I use the empathic and interpersonal traits I gained with this work in all my interactions. It’s incredible how putting yourself in someone else’s shoes reveals new perspectives and opportunities.
The act of drawing out information from someone requires finesse. Even if you know the right questions to ask, the individual must be willing to talk in the first place. Sometimes, it requires reading between the lines to get things going. We weren’t just focused on the words someone was saying. We also paid attention to what they weren’t saying, their inflections, and their body language. Each cue gave us valuable details as to who they were and what they needed.
As any UX designer worth their salt knows, experience isn’t limited to the primary activity, and this was no different. We had to consider the message we were sending to our audience about what to expect from future shows. We thought about their journey getting to the theater, their first experience upon entering the space, what they would encounter once the show started, how they would interact with each other and the performers once the show ended, and what they would take away from the experience. It was a complex process that was necessary to ensure a night of surprise and wonder.