These are idea 'seedlings' that need more water. Strong opinions, loosely held.
Jakob Nielsen’s heuristics are probably the most-used usability heuristics for the design of interfaces. If you go to their website, you might encounter these dry prescriptive statements as shown in the image. Recently came across this blog by Michael Prestonise and loved the way he had repurposed the old...
Startups are interesting even if most startups fail. I’ve found Patrick Collinson’s argument to be the most convincing: “Part of the reason startups resonate with people is because the outcome is not guaranteed. If it were guaranteed, it would be boring… Whether or not you’re the best...
Design methods are life jackets. Not straight jackets. Structures, whether they’re processes, frameworks, or plans, are excellent tools to navigate complicated problems. They bring efficiency, reduce ambiguity, and offer defaults. However, when dealing with fundamentally complex problems, applying structure too early can lock in outdated notions. Because structures tend...
Initially popularised by McKinsey consultants to draft internal reports, this became quite widespread as a global standard for business writing. Start with the main statement, draw some conclusions and provide some data/facts and figures for further understanding. This could be a simple way in which most Slack updates could...
When it comes to task management, a fundamental principle stands tall: explain the reason before the details of what and how. By letting others know the why behind a task, it facilitates faster completion. Recently, I had a pressing deadline for an urgent activity that needed immediate attention. I had...
‘’What might seem to be merely the initial step — deciding what to work on — is in a sense the key to the whole game’’ — Paul Graham A good start when it comes to product building is half the work done. While running the Build program as a Program Director, a...
Imagine you're about to make a decision that could profoundly impact your health, potentially for years to come. You're not choosing a new diet or exercise routine - you're selecting a personal doctor. It sounds simple, right? After all, they're all qualified...
When I first started doing design observations, there was ABSOLUTELY no structure. I just went ahead to observe the surroundings and talking to as many people as I can. Although I did get some insights from this process, I realised that there could be a better way. There are three...
I’ve found this exercise very valuable when it comes to mapping both the frontstage and backstage of any product/service. It’s a terrible tool to communicate what the product/service looks like. If you squint your eye and look at it, you might see an array of sticky...
As a product manager who also pitches in as a service designer at Noora Health, i sometimes do wonder how I could use most of the design methods I’m applying at my day job for myself. Let’s take the methodology of Service Design Blueprinting for example. It involves...
Some principles which I follow while doing user-centered design: 1. Involving users early in the product development process makes products intuitive and fosters loyalty. It is essential to zoom out and follow a constant process of hypothesis testing, MVP development, review, and refinement. Preparation of research requires a clear goal...
This thought was inspired by the book Design Expertise (Lawson & Dorst, 2009) which includes an interview with the architect Ken Yeang where the author mentions: “I give every new member of staff the practice manual to read when they join. They can not just see past designs but study...
I've noticed something interesting about my daily beverage choices. In the morning, I reach for matcha tea. It's become a ritual, almost meditative. The process of whisking the bright green powder into a frothy drink is calming in itself. But the real magic happens after I...
Think about the past year for a second.
I, like several hundreds or even thousands of other school students, freshly passed out of 12th grade decided to pursue an engineering degree, just like almost every other person in town. You might call it as the law of precedents. Your neighbour (sharma ji ka beta of course) would have...
The dHive program started about 5 months back in Auroville, Pondicherry for a group of 11 students from two different communities, the…
With the help of Goodreads’ Book Reading Challenge, I was able to finish reading 100+ books this 2016. I am listing down those books so…