Mary Wharmby

The idea that Design and Human Resources are natural synergistic partners may seem new and novel but at BBVA, we have found it to be a perfect fit and perhaps the direction of the future.

One must first understand the role of Design and Design Thinking in modern organizations. Often, when people hear the word ‘design’ they imagine it means how something looks – the colors fonts, photography, etc. Although looks are important, design is actually more about how things work – the… Show more

The idea that Design and Human Resources are natural synergistic partners may seem new and novel but at BBVA, we have found it to be a perfect fit and perhaps the direction of the future.

One must first understand the role of Design and Design Thinking in modern organizations. Often, when people hear the word ‘design’ they imagine it means how something looks – the colors fonts, photography, etc. Although looks are important, design is actually more about how things work – the usefulness, engagement and satisfaction of the overall experience.

To innovate great experiences, Design focuses on people and their needs. Everything we do revolves around understanding and meeting the needs of people. Design is also research- driven, experimental, collaborative and iterative. Design also uses a unique set of processes, tools and techniques. Together, this is a very powerful framework.

Traditionally, Design has been used as an innovation driver in the product and service pipeline. But, there is another side to the story. The same framework which drives innovative products and services is equally impactful when applied as a transformation driver within the organization itself. Here, Design can be used to create a durable set of organizational capabilities related to employee capacity, mindset and behavior, internal process optimization, and ultimately, company culture.

We have found that Design is most valuable and impactful when it leverages both sides of the equation – products and services on the one hand, and the organization on the other. For this reason, in 2016 BBVA created the Design Transformation Team, dedicated to bringing design practices beyond the Design Department, to everyone in the organization. Show less

What does it mean to ‘design at scale’ in a 132,000-employee organization? Two years ago, BBVA, one of the world’s oldest and largest banks, launched a grand experiment to find the answer.

During that time, because of the sponsorship of top management including the Chairman and CEO, the design team grew from a handful to over two hundred, design evolved from downstream production to core strategic capability and design methodologies went beyond the Design Department to permeate the… Show more

What does it mean to ‘design at scale’ in a 132,000-employee organization? Two years ago, BBVA, one of the world’s oldest and largest banks, launched a grand experiment to find the answer.

During that time, because of the sponsorship of top management including the Chairman and CEO, the design team grew from a handful to over two hundred, design evolved from downstream production to core strategic capability and design methodologies went beyond the Design Department to permeate the entire organization, reshaping skill-sets, processes and culture. Together, these changes have resulted in a more innovative and competitive organization. — BBVA’s big learning? Meaningful change means orienting everyone around the customer. Show less

As design asks for a larger seat at the table and works to foster a culture of customer-centered design-thinking, we must better communicate our process and value to others who don't understand this mysterious power of UX. Storytelling is a great way to do that.

Despite the fact that we talk a lot about story in UX, we have trouble putting it into practice, especially our own stories.

This talk recasts our design process as story, making it more impactful and relatable to… Show more

As design asks for a larger seat at the table and works to foster a culture of customer-centered design-thinking, we must better communicate our process and value to others who don't understand this mysterious power of UX. Storytelling is a great way to do that.

Despite the fact that we talk a lot about story in UX, we have trouble putting it into practice, especially our own stories.

This talk recasts our design process as story, making it more impactful and relatable to others. We discuss the uses of story in UX, provide a visual map of the UX story framework (UXStoryWheel), and demonstrate a few simple story patterns. Show less

Covers the foundations of design thinking, from understanding your users to iterating solutions, providing a quick snapshot of the most important principles behind using design to solve problems.

Even a small amount of design research has the power to transform your project and lay a foundation for success. This quick primer will give you the tools and understanding needed to get started today.

A quick and easy primer for designing great UX portfolios.