3/25/24, 2:06 PM The Maker’s Schedule & Reasons why it hasn’t reached ubiquity in UX teams | by Thomas Stokes | Bootcamp

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The Maker’s Schedule & Reasons

why it hasn’t reached ubiquity in UX
teams
Thomas Stokes · Follow
Published in Bootcamp · 4 min read · Dec 6, 2022

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Paul Graham wrote the original article on the “Maker’s Schedule, Manager’s
Schedule” in 2009. It is a classic article with ideas that many have heard of,
some people follow, and even fewer people have actually read.

The core concept is that there are two broadly different types of schedules;
the Maker’s and the Manager’s. A Manager’s schedule is characterized by a
day partitioned into several back-to-back 30 and 60-minute meetings (see
below). The Maker’s schedule is more intentional, dividing the day into a
dedicated “making” portion (typically in the afternoon) and a block for
everything else (like stand-ups, staff meetings, etc. in the morning).

Graham wrote with development teams in mind, but the ideas are equally
applicable to UX teams. I’m sure many of you, whether you’re doing research,

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3/25/24, 2:06 PM The Maker’s Schedule & Reasons why it hasn’t reached ubiquity in UX teams | by Thomas Stokes | Bootcamp

design, writing, or development, can relate to being able to do your best work
when you’re able to set aside a block of a few hours vs. trying to find 30–60
minutes at a time for your craft.

Credit: Tyler DeVries

Graham points out that problems occur when these schedules mix. Where
someone in a Manager’s schedule mindset will be quick to throw a meeting
on the diary, a meeting disrupts the Maker: “A single meeting can blow a
whole afternoon, by breaking it into two pieces each too small to do
anything…

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Written by Thomas Stokes Follow

296 Followers · Writer for Bootcamp

UX Consultant - I make solutions that help clients improve their digital experiences & meet
business goals. Thoughts expressed are my own. Top writer in Design.

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