Out of Office: Improving user experiences through remote collaboration

Improving user experiences through remote collaboration Jenny Shen (@jennyshen) ACE Conference May 2018 Image: Andrew Neel, Unsplash Out of Office

@jennyshen

@jennyshen Workers are 66% less productive

in an open-planned office. “ —The Sound Agency

Remote Work

a user experience designer spends her entire day behind her desk ! “ ”

@jennyshen UX/Product Design :

@jennyshen UX PROCESS PLANNING COMMUNICATE DESIGN ITERATE DELIVER

@jennyshen Communicate :

@jennyshen COMMUNICATE Image: Spotify Burst

@jennyshen Video conferencing : • Good internet & headphones are must’s • My top 3 video conferencing tools:

@jennyshen Planning :

@jennyshen PLANNING Images: Spotify Burst, Atlassian, Asana

@jennyshen Design :

@jennyshen DESIGN Images: prototypr.io

@jennyshen DESIGN Images: prototypr.io, Realtimeboard

@jennyshen Feedback + Iteration :

@jennyshen FEEDBACK + ITERATION Image: Spotify Burst, Invision

@jennyshen Deliver :

@jennyshen DELIVER Image: Spotify Burst

@jennyshen User Research :

@jennyshen UX RESEARCH PROCESS SCHEDULE RECRUIT INTERVIEW SYNTHESIZE REPORT

@jennyshen Recruit :

@jennyshen RECRUIT Image: web.cies.tn.edu.tw/ictblog

@jennyshen Schedule :

@jennyshen SCHEDULE Image: Glenn Carstens Peters, Unsplash, Airtable

@jennyshen Interview :

@jennyshen INTERVIEW Image: experiencedynamics.com, Pingpong

@jennyshen Synthesize :

@jennyshen SYNTHESIZE Image: glassdoor.nl/Fotos/Workplace-Systems-Kantoorfotos-IMG266501.htm, Realtimeboard, Airtable

@jennyshen Report :

@jennyshen REPORT Image: Spotify Burst

@jennyshen 7 yrs of remote work, 5 lessons

@jennyshen Higher Productivity

@jennyshen

@jennyshen 5h 6h 3.5h

@jennyshen full-time at an office : ⚒

remote working : ⚒

$ + % + & +

@jennyshen Remote Communication

@jennyshen • Over communicate as much as you can • Assume the best intentions in all interactions

• Public > private channels for better visibility • If it takes 3+ back-and-forth messages,   call each other instead Remote communication :

@jennyshen

@jennyshen Routine + Boundaries

@jennyshen • Set a work schedule (09h-17h):   Notifications off + offline at 17h • Minimize distractions:   Work in an environment that suits you best • Slack status should reflect your working status:   Online/offline/DND/lunch/commuting Routine/boundaries :

@jennyshen

@jennyshen Time Zones

@jennyshen • Communicate + set expectations on when you are working (in client’s time zone) • Communicate asynchronously when possible • If someone has to compromise, take turns Time zones :

@jennyshen

@jennyshen Internet Speed

@jennyshen • Your life depends on the Internet • Read reviews or ask ahead about Internet speed

(Ethernet? Shared or private Wifi?) • Use apps/sites to find suitable places to work Internet speed :

@jennyshen

@jennyshen Video conferencing : Digital whiteboard : Organize data : • RealtimeBoard • Invision Freehand • Airtable Project management : Internet speed test : Remote handbook : Time zone calculator : Distraction blocker : • Wo r k f ro m . c o
• Wo r k H a rd A n y w h e re • Tr e l l o
• Asana • Jira • SelfControl • Zoom.us • GoToMeeting • Appear.in REMOTE WORK TOOLS • Everytimezone.com • Time.is • about.gitlab.com/handbook • hanno.co/playbooks/remote

jennyshen.com @jennyshen jenny@jennyshen.com