How to design products that delight your users with Slack’s VP of design Ethan Eismann - Product Hunt Radio Recap

Podcast: Product Hunt Radio

Published: 2020-03-25

Duration: 56 min

Summary

Ethan Eismann, Slack's VP of Design, shares his insights on creating user-centered products that enhance productivity and enjoyment in the workplace. His experience across major tech companies informs his approach to design that prioritizes user delight.

What Happened

In this episode, host Abidesi interviews Ethan Eismann, who has an impressive background in leading design teams at companies like Adobe, Google, Uber, and Airbnb before joining Slack. Ethan discusses his journey into design and how his diverse experiences shape his current role at Slack, where he aims to create products that simplify and enrich users' working lives.

Ethan emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping and customer involvement as co-creators in the design process. He highlights that the key to successful product design lies in understanding the moments of delight that users experience when interacting with a product. This approach not only enhances user satisfaction but also drives productivity, which is a core mission at Slack.

Key Insights

• The significance of rapid prototyping in product design.
• Involving customers as co-creators enhances design relevance.
• Design should prioritize moments of delight for users.
• The intersection of consumer and B2B product design is crucial.

Key Questions Answered

What is Ethan Eismann's design philosophy at Slack?

Ethan Eismann leads the design team at Slack with a focus on making working lives easier, more productive, and more pleasant. He believes in creating products that prioritize user delight, which he considers essential for enhancing productivity. This philosophy is rooted in his extensive experience across various tech companies, where he has emphasized the importance of understanding user needs and creating relevant solutions.

How does rapid prototyping influence product design at Slack?

Rapid prototyping is a key aspect of Slack's product design process. Ethan explains that it allows designers to quickly test ideas and iterate based on user feedback, which is vital for creating effective solutions. This approach not only speeds up the development process but also ensures that the final product resonates well with users by integrating their insights into the design.

What role do customers play in the design process at Slack?

At Slack, customers are seen as co-creators in the design process. Ethan emphasizes involving users early and often to gather feedback and understand their needs. This collaborative approach helps to ensure that the products developed are not only functional but also delightful to use, enhancing overall user satisfaction.

What insights did Ethan share about the intersection of consumer and B2B product design?

Ethan discusses how his experiences with both consumer-facing products and B2B products have shaped his approach to design. He notes that successful B2B products should incorporate the aesthetics and user-centric principles that have traditionally been a hallmark of consumer products. This shift is essential for meeting modern user expectations in the enterprise space.

How has Ethan's past experience shaped his work at Slack?

Ethan's extensive background at companies like Adobe, Google, Uber, and Airbnb has provided him with a wealth of knowledge about product design and user experience. Each role taught him valuable lessons about the impact of design on business and user satisfaction, which he now applies at Slack to help achieve the company's mission of improving work life for its users.