User-centered UX:Bringing the User into
the Design Process
#usercenteredUX | @saturdave
PhillyCHILeadnomics - Philadelphia
October 9, 2014
User Experience
If users are not a part of your process, you’re not
doing UX.
Grammenos, Dimitris. “Stupidity, Ignorance, and Nonsense as Tools for Creative Thinking” in interactions, September-October 2014 (volume xxi.5): pp. 56—59.
Einstellung Effect
ExpertExpert
Listen. Watch. Think.
Be curious.
Involve users.
So let’s talk research.
Choose the Right Method• Each has its strengths & weaknesses
• Qualitative for rich descriptive data
• Quantitative for numerical data
• They work best when combined⭐️
Indirect User ResearchContent InventoryCustomer SupportWeb AnalyticsCognitive Walkthrough Competitor ReviewHeuristic EvaluationContextual Observation
Direct User Research
SurveysInterviewsFocus Groups / PanelsWorkshopsContextual InquiryShadowingCard Sorts
Product Reaction CardsDiary StudyImage CollagingPrototype TestingUsability TestingEyetrackingCo-design Sessions
Research Continua
In-person
Lab Setting
Small Sample
Qualitative
Remote
Contextual Study
Large Sample
Quantitative
A Very Good Place to StartContent Inventory
Customer Support
Web Analytics
Competitor Review
Surveys
Interviews
Contextual Inquiry
Card Sorts
Study Deliverables• Consent Form• Recruiting Screener• Test Plan• Test Guide / Script• Testing Schedule • Study Artifacts• Study Checklist⭐️
Consent Form
1. Date & Location2. Reason for the Study3. Compensation4. Confidentiality5. Usage of Recordings
Test Plan
1. Goal2. Focus Areas3. Methodology4. Timeline5. Location6. Participants7. Findings & Recommendations
Get the Right People• Formalize the recruitment process
• Create a recruiting screener
• Consider recruitment methods carefully
• Start recruiting early⭐️
Recruitment MethodsEmail ListsCustomer PanelsMarket Research FirmsContextual SolicitationOnline InterceptCraigslistReddit
Mechanical Turk
Ask the Right Questions• Focus on behavior, not opinion
• Use the user’s language
• Keep questions simple
• Don’t ask a question when you can observe⭐️
Use What You Have• Use deliverables you already
produce
• Leverage existing proceses
• Enlist members of your team / the client
• Find & use current user connections⭐️
Communicate Results• Get stakeholders to attend sessions
• Share the user’s “pain” (videos & quotes)
• Socialize findings with design team
• Schedule your research activities⭐️
There is no one right method.
Small. Repeated. Frequent.
The User-centered UX challenge
1. Stop designing for a bit and watch your users
2. Change one of your routine design practices
3. Talk to someone in your shop you’ve never spoken
to before
4. Do a bit of indirect research and share the
results
5. Do a quick user test
This ain’t science.
It’s user-centered ❤ ser Experience.
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