Everyday Chemist onboarding experience: Working with my Teamies
Team collaboration during my client project with my Springboard UX Design Certification
We were matched with several students for a UX project. As strangers, we were tasked with designing an experience for their business, including creating a project plan, meeting with the client. We met with the client and had an internal team every Tuesday for the 4 weeks and a final meeting to deliver the product.
Our system for working together
The first week was difficult. We needed to get to know each other quickly, learn each other’s work style quickly, and get moving on the project plan to present to the client and start the research. We worked in a very democratic fashion. Since we all had an equal part in the project we felt it was important to be transparent and vote on directions.
We acknowledged that our diverse perspectives and methods could lead to varying outcomes. To accommodate these differences, we agreed that we could always personalize the design to our liking for our portfolios once the project was complete. Our primary focus was to meet the client's expectations and deliver a solution that aligned with their vision.
Fitting everything into a short timeline
Our approach to the process and timeline. We decided to take turns testing users throughout the project timeline. I went first, and from those first user tests, I started the affinity diagram, my teammates took on the Empathy Map and the Personas. As we went along, we all added to the documents as we performed more user interviews. Even if we weren’t able to apply some of this information to the present project, it would help whoever works on the next phase of the project.
Creating the User Journey Map — my teammate and I worked together on this. Since I was still unclear on how to create one, she went through the process with me, left me alone to finish as much as I could, then she came back to fill in the rest and help me understand what I left out. This was a great way to learn and it helped create a bond between us.
Applying my leadership skills
As an experienced visual designer and mentor, I wanted to be available to give advice but also allow freedom to make mistakes. My leadership style is predominantly democratic so I really try to allow choice even when I don’t 100% agree with a direction. Also, being aware that even with all my experience in design, I also make mistakes and want others to find their creativity without interruption, trusting in their potential. I find I’m rarely disappointed. For this project, I mostly stated best practices, but they could apply what they wanted to the project. Afterall, it wasn’t my role to tell them what to direct, we were all at the same level in that respect with different strengths to draw from.
Challenges we faced
The most challenging was getting on the same page with my teammates the first week. Once we figured out a system for working together we took off. We did spend several days working super late hours (for me 2am, some sleep deprivation) to be ready for our client meetings towards the end. One teammate was on PST and two of us on EST. But it was fine once we finished and I caught up on my sleep.
Working collaboratively
First I should say, I love work sessions. We did more work sessions than I thought we would over the course of the 4 weeks. It came about naturally as we had a client meeting coming up in the second half of the project, during the design process as our deadline quickly approached. These sessions were done through Slack voice or Zoom meetings. We'd be going through our Figma comments and making adjustments. Not a bad thing. I actually like working together and freely speaking as things come up.
Finalizing our work
Normally, we would test our prototype with users, but we ran out of time. We did set up the client to be able to test on their own and they had several clients they could do this with. This is the point where I turn this into a personal project, test our design with my own users, and make adjustments based on my own design thinking. And this is where I’m at presently with the project. See my updates to the project.
Takeaways and Lessons Learned
Here are some key takeaways that I experienced through this project:
Teamwork and Collaboration
Effective communication and understanding: The initial challenges in getting to know my teammates highlighted to me the importance of open communication and understanding each other's work styles.
Democratic decision-making: My experience with democratic decision-making demonstrates how this approach can foster inclusivity and ownership among team members.
Power of collaboration: With the successful completion of the project, it showcases the benefits of working together and leveraging each team member's strengths.
Leadership and Mentorship
Supportive and empowering leadership style: Your approach to mentoring junior teammates will demonstrate the value of providing guidance while allowing for autonomy and growth.
Leading by example: By acknowledging your own mistakes and encouraging creativity in others, you demonstrate that effective leaders are also learners.
Project Management and Time Management
Balancing multiple tasks and deadlines: Your experience with late nights and tight deadlines highlights the importance of effective time management and planning.
Flexibility and adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the need for additional work sessions, is crucial for successful project completion.
Personal Growth and Development
Continuous learning and improvement: Your willingness to learn from your mistakes and seek feedback from others demonstrates a commitment to personal growth.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone: The experience of working on a new project with unfamiliar people can help you develop new skills and expand your horizons.
