Topic 7: User-centered design (HL)

CLICK ON THE TOPIC TITLE ABOVE FOR NOTES ON THE TOPIC

*This is a higher level only topic, those of you who take standard level do not need this.

7.1 User-centered design (UCD)

The needs and requirements of the user is the main factor in designing and creating the best product or service in user-centered design.

NOD

• Throughout every design process, the designer must consider the needs, wants and limitations of the user in order to ensure success. 

• Assumptions should no be made when analyzing any acquired data.

The designer needs to understand and consider the user, the task they will perform and the environment in which it will be performed in. Usability of the product should be achieved concluding the design process.

So remember -> USER, TASK, ENVIRONMENT! UTE?


The process should be iterative in which each step and process is evaluated against user needs and requirements that are identified early on in the design process.

iterative - the act of repeating a process with the aim of approaching a desired goal, target or result

EVALUATION METHODS: 

• Personas/Scenarios
• Usability tests
• Observation -> Interviewing and observing focus groups
• Questionnaires/Surveys
• User participation in designing

The final product must satisfy the whole user experience. This is including usability and much more on an emotional level. (joy, meaning, value)

PETER MORVILLE'S USER EXPERIENCE HONEY COMB

UCD teams include people in the field of anthropology, ethnography and psychology (human factors are considered) in order to be able to understand the user and successful design a product that satisfies a complete user experience.

THE FIVE STAGES OF UCD

1. Research - Primary users are identified by looking at the problem. Characteristics of users are identified.
2. Concept - General solutions to problems are considered. Specific user information is used to determine user actions in relation to the problems.
3. Design - Ideas are tested and trialed with the user. Ideas are communicated and feedback obtained.
4. Implementation - Design is developed into a realistic product.
5. Launch - Final product is released to the market.

Designs tends to include or exclude certain users. Inclusive design ensures that decisions are made considering user diversity in order to cover various needs, capabilities and requirements of the user.

Products are designed to be accessible to as many people as possible without needing any special adaptions.

7.2 Usability

The level of ease in using a product or service.

NOD

• The designer must consider the experience, psychological responses and existing knowledge of the user by constant communication with the user to ensure understanding of how the product or service will be used by the user.

• Appropriate evaluation methods should be used to assess these aspects.

USABILITY OBJECTIVES

• Usefulness - The ability of the product to satisfy the needs of the user and their goals (to carry out tasks).
• Effectiveness (ease of use) - The rate of performance or error.
• Learn-ability - User's ability to learn how to operate the product or system.
• Attitude (likeability) - User's feelings, opinions and perceptions of the product.

BENEFITS OF ENHANCED USABILITY

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD USER-PRODUCT INTERFACES

• Simiplicity and ease of use
• Intuitive logic and organization/Low memory burden
• Visibility
• Feedback
• Affordance
• Mapping
• Constraints

7.3 Strategies for user research

The reasons for the user's behaviors, wants and needs should be understood by the designer.

NOD

• Research strategies should be selected based on the desired user experiences considering the product, service or system to effectively identify the user's needs.

• The complexities of different personalities are revealed when needs are identified.

• Simulation of real user experiences can accumulate new findings. 

Persona, anti-persona, secondary persona and scenarios

7.4 Strategies for UCD

Users play a major role in the evaluation of whether the final product meets their needs and wants.

NOD

• Understanding of how a specific product, service or system is used is the key to success when integrated usability into the design process.
• Careful observation through interviews and such are used to identify user requirements to create a strategy that will ensure that UCD will improve the usability and other user experience factors.