking inwards, it's helped me nuke any toxic masculine urge I might have to try to sound smart. No time when trying to listen!
Looking inwards, it's helped me nuke any toxic masculine urge I might have to try to sound smart. No time when trying to listen!
On that last point—we all know there are systemic dynamics in meetings/at work/society that absolutely suck. If you're someone who is often the loudest voice in a meeting, it can be good practice to try on a radically different role and see what happens.
As a skill, it's rapid training in synthesis.
At first you start just taking linear notes, but will eventually notice that the points coming up in conversation actually could be represented as a 2x2 matrix, a table, or a journey map
Notice and try out that structure as you go
At first you start just taking linear notes, but will eventually notice that the points coming up in conversation actually could be represented as a 2x2 matrix, a table, or a journey map
Notice and try out that structure as you go
Most little threads of possible structure don't go anywhere, but constantly practicing the act of noticing them pays huge dividends
And when a structure or framework does come up, it has a tendency to level up the whole conversation
And when a structure or framework does come up, it has a tendency to level up the whole conversation
Another benefit: when you're already scribing it's easier to ask someone to write/draw what they're thinking.
Sometimes people are on the edge of a thought that they can't quite articulate. If the conversation just continues on, their baby idea might get washed away.
Sometimes people are on the edge of a thought that they can't quite articulate. If the conversation just continues on, their baby idea might get washed away.
Other times, you're struggling to scribe what's happening. You realize it's not that you don't understand but because it's not quite defined enough.
If you're not understanding it, it's VERY likely that everyone else is nodding along politely... and is just as confused.
If you're not understanding it, it's VERY likely that everyone else is nodding along politely... and is just as confused.
Both these moments are PERFECT times to (virtually) hand that person the marker/document and have them write what's in their head
In rooms with a whiteboard this can happen organically, but in virtual meeting you'll likely miss the moment unless you're already scribing.
That's one of the subtle benefits—when an idea does pop up, the surface to clarify it on is already in play.
That's one of the subtle benefits—when an idea does pop up, the surface to clarify it on is already in play.
What makes a good surface? Has to:
1. be able to easily take notes
2. make it so those notes that can be found again later
3. be able to go from text to drawing as needed
4. easily let you "give the marker" to other people
Top 3 remote scribing tools:
1. be able to easily take notes
2. make it so those notes that can be found again later
3. be able to go from text to drawing as needed
4. easily let you "give the marker" to other people
Top 3 remote scribing tools:
1. GOOGLE SLIDES: Not the best drawing tools, but everyone knows how to use it and unlike Zoom you're not going to lose the file later.
I'll often create a slide deck called "[Project] whiteboard" and then just keep going back to it for every meeting, adding slides.
I'll often create a slide deck called "[Project] whiteboard" and then just keep going back to it for every meeting, adding slides.
2. ZOOM: Buried in the guts of its screen sharing, Zoom has a whiteboard! It's decent, but you have to manually screenshot it for later so not my first go to
But it's right there so good to know about
But it's right there so good to know about
(TIP: If you have an iPad & pencil you can join the meeting a second time from there and use it just for scribing)
3. FIGMA: I mostly use it if I'm scribing in a meeting that's already something in Figma, so that the notes stay connected to the thing being discussed
Honorable mention: SCRIBBLE TOGETHER: I have such a soft spot for this one, though better for collaborative whiteboarding https://scribbletogether.com/
Also in that category: Jamboard, Miro
Also in that category: Jamboard, Miro
One final tip that's been said ad infinitum: practice your whiteboard writing and simple sketching (stick figures, more Dan Roam than Scott McCloud etc...).
It's incredible what good handwriting + a sketch can do!
(This sketch from https://www.danroam.com/ )
It's incredible what good handwriting + a sketch can do!
(This sketch from https://www.danroam.com/ )
Whew, had to ramble that out of my brain. Hope it's helpful for someone!
TL;DR: people are smart, sometimes the best thing to do (particularly if you're often the loudest) is to help collective intelligence coalesce into an artifact & welcome others into shaping it as you go
TL;DR: people are smart, sometimes the best thing to do (particularly if you're often the loudest) is to help collective intelligence coalesce into an artifact & welcome others into shaping it as you go
