Getting Real with Agile Design

The world’s recent economic woes have put the final nail in the coffin of waterfall methods. Long requirements phases and up-front documentation won’t be funded: Agile methods are firmly in the ascendancy. This causes well-documented difficulties for IAs and UX professionals and, while ‘best practice’ suggestions abound, they range from the useful to the obvious, via the unrealistic. Based on extensive research and Cennydd’s personal experience, this session will present practical advice how user experience practitioners can remain relevant in Agile times.

Areas to be covered include:

• How to conduct research in Agile environments.
• Is there room for vision?
• What’s wrong with the “work-ahead/follow-behind” process?
• Deliverables: wireframes, prototypes, sketches, or something else?
• The evolving role of designers
• Can Agilists meet us halfway?