EP2. A Conversation with Mackenzie Merrill | Lead Product Designer at Target

• You can find Mackenzie on LinkedIn

• Reach me on LinkedIn, ADPList.org, or email me at unsolicitedux@gmail.com

Time Stamps:

• [1:18] Who is Mackenzie Merrill?

• [2:42] What does it mean to be a Lead Product Designer? 

• [6:09] The three (or four) legged stool

• [14:53] Building trust in cross-functional relationships  

• [18:00] The Enneagram Personality Test

• [18:45] The Lone Wolf Designer 

• [22:41] Finding Balance in Collaboration, Planning & Road mapping

• [29:00] Saying “No”

• [30:40] The fourth leg of the stool: Process Management 

• [33:30] Process Management vs. Agile

• [35:20] Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

• [37:58] Drawing out answers from partners 

• [39:20] Being a Storyteller

• [41:00] Connecting the right methodologies to the need or the problem

• [42:22] Get comfortable with being uncomfortable with facilitation 

• [43:30] Staying in the problem space longer\

• [44:34] Mackenzie’s path to product design 

• [48:24] Instructional Design & its relationship to UX

• [50:15] What advice would Mackenzie give to her younger self?

• [53:00] Networking

• [58:19] Mackenzie’s favorite ux topics: Design Strategy & UI

• [1:00:00] Design Strategy 

• [1:01:03] Kicking off design strategy conversations with your partners  

• [1:03:22] UI 

• [1:06:00] Mackenzie’s Hot Take: The value of live experience  

• [1:09:50] Bringing your background into your career & story 

• [1:16:34] Every choice you make comes with risk 

• [1:17:36] Question from a Mentee 

• [1:19:56] Getting better at communication 

Resources Discussed:

• Universal Methods of Design: 100 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions

• Miro

• Trello

• Adplist.org

Special Thanks to:

• Capelle Gabriel, graphic design support

• Kelley Van Pelt, sound mixing support

• Seb Taylor, vocal training support

Intro Music:

"I Got a Stick Arr Bryan Teoh" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/