As the January is named after the Roman god of transitions, Janus, a unique deity who was often depicted with two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward. This duality was symbolic of the god's ability to see both the past and the future, and to guide people through the transitions of life.
The implications for design
As designers, we can learn a lot from Janus and his ability to look both forward and backward. The UX design process is all about looking ahead to understand what users need and want, and then iterating backward to make sure that those needs are met in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Ideation workshops are a valuable tool for any design process, as they help teams to generate and explore new ideas without fear of judgment or criticism. By getting all of their ideas out of their heads and onto the table, team members are able to see the bigger picture and consider a wide range of possibilities.
One of the key benefits of ideation workshops is that they allow teams to jump ahead in the design process. Rather than spending a lot of time on a single idea that may not pan out, teams can quickly generate and evaluate a large number of options, ultimately arriving at the best solution more quickly.
Another important aspect of ideation workshops is that they encourage a culture of open-mindedness and creativity. By establishing a safe space where team members can share their ideas without fear of rejection, teams are able to think more freely and come up with truly innovative solutions.
One key aspect of this process is the use of retrospectives, which are regular review sessions where designers look back at their work and reflect on what went well, what could have been done better, and what they can learn from the experience. These retrospectives allow designers to incorporate lessons learned into their future work, ensuring that each project is a little bit better than the last.
The implications for Theft
At our design firm, we believe that it's important to take our clients along on the journey with us. This means not only working closely with them to understand their needs and goals, but also helping them to look forward with inspiration and look backward with learning.
One way we do this is by sharing our process and approach with our clients. We believe that it's important for them to understand how we work and the considerations that go into our designs, so that they can feel confident in the decisions we make and the direction we're heading.
We also like to involve our clients in the ideation and exploration phase of the design process. This can be as simple as sharing early sketches or prototypes with them for feedback, or even inviting them to participate in ideation workshops alongside our design team. By involving them in this way, we can help our clients to see the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead, and get them excited about the journey to come.
At the same time, we also encourage our clients to look backward and reflect on their experiences. This might involve conducting regular retrospectives to review what has worked well and what could be improved, or simply engaging in ongoing dialogue about the design process and how it's evolving. By looking back and learning from our experiences, we can continually improve and refine our designs, and better meet the needs of our clients.
By taking a holistic view of our work and learning from the past, we can create better designs and create a better future for all of us. By working together and sharing in the process, we can create designs that truly meet the needs of our clients.