Summary
What happens when a global pandemic changes work as we know it? The IBM Patterns Design Education team had to pivot from an immersive, in-person program to an entirely virtual environment in a matter of weeks. That experience left a lasting impact, including recognition from the iF Design Awards! In this session, Umphress will share ideas for making the most of the virtual working experience, including: Being intentional in choosing to conduct live vs asynchronous work sessions Utilizing a solid storytelling model to make challenging situations emotionally fulfilling (e.g.: using Enterprise Design Thinking or incorporating the cadence of “challenges and victories” in the Hero’s Journey) Embracing the opportunity to enrich programs with your organization's experts in design, development, and product management
Key Insights
-
•
IBM’s 'patterns' program shifted from in-person to virtual in just weeks due to COVID-19.
-
•
The program trains designers on Enterprise-level design, not basic design skills.
-
•
Multiple time zones from India to California required thoughtful scheduling and tool choices.
-
•
Dan Harmon's story circle informed the program's emotional arc, building resilience by pushing comfort zones.
-
•
Trello cards were innovatively repurposed to organize asynchronous learning tasks.
-
•
Slack channels facilitated Ask Me Anything sessions, tech support, social interactions, and daily scheduling.
-
•
Virtual social activities like Pictionary and coffee chats helped counteract remote fatigue and isolation.
-
•
Utilizing IBM’s learning management system enabled progress tracking and awarded badges to motivate learners.
-
•
Program cohorts now include global designers and accommodate different experience levels with 101 and 201 tracks.
-
•
Continuous prototyping and feedback from participants, managers, and speakers drive each program iteration.
Notable Quotes
"Everything is a prototype – every program is different in some way based on feedback."
"Below a certain level of discomfort is where resilience is built."
"We have to be intentional about connection in the virtual world."
"Social opportunities actually offset the remote fatigue and isolation that many were feeling."
"I think adults learn best when they can relate new material to what they already know."
"Badges are a big thing at IBM – people get really excited about them."
"We couldn’t deliver this program without support from all levels of management."
"The more people interact virtually, the more natural it will feel over time."
"We offered 101 and 201 tracks to balance content for newer and more experienced designers."
"Continuous learning is important – when people stop learning they get bored and look for something new."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The blueprint is really within all of us — all the things that have brought us to this moment should come to our teams."
Jennifer KanyamibwaCreating the Blueprint: Growing and Building Design Teams
November 8, 2018
"In large organizations, research teams usually pay for the repo but the value is delivered across the whole company."
Brigette Metzler Dana ChrisfieldResearch Repositories: A global project by the ResearchOps Community (Videoconference)
August 27, 2020
"Taking meeting minutes and assigning action items with director names reduced arguing and helped move things forward."
Carl TurnerYou Can Do This: Understand and Solve Organizational Problems to Jumpstart a Dead Project
March 28, 2023
"Often we designers are in IT departments, separate from the larger organization; that boundary is a hurdle to overcome."
John Mortimer Milan Guenther Lucy Ellis Patrick QuattlebaumPanel Discussion
December 3, 2024
"The hardest lesson: being comfortable when you’re uncomfortable and figuring out how to create the most impact."
Dante GuintuHow to Crush the Talent Crunch
September 8, 2022
"Intuition is the ability to see a connection so important that you could build a system out of it."
Richard BuchananCreativity and Principles in the Flourishing Enterprise
June 15, 2018
"Melinda Belcher has had great success first as an outside consultant and then as an inside enterprise manager."
Dan WillisTheme 3: Intro
January 8, 2024
"Innovation is novelty with impact — three words to remember."
Dan WardFailure Friday #1 with Dan Ward
February 7, 2025
"Participatory research always seems like something you’re either doing or not doing—but more often than not, not doing."
Chris GeisonTheme Two Intro
March 28, 2023