(Book Review) Articulating Design Decisions, 1st Edition

Overview

Review Published: June, 2017.

From UX Designer, author, and speaker Tom Greever comes a guide for communicating with stakeholders during the design process.

From outlining the shift toward design thinking in organizations, to offering specific techniques for showcasing value, this book provides a comprehensive set of rationales and techniques for designers to use whenever they meet with their project teams and stakeholders.

Rating:

4.5 / 5

(Great Content, Presentation is Engaging)

What does this score mean?

Difficulty:

Beginner (References a few design techniques, but otherwise sticks to communication strategies).

Length:

248 pages.

Where to Buy It:

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What's Good

Highlights the key role communication plays in design; outlines the process of how design has come to be centre stage in many successful organizations, how that shift is crucial for competing in the marketplace, and the difficulties that tend to show up during the design process.
An accessible & detailed examination of working in a wider organizational context; starting simply and moving into detail when needed, this book never overwhelms the reader with jargon or “corporate speak” (which is a welcome change of pace from most books about business organizations).
Moves from general stakeholder motivations to specific techniques with multiple points of view; the author delves into the types of stakeholders you’re most likely to encounter, what their priorities typically are, and a process of discovery that you can use to make sure your communications are relevant to their needs (and even includes a chapter specifically for non-designers to help them understand our process).

What Can Be Improved

Managing stakeholder expectations; while a lot of great techniques for keeping stakeholders informed are provided, outlining how designers could communicate the general workings of the design process would be a welcome addition (i.e. setting initial expectations by running a UX “bootcamp” for stakeholders that have no previous exposure to design).

The Bottom Line

An essential read for designers in large organizations; this is hands-down the best book that I’ve read for designers looking to communicate more effectively with their stakeholders, and by doing so deliver the best results possible.
For those looking to establish design leadership as part of their workflow; as the design industry struggles to get a seat at the table when it comes to organizational decision-making, this book goes a long way to helping realize that goal by arming designers with more effective ways to showcase their value.
An accessible & pragmatic step-by-step approach; the author takes the often esoteric subject of design communication, and provides a clear set of strategies that any designer can act upon for the reasonable price of $40.