Traditionally, user experience design has been a deliverables practice. Wireframes, sitemaps, flow diagrams, content inventories, taxonomies, and "The Spec" defined the practice of user-experience design (IxD, UX design, whatever, etc.). While this work has helped define what UX designers do and the value our work brings to the business, it has also put us in the deliverables business -- measured and compensated for the depth and breadth of our deliverables (instead of the quality and success of the experiences we design).

Enter Lean UX. Inspired by Lean Startup and Agile development theories, Lean UX is the practice of bringing the true nature of our work to light faster, with less emphasis on deliverables and greater focus on the actual experience being designed. This talk will explore how Lean UX manifests in terms of process, communication, documentation, and team interaction. In addition, we'll take a look at how this philosophical shift can take root in any environment -- from large corporation to interactive agencies to startups.