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J Li
Partner at Prototype Thinking Labs
J Li is the Managing Partner at Prototype Thinking Labs, where she is recognized as the creator of the Prototype Thinking program. This innovative methodology focuses on rapid learning through inexpensive iterations, enabling organizations to develop products more efficiently and effectively. J Li's approach emphasizes the importance of early-stage experimentation in product development, significantly boosting confidence levels in ideas through structured testing and validation processes.12
With a background as a mathematician and computer scientist from Stanford, J has a diverse professional history that includes roles as a game designer and change consultant. Her work is informed by her experiences as a disabled leader, which shapes her belief that work should be both enjoyable and meaningful.13 Over the past decade, she has collaborated with numerous clients and students, refining the Prototype Thinking method to address complex challenges in various sectors.1
J Li is also active in sharing her insights on product development through podcasts and other media, where she discusses practical strategies for mitigating risks and enhancing user testing methodologies.23 Her LinkedIn profile can be found under the username jfanli.3
Highlights
We made a slide deck explaining how to build prototypes to optimize for pivoting!
When creating something new, your goal is not to validate your idea...
It's to solve your design. Ie, find the right solution that users will love.
The short version is:
- Ideation doesn't solve your design
- Prototypes don't solve your design
- Testing itself doesn't even solve your design
Your product/service/solution etc ONLY gets solved by PIVOTING from a deep understanding driven by true user behavior.
So the PURPOSE of creating prototypes is not to test the idea for traction, but to speedrun to an accurate pivot as quickly as possible.
Before you get a few pivots under your belt, there is no point in trying to design "the right solution" because you don't have the context, language, or understand to even conceive of what that means to the user.
Here's a slide deck about how to build prototypes optimized for pivoting!
Let me know what you think. Also, if you describe what you're trying to build, I can try to give you a quick rundown of how to test it.
Help question--
I am trying to get LinkedIn verified because they keep bugging me to do it, and I suppose it's a good idea. When I go to complete it, it won't let me because the name I use for work and that everyone knows me as, isn't my legal name.
Does anyone have a workaround for this? I am happy to solve this with money or something if needed (eg, by paying for a clear account, etc, but I'm not sure that would help).
Eg, I can't just switch to my legal name instead because nobody has heard of it and I've build up a lifetime of relationships and brand recognition under my current name.
Does this mean trans people just can't get verified?!!!
