Why Design Isn’t Just Lipstick on a Pig

Increments Versus Iterations

If we want design to be a coordinated process for realizing a product vision, we need to start with an understanding of the difference between increments and iterations. Often, teams believe they are iterating when they’re really incrementing. This isn’t the way to create a holistic solution, nor is it the goal of being agile.

When we do design incrementally, we give people only a piece of the puzzle. There is no way to see the big picture or where the plan is going. Instead, we provide deep detail on a small part of the overall solution. This is not a scalable approach because, each time, we have to create a whole new piece of the design

In comparison, when we iterate, we start by going broader and getting a rough sense of the whole picture. Then, we finely layer on more detail in every round of iteration. Think about how a painter first creates a sketch, then starts painting over it in layers. in this way, people get a sense of the larger vision and the project’s goal first—even if things are rough at the beginning.

Next, we must understand that our iterations need to be small enough to be manageable. Plus, once we’ve done a few small iterations, it’s important to do an iteration that unifies all of the work we’ve done so far and make sure we’re staying true to the overall vision. This is similar to rehearsing scenes in theater, then putting them together and running through an entire act to make sure it hangs together. This is crucial in ensuring that there is actually a design vision that permeates everything we’re doing.

To make things easier on ourselves, we need to follow the design principles others have already defined, as well as recognize technology constraints, and employ design patterns and coding best practices. Once we’ve chosen the right design paradigms, we can keep things moving quickly and communicate easily. Take advantage of all the tools and libraries out there. Granted, these rules and resources are not the be all and end all of design, but they can be lifesavers in a pinch!

People Make Process

When talking about process, it is easy to forget that much of process is about people. Managing an iterative process or production requires constant feedback and dialogue. Communication has to be open and honest, and we have to be open to hearing what others say. We need to function as a team.

Natural dialogue happens when we have an open forum for conversation. It may be a daily scrum, regular check-ins over IM (Instant Messaging) or video, or even that hello over your coffee in the kitchen. If you can’t have regular communication, it is impossible to have dialogue. So don’t hide in a corner! Interact!

Being a good team member also requires that we be accountable for being the best we can be. We need to be open minded and willing to change and take risks. This lets team members work toward the same goals, but be flexible enough to handle the challenges an agile process presents.

And lastly, self-organization is key to being a responsible team member. Unless each individual on a team can get organized, the team as whole can’t be well organized. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row, and things will move much more smoothly.

Artifacts Create Points of Reference

If Design is to be successful, development teams need to stop hating documentation and let go of the fear that it makes the process too heavy. Documentation can be as informal as drawings on paper or as transparent as whiteboards that remain visible in a place that everyone can access. It lets us maintain a shared understanding and keep communication flowing.

Without some object of reference, communication breaks down quickly, and we can lose sight of whether we’re talking about the same thing. So embrace the concept of a war room. Your team will surely benefit from sharing a common workspace.

Design Is Good Business

If we can be mindful of all these things, we can make design a successful part of any agile or Lean development process. Just remember that, sometimes, designers have to drive the vision. If we want to create a successful product, good design really is good business. Besides, wrestling a pig to get lipstick on it just doesn’t sound all that fun, does it?