Josh Kimmell

Design Principal | Designer | Experience Fanatic

A port in a storm

A port in a storm
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Case study

A port in a storm

The anxiety that some designers feel when asking for feedback for their work is understandable. The fact they are expected to “defend” their decisions can make them feel like they are under attack, and they may not survive. I’ve always been a proponent of nonjudgmental, informal critiques where presenters feel comfortable sharing concepts even if they aren’t fleshed out. That’s why I created a culture of critique at IBM, and it’s also the reason I established weekly Design Jams, which give designers a safe, inclusive space to get feedback on their work.

Skills used

Leadership, project management, UX design, collaboration, prototyping

Background

Designers in Security, who are often drowning in complexity, need constructive feedback in an informal, non-stressful setting.

This remote-friendly version of the Design Jam proved to be a port in a storm for many members of the team.
This remote-friendly version of the Design Jam proved to be a port in a storm for many members of the team.

Receiving feedback in a safe space

After joining the Security team, I started gathering designers together in the studio for impromptu, informal, inclusive critiques. Jimmy Dyer and I decided to call these sessions Design Jams* and started playing music inviting designers within hearing distance to share their work and get constructive feedback from colleagues across the product teams.

The space we carved out started getting a bit crowded due to the popularity of the Jams, so I established multiple weekly scheduled sessions so that folks can choose a time that worked for them. In the spirit of inclusivity, we added remote options for our colleagues who were not in our location or time zone.

When the COVID outbreak forced the team to work remotely, I adapted the Design Jam to ensure that it remained a valuable resource for designers during an isolating time. In partnership with Max McKinney, we automated the sign-up process and guaranteed that designers could present their work and receive feedback.

* Our Design Jam was specific to the IBM Security business unit.

Impact

Designers have a safe space to get constructive feedback

500+

Design jams since 2018

Leads can be kept abreast of cross-team experiences

Designers get valuable experience giving feedback

Since joining Security, Josh has transformed the way our product teams are using Agile methodologies in their design practices. He balances both, bringing a volume of leadership expertise and guidance to the team every day while contributing novel and creative ideas that helped our team move rapidly through creative exercises and explore multiple avenues toward our team’s goals. Josh is a big advocate in collaboration and with his partnership on the Design Jams — together, we have made a transformative impact on the culture in IBM Security.


– Jimmy Dyer, Senior Design Lead

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