BB8 and the Holy Grail of XD
In the Spring of 2017, I was invited to speak at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) about my experience being a part of the Star Wars BB8 design team while working with Sphero, a Boulder-based robot company.
Instead of providing a shaggy dog story about the exact process we employed, I used the retrospective as an opportunity for self-reflection to understand my deeper design experience. This was not just a high profile project, it was a project that brought forth the best and worst of the design/build team.
The opportunity to talk to a group of UX, product and industrial design students allowed me a moment to reflect on how magic is created. I was able to identify the three qualities a designer must employ to create a successful, delightful, useful and... yes – magical... product or service. These patterns are my truth learned over an 18-year career as a professional designer.
I've attached my presentation deck. It's rather cryptic. I'm happy to provide a voice over and some presentation theater if you'd like me to come talk to your class, company or conference.
Read more about the project from the Concept section.
