Emma Varjo

Can a machine be empathetic? "If it feels real, it is real" opens Petri Lattu the Designing for machines that can feel: GenAI is flipping the script of human-centered design workshop by Siili Solutions Could not imagine a better or more interesting start for Service Design Global Conference 2024 in Helsinki #SDGC24 #servicedesign #interactiondesign #GenAI

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A couple of years ago, at React Finland 2022, I shared my insights on a topic that is near and dear to my heart - benchmarking for design systems. As a consultant for design systems, I often find myself advising clients on the best practices and strategies to adopt. One of the recurring challenges we've faced is determining the right standard to benchmark against. With so many diverse design systems out there, it can be overwhelming to determine which one should serve as the baseline. To address this, I shared the results of a comprehensive study I conducted, analyzing dozens of design systems and their various features and attributes. The goal was to develop a structured approach to industry research, one that would empower teams to make informed strategic decisions and identify effective implementation strategies. The result was a Miro board that serves as a meticulously curated collection of design system examples, with each section linked to corresponding features and content across different systems. This resource has become an indispensable tool in our work at Bridge The Gap, as we constantly refer to it when discussing design system requirements with our clients. The visual representation and the wealth of examples help us communicate the subject matter more effectively and pinpoint the features that are most crucial to our clients' needs. I'm sharing this talk from 2 years ago because it has recently resurfaced in one of our current projects at Bridge The Gap. We just had a discussion around the features the design system documentation website needs, and this comprehensive Miro board once again proved to be incredibly valuable. It allowed us to effectively showcase the options for the features our blended team (us-consultants and the client's developers and designers) was seeking. If you're interested in learning more about this topic, this is the full video of the talk: https://lnkd.in/dPF5VMSu And of course, the Miro board is available for you as well (look in the comments to this post). Feel free to explore and let me know if this approach or a similar one was helpful for your work as well.

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What I mean when I say I love prototyping. https://lnkd.in/dEk99k3b It is not about perfection. Its not about ingenuity. Its about trying, testing and having fun. Concepting and Prototyping is one place where silliness can e maxed out sometimes. Now that might not apply to every prototype but over the mental load is less. So have fun. You can also get this prototype to play: https://lnkd.in/d_shEmGM

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UX Review VS Design Sprint 🎁 Get one for free: https://10.applifting.io/ 🎁 Many companies are designing applications blindly without having things thought through. On the other hand, Design Sprint is also not a silver bullet and in some cases unnecessarily complicated. How are you approaching prototyping new things or redesigning the existing ones? Let me know in the comments!

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2nd Book Progress – First week of onbirding   In the last few days, I started my first week at Rovio Stockholm. I met some familiar faces, lots of new faces, and encountered generally a very positive and friendly vibe. By the way, that is our studio manager, Johannes Mang :) Due to this, progress has been a bit slower than usual. Also, I ran into a slight problem with my last two scenes which I discovered after finishing them. They took place in the office and a bar. However, at that time the pandemic just began, so I had to rewrite them a bit to take that into account. Next, after all the political powerplay, producer Angelo returns to tactical development of the game, discussing with Simone, the Lead Level Designer, about the resistance of her team to start working on content while the mechanics are still in flux. Her team just hates the fact that the work they are going to do will not end up in the final game. Angelo is getting comments like this: "Because I don't know the dimensions of buildings or structures, I can't allocate appropriate space for them on the map." "Since I don't know how quickly resources are consumed, I can't balance the distribution of resource spots effectively." "Since I don't know the maximum number of units that can be present, I can't scale the map appropriately." All true. And yet, they have to create maps in order to figure those things out. In this phase, it inevitably means that those early maps will not end up in the final game. Angelo notices the team’s misconception - they behave as if they are in production, trying to create player value. But in reality, they are in conception trying to gain knowledge instead. Sometimes, it is also hard for teams (not only leadership) to understand the difference.   #gamedesignimpossible #writing #gamedevelopment #gamedesign   In case you want to check out the first book in the meantime: https://lnkd.in/g8Ff4ECg

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So here at LKHE we make games for gamers, and we support our devs fully. We are also about teaching and innovation, and will be opensourcing our games eventually, as well as the behind the scenes. This also means we don’t hide our code in a vault. It insures you guys get to bring your cool ideas to life, and it makes sure we’re always ready to take that extra step further into innovation. I noticed a lot of people are looking for this, and there isnt really a source out there that shows you how to do it. SOOOOoooo here it is (a Sin City Filter) for UE5. You can also use this for any post process, and bring an object, or character out and separate it from the post processing! Give us that Like and subscribe on the channel, and stay tuned. Out Pitch Demo is almost done for Project Kianna, and we'll be pumping out content via Discord, Facebook, LinkdIn, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok and have our own fully operational Website! Once were up on social media, we will be releasing the official "Prototype: Kianna" which is the free (player built demo) where your input matters on how we proceed with our game! it will have 6 upgrades, based on player input, and will slowly uncover the origin story of Kianna. but for now, check it out my dudes https://lnkd.in/gPSUfjkh

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Hello hi 👋 I love using AI to help with my work... but at the same time I also fear loosing my critical thinking skills. Many graduates, juniors/brave career changers entering a world of UX with AI - remember it's a tool and doesn't replace critical thinking and empathy. So while it's great to create scripts and guides for user research (there so many more use cases), it's so important not to blindly accept it. Get your eyeballs on it, test it on someone...preferably another human. Validate it....preferably with another human....see where I'm going? Have a fantabulous weekend and happy Friday! 🎉

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Let's add some spice to the way you think about your products - so they can be even more user friendly I'm teaching a free workshop tomorrow so you can learn the basics of a method I use as a UX designer to make more intituive products, and understand domains clearer We already have 27 folks signed up for the event tomorrow! Still a few more spots left. This workshop is for you if you are: • product-centered folks: UX/UI product designers, devs, PMs, marketers • founders • someone who likes to learn • curious It will be recorded and transcribed using Otter.ai. Wednesday, July 17 7-8:30pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT Free - Online workshop Interactive (No you don't need to talk if you don't want to) Get your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gRpMDxhT What questions do you have floating around about OOUX - drop em in the chat! If you already know the basics and want training of all the ins and outs, I recommend Sophia V Prater's self paced masterclass: https://lnkd.in/d2kcNb2Q (For transparency, this is a referral code, it will redirect to the main page. This is the course materials I trained with and I wouldn't recommend it, if I didn't think it was very useful.) She's about to sunset the course so if you're on the fence, lmk! #ooux #ux #product #productdesign  

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Tech expert? I am looking for a tool to upload multiple company meeting recordings cut and sort them into topics. The recordings jump from topic to topic and they are very techy Could you give me some advice?

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It’s always great to receive feedback like this from a student Alesia Kotsur I’ve been regularly mentoring in UI/UX design ❤️ I’m especially happy when they land roles in teams ⚡ Translated: "By the way Rustam, I haven't told you yet, but thank you very much again) I got into another rather large-scale project at work, I will make a mobile application - market for the game Warframe, I passed the test and they hired me😇 they said that I even made the cards of the market better than the previous design, and as you taught everything to explain why and how I decided to do so, they were very pleased with it)." #mentoring

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Game Industry Ecosystem ♻️ Yesterday, during dinner with three remarkable individuals from the Swedish game industry in Stockholm, we sparked a discussion about the current challenges in game industry education. We talked about how there are currently too many educational programs, and that many game industry teachers end up getting jobs themselves instead of helping students secure employment, leaving their teaching roles. Additionally, we highlighted the significant gap in the ecosystem—soon, we'll have an influx of newly graduated students who lack the necessary experience to be fully prepared and responsible candidates for companies. This is where organizations like Spelkollektivet and initiatives similar to game jams, summer game camps play a crucial role. They function like boot camps, where students can acquire practical skills necessary to become game developers, regardless of the category. I believe we will soon need more places like Spelkollektivet, where students can learn teamwork, hone their skills, and work on several actual projects. These experiences will help them build real portfolios and sharpen their raw talents. Moreover, such environments enable students to form valuable relationships, potentially leading to the creation of their own companies/startups/consult and freelance. Here are some suggested solutions to help solve this issue: 1. Enhanced internships and apprenticeships 2. Project-based learning 3. Industry-driven curriculum 4. Boot camps and workshops 5. Portfolio development 6. Networking opportunities 7. Career services 8. Soft skills training 9. Continuous learning 10. Entrepreneurial support #gameindustrysweden #gameindustry #gamedev #gameindustryeducation #gameindustrycommunity #futuregames

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I’m doing group-mentoring for designers. This is the easiest way to explain it, but it’s so much more. Application is due January 8, starts January 18. A bit more about this thing. We’re calling this experience KAIKASEN, inspired by the word to bloom. It's now become a global group of 30+ designers dedicated to growing together. It’s NOT a bootcamp, a cohort, or a rigid program, but an evolving experiment. It's filled with passionate designers who prioritize learning, collaboration, and meaningful practice, guided and coached by me, someone with 25 years of experience in design so far, with 45 more to go. We meet every Saturday morning (PST) to practice and learn advanced design topics, real-world projects, and collaboration. Members who completed Season One are staying onto Season Two because KAIKASEN is a place to continuously learn and push yourself. Growth never stops and has no end date. Season Two will cover product strategy and workshop facilitation. I noticed many people switched from calling themselves UX designers to Product Designers, even though the two types have completely different skillsets. I’ll be covering that difference. Any questions, let me know. [Side note someone in the community asked “why is this free??” I guess they were getting so much value, it didn’t make sense that it was free. Free means it can be more financially inclusive, but also allows the freedom to do whatever I want. There’s no refunds or people feeling obligated to stick around. Free is freedom. ]

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Next iteration of Espoo Game LAB is coming. 🎉 I highly recommend everyone who is interested in learning more about game business and making financially viable games to apply. Personally I got from the programme the courage boost to start my own solo entrepreneurship Game Oasis . The programme helped me to understand that being an entrepreneur isn't some rocket science even though there has certainly been a lot to learn. :) If you're looking for an extra pair of hands to your game project we should also talk so I can help boost your game with my skills in Game Design and programming. ✨ #entrepreneurship #indie #gamedev #gamestartups #EspooGameLAB #gamebusiness #gaming #gamedesign #gameprogramming

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Steve, I have to strongly disagree. Aeschylus' 2500-year-old adage goes: "It is easy when we are in prosperity to give advice to the afflicted." You and Theo have had a lifetime of privilege, having grown up at the centers of multiple intellectual and cultural locales and time periods (Uni High in the 1970s? how lucky can you get? and did you get there all by yourselves?). My guess is that most of the people who agree with you have had more or less similar paths. And I have to mention that most of us here are white males. We know that wealth and privilege preserve well across generations; that, while technology expands capital, there is a limited supply of room at the top, and that wealth accumulates to an already wealthy minority; and that the way upward is exceedingly difficult for those underneath. Therefore, your children will generally always have a far better chance than virtually everyone else on Earth to benefit from AI or any new development. David Autor of MIT just came out with some longitudinal evidence that new technology in the U.S. killed more jobs than it created. Why should you care, considering you and your kin are near the top of the heap? Guys, you have essentially no standing to argue what the rest of the world ought and ought not to do. It embarrasses me that you feel you can tell my 500 art and design students about how they ought to plan their future, and brand as a Luddite anyone who can't or won't take your path. You are right, the Luddites are instructive here. But they were a poor, suffering population that faced a grim threat. This pattern has played out repeated times for 250 years. Even the ones who aren't punished and who try diligently to stay in the game will always remain way behind you and your folk. Please don't ever forget this, and try to be more sensitive, humble, and introspective about your origins and your trajectory.

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In my recent post, I reflected on how turbulence in the gaming industry impacts company culture and leadership. Conversations with insightful peers like Heidi Krohns-Välimäki and Kim Kupiainen highlighted just how tough things are for leaders right now. Here are some key challenges they face right now: 😶‍🌫️ They face the same uncertainty about their future as everyone else. 🎭 They need to project stability while staying authentic. ⚖️ Some must make difficult decisions that directly impact their teams. 🛠️ Some have no control over decisions but are responsible for implementing them. Each of these challenges demands resilience, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness—skills many leaders are learning in real-time, often without formal guidance. Leadership in times like these is less about having all the answers and more about staying open, adaptable, and willing to learn as you go. It’s not just about navigating these uncertain times personally, but fostering trust and connection within their teams as well. But staying open and adaptable is easier said than done, when you’re worried about the future of yourself and your team. I’ve been fortunate to learn from programs and efforts like Games Leadership Network, Leadership Day by IGDA Finland, and Rise and Play which are doing incredible work to prepare leaders for challenges like these. In case you’re unfamiliar with them, I fully recommend checking them out. What other resources or communities have you found helpful for leadership development in gaming—or beyond? I’d love to hear your recommendations! #leadership #gamedev #resilience #leadershipdevelopment 

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Two things can be true at once: - Code is the most expensive way to learn something - Throw-away code is not a sin Some things can only be learned by shipping a product (or a pilot). When we write code to learn, we need to be explicit that this is its purpose - and once the learning is done, the code can be thrown away without "losing" any value. Attempting to write code that is both for learning-value and user-value means: - Glacial lead times before you find out if you were wrong - Unfixable mistakes when you do get it wrong These two things create a death spiral.

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🚀 Taking Your Team on the UX Journey: Beyond Stand-Ups 🚀 “How do you take your team on the journey with you?” This question has come up time and again in interviews and discussions, both as a consultant and as an in-house UX professional. It's also a question I ask teams I manage and people I hire. Let’s be honest—taking your team on the UX journey isn’t always easy, and it doesn’t always come naturally. However, I firmly believe that ... ✨ our work isn't about us, it’s about the human impact we have with the products and services we create, whether for internal staff or the general public ✨ To achieve robust, high-quality outcomes, we must work as a team to ensure our outcomes are collectively backed and it's much easier to achieve this in the long run when we take teams along the UX journey with us. 🔹 Practical Steps 🔹 🏁 Start from the Beginning : Engage your team from the thinking about the plan phase not only when you've kick off your research or design work. 🔍 Work in the Open : Use shared team spaces and tools to keep everyone in the loop, rather than on personal folders. 📅 Set Clear Expectations : Be upfront about your availability. For example, if you need quiet time to think, let your team know when you’ll get back to them. 🗣️ Communicate Your Needs : Don’t hesitate to set boundaries so that you can do your best work but be open to the approach e.g I like to say, “I need [x] so that [y], how can we work together to make this possible?” 💬 Ask : Sounds simple but often something we overlook. Every team is different so I like to ask, “Is my approach working for you?” 🔹 Mindset Shifts 🔹 There are also a few ways of thinking that I've experienced comes through in team collaboration whether we realise it or not. 🌟 From 'Have To' to 'Get To' : Shift your mindset from obligation to opportunity e.g. “I get to take the team on this journey to achieve better outcomes for our users.” 🌱 Being an Introvert Is a Label, Not a Limitation : Managing energy is crucial, especially for introverts. I focus on meaningful interactions rather than frequent meetings. Collaboration may look different, but it’s still essential. 🤔 Understand Your Team's Needs : Know where your team stands on deadlines, risks, and workloads. This awareness helps in planning and setting realistic expectations. 🔹 Self-Check Questions 🔹 Questions I ask myself to check if I'm applying the above: ✅ Does my team know my step-by-step plan to achieve our goals? ✅ Can my team easily see my progress and future plans? ✅ Are my calendar and IM status clear indicators of my availability and priorities? ✅ Have I communicated potential delays or challenges asap? P.S. It's also a 2 way street. See the comments for ... my thoughts on how managers, leads, and colleagues can help UX professionals feel comfortable sharing the journey. How do you take your team on the journey with you? #UX #AgileTeams #Teamwork #Leadership #UserExperience #TeamCollaboration #ProductDesign

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🔥🔥🔥CONTRACTORS AVAILABLE 🔥🔥🔥 I'm hearing a lot of challenges from Gaming Studios about budget constraints and the consent challenge of finding the right talent quickly. Are you facing any of these issues: 😓No Headcount for Full-Time Positions... 😓Nordic Summer is Approaching, we can't onboard anyone right now... 😓We only want to build a team of Full Time Employees... Well, here are some of the reasons why contractors can help! 💥With tight budgets and strict headcount limits, hiring full-time staff can be challenging. Contractors offer a flexible solution, allowing you to bring in top talent without the long-term commitment or need for additional full-time positions. 💥With the core team enjoying their well-deserved break, keep projects on track with experienced contractors working on the backlog of work you haven't managed to get around to. 💥Address pressing needs now while taking the time to find the perfect long-term solution. Don't let these challenges slow you down. I specialize in sourcing the best contractors in the Tech & Animation space. I not only have talented contractors, but they are fantastic people as well! Drop me a message if you're interested in seeing any profiles! 👊

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