The Talk CX Paris
As Atelier XIV employee my goal was to manage and set up a new CX event website. The Talk CX is a customer experience event organised by Odigo.
How did I get into the project?
I just finished my previous project UXray (tool to measure UX for e-commerce shops) and was ready for new challenges.
Atelier XIV come to me with a proposition for a Product Project Manager role in one of their clients new projects. The main task was to manage cooperation (UX Freelancers, Developers and Stakeholders) and launch a new website for CX French market.
Atelier XIV come to me with a proposition for a Product Project Manager role in one of their clients new projects. The main task was to manage cooperation (UX Freelancers, Developers and Stakeholders) and launch a new website for CX French market.
Project duration:
June 2022 - March 2023
My participation in the project:
October 2022 - March 2023
The composition of the team (I led a team of 5 people):
Content, UX Designer, UI Designer, Developers team.
Completed processes:
UX design, creating mockups and prototype, testing prototype, handing over to developers, testing the new website.
Tools:
Clickup, Coschedule, Figma, Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, Miro, Slack, TeamWork, WordPress.
My role in the project
Product Project Manager
As a new person in the project, I decided to make a wee change and I implemented a new organization tool (ClickUp) to the Atelier and client environment. Before this communication with the client was a bit difficult as it was through a few different tools like Excel, Teams, e-mails and Slack.
As a new person in the project, I decided to make a wee change and I implemented a new organization tool (ClickUp) to the Atelier and client environment. Before this communication with the client was a bit difficult as it was through a few different tools like Excel, Teams, e-mails and Slack.
I set up working environments (Backlog) in Clickup to improve communication in the project. This allowed us to keep order in tasks and smoothly moved from one milestone to another.
As a Product Manager I was taking active part in UX Design process.
I was responsible for managing and delivering UX mockups, prototypes to the development phase.
As a Product Manager I was taking active part in UX Design process.
I was responsible for managing and delivering UX mockups, prototypes to the development phase.
Very important was understanding the needs of developers and the rest of the business, design a development process that fits the culture of the organization and gets everyone involved in an appropriate way.
After approving the UI phase I planned with Developers the Backlog for "The Talk CX" website and set a launch date for February 2023.
The most important was to assume how much time each step will take us. We planned the next 6 weeks step by step with a timeline. I was responsible for keeping the delivery dates of each step.
The most important was to assume how much time each step will take us. We planned the next 6 weeks step by step with a timeline. I was responsible for keeping the delivery dates of each step.
I helped with the research of information and collect all visual data about the previous editions and Talkers cards. My input in the development phase was to keep the progress flow in the project and update about the work progress our stakeholders.
I was also responsible for managing online platforms (Odigo website in four different languages) and coordinating stakeholders.
I was also responsible for managing online platforms (Odigo website in four different languages) and coordinating stakeholders.
UX Design
My main job in this part of the project was to coordinate and deliver UX prototypes ready for approval by client. I was working with UX Designers (freelancers) for over 2 months. Controlling the budget and their work was an everyday task. I organised my work through ClickUp, Figma and Slack.
The most important for The Talk CX website was to redesign information architecture. The narrative should be dynamic and allow users to discover more information slowly. Individual sub-pages should also be content curated, with short portions of text and most crucial information highlighted.
In case of The Talk CX website, user interface will play two main roles:
supporting the professional look of the event and maintaining the user's
interest. It can also be one of the areas where The Talk can stand out
from competitors.
supporting the professional look of the event and maintaining the user's
interest. It can also be one of the areas where The Talk can stand out
from competitors.
We had the recommendation to keep to the original design which was very difficult to implement in the new website version. For example, the "neon lines" were taking up a lot of space that required the user to scroll the website longer. After a long negotiation, the client resigned and approved the prototype without them.
The most difficult was adjusting Guttenberg blocks to the UX perspective in the "previous editions" subpage. We decided to use an AJAX solution that instead of creating eachtime a new subpage users will click next year which will allow them to stay on the same page and make easy access to the previous editions. In the future, this solution will minimise the number of upcoming errors.
The solution was to keep it as simple as possible. Visual elements, their arrangement and maintaining consistency across the site but also consistency across the brand was one of the most important things for a good user experience. Users navigate the websites based on what they know. That’s why using good practices and commonly known patterns makes it easier for them to get to know our site, navigate it and find interesting information. All of this made new website "The Talk CX".
Summary of my role as Product Manager
In beginning, I would like to say that I'm greatful for whole support I got from my team and client site. It was a pleasure to be a part of this project. Trust me implementing a new website is challenging! To all PMs that are reading this, I would say "Nothing is impossible just believe in it"!
One part of my responsibilities was defining and implementing the redesign of the CX event website (in close collaboration with UX designers). On the other hand, was the management of the ongoing main client web. Get into the development process (SCRUM process, managing releases and testing).
As a Product Manager, my goal was to support my team and create them safe, fulfilling environment. To help me achieve this ClickUp fit in perfectly. This was a great solution for better communication between us and the client. I made sure that the team followed Backlog and timeline delivery.
Of course, there were pain points and problems that need to be solved too.
The French market is a different way of working than I knew before. As a PM and advisor, I had to make sure that clients understood our approach and user experience as good practice. The main problem of the project were long-term decisions that were slowing down work progress. My solution to this was explaining step by step to the client what need to be done, how much time it will take us and what will happen if it will take us more time than we assumed. I was giving an example of approved content and how it affects the project when we want to take step back and change it. My solution to it was to agree that all the content changes we will add to live blocks so adjusting them to the pre-prod website will show a better perspective of the whole product. I got approval for this and that helped us to reach the next milestone on time.
In the end, we managed to keep the main event vision and create the easiest way for users to sign in for the happening.
The French market is a different way of working than I knew before. As a PM and advisor, I had to make sure that clients understood our approach and user experience as good practice. The main problem of the project were long-term decisions that were slowing down work progress. My solution to this was explaining step by step to the client what need to be done, how much time it will take us and what will happen if it will take us more time than we assumed. I was giving an example of approved content and how it affects the project when we want to take step back and change it. My solution to it was to agree that all the content changes we will add to live blocks so adjusting them to the pre-prod website will show a better perspective of the whole product. I got approval for this and that helped us to reach the next milestone on time.
In the end, we managed to keep the main event vision and create the easiest way for users to sign in for the happening.
I'm reacher of this new experience that I learned.
Project The Talk CX teached me:
how to find a solutions in a difficult situations,
how to managed teams that have different communication approach,
Project The Talk CX teached me:
how to find a solutions in a difficult situations,
how to managed teams that have different communication approach,
how to be a diplomat,
how to not be scared of unknown,
how to keep it to the plan,
and the most important how not to give up!
how to not be scared of unknown,
how to keep it to the plan,
and the most important how not to give up!
Product management and people leadership are my obsessions, and I’m excited about the great opportunities that are ahead in the future.
