Faangboss

Onboarding to a new team in thirty days

Cat Lo -

☀️ Summer in June is in Full Swing ☀️

I'm sorry I missed two editions of this weekly newsletter! Memorial Day and the week following were short but sweet.

I hosted a BBQ for my previous team on my roof, where I made a bunch of kabobs, drinks, and summer salads. My neighbor didn't want their giant Bird of Paradise, so now it's mine. ☺️

New Team

I wrapped up my second week with the incredible team at Amazon, Brand Experiences. Our mission is to make Amazon the premier destination for brands to sell their products.

My onboarding projects include Jobs-to-be-Done, Mobile Strategy, and Information Architecture. These projects, though broad, are comfortably within my wheelhouse and remind me of my first job: sorting books at a public library near my high school in Maryland.

📚 The job seemed simple: Put returned books back where they belong. 📚

In public and school libraries, the Dewey Decimal System is typically used (e.g., 000 - General, 100 - Philosophy, 200 - Religion). With fewer categories, diverse topics often get merged under broad umbrellas, making it challenging to find specific books.If you wanted a book on human anatomy, it's under “Technology”, not “Science”. In the Technology section, you can find topics like Public Relations and Accounting. This is the original catalog ontology. 😯

💡 In contrast, larger libraries like the Library of Congress use the LoC system, a more detailed cataloging method. This system is akin to modern databases where each every book is like a table with column and row in a modern database. These early experiences with organization, attention to detail, systematic thinking, and a deep appreciation for order are the skills I use today as a UX Designer.

From organizing books in a library to creating seamless digital experiences, my goal is to ensure users can navigate interfaces with ease.

Effective Information Architecture and JBTD not only involves placing elements where users expect them, but also thinking broadly and horizontally to create features that meet users' needs with a form-agnostic blueprint.

🤫 Who knew that past days in the library have a link to the present future?

It's a reminder that no matter how advanced our tools become, the foundational design principles of organizing information remain crucial.

First 30 days - Listening Tour

If you are starting a new project with a new stakeholder, a new job, or even a new team, what should you do in the first 30 days? I recommend going on a listening tour.

  1. Connect with subject-matter experts and understand the people.
  2. Understand the organization's goals, ownership, and priorities.
  3. Identify the current challenges the organization is facing.
  4. Envision what "better" looks like and how to move from current challenges to future improvements.
  5. Achieve quick wins by delivering and executing small tasks.

What's your 30-day plan?

P.S. Did you know my topics are provided by readers like you? Hit "reply" if you want me to address a question or send feedback!

Have a great week ahead,