Exploring heart tools to elevate our IA practice

A talk by Yvonne Shek

I would like to talk about the role of “heart” tools in our IA/UX practice. Too often, our tools and methods are intellectual and left-brain-oriented exercises. In this talk, I would like to suggest a fresh approach to our IA practice. We will explore “heart” tools and methods that are shown to be more persuasive than “head” methods – when push comes to shove.

First, we will discuss reasons heart tools have been left out, where head tools have dominated our field. These include western versus eastern philosophies, traditions, and a brief historical perspective.

We will then look at the different types of heart tools, their origins, and how these practices (often spiritual in nature) can be adapted to our IA practice, including: creative visualization, mental walkthroughs, and the practice of centeredness and connectedness. We will cover work activities ranging from sales (yes sales!), to research, to design.

Next, we will use real or near-real work-related examples and discuss how heart tools can be used in each situation, and how heart tools will help us get the type of results we want in our deliverables, meetings, workshops, presentations, and client relationships.

I see these ideas as a new layer on top of our current tools, and not as a replacement. Heart tools will elevate our practice to a whole new level of understanding and effectiveness, not only as IA practitioners, but also as engaged people who deeply understand and love our work, ourselves, others, and our world.