Lean Startup in Design Consulting - Lessons Learned At Balanced Team Conference, San Francisco.

As fast, user-centered development gains acceptance, many startups have successfully adopted a Lean Startup philosophy. But, why is it that many agencies and their clients still struggle to apply this methodology to larger-scale projects? What can – and should – consulting firms learn and embrace from startups? In this presentation, Martina Schell from Method and Johanna Kollman from Sidekick Studios will discuss the evolution of a product development philosophy for clients and agencies. Drawing from their experience leading UX and product design at startups, in-house, and now at consultancies, they will explore how they have applied Lean Startup methodologies in a consulting context. Are interaction designer and product people who apply Lean Startup the next big thing in consulting, or is it just another buzzword? Expect war stories and hear personal anecdotes about what has or hasn't worked, and judge for yourself.

Balanced Team is a global movement made up of people who value multi-disciplinary collaboration and iterative delivery focused on customer value as a source for innovation. We're a self-organizing group that learns from each other as we explore processes and methodologies to create great things. We welcome people who wear many hats (design, development, testing, product management, marketing and sales, to name a few). Our next event will be in San Francisco November 1-3. We hope you will join the conversation!