User Centred Design

Intro

• In a broad sense, an interactive technology is any technology intended to help people complete a task, achieve their goals.
• Look and feel come second, what people need to do comes first.
• “Design is not about how things look. Design is about how things work.” – Steve Jobs

Usability

• Key thought is making interactive systems usable i.e. giving them usability meaning:
  • Effective
  • Efficient
  • Learnable
  • Memorable
  • Satisfying
  • Positive User Experience
    • Enjoyable
    • Fun
    • Entertaining
    • Aesthetically pleasing
    • Supportive of creativity
  • The system/its interface should be "transparent" to the user – the user should be concentrating on their task, not how to get the system to do the task.

Personas

• “The user” dehumanizes your users, making them abstract, and slippery to get a hold of in terms of knowing what their goals are and how they will act.
• Understanding that gives a first step to being able to conceptualize what the system should do.
• Are realistic representations of skills and attitudes towards technology.
• At their best when based on data and observation.
• A robust cast of characters that can be drawn on during design meetings and activities.

Persona Briefings

• The persona briefing captures different aspects of the user and collects them under broad categories.
  • e.g. A day in the life • Work actvties • Household & leisure activities • Goals, fears & aspirations • Computer skills, knowledge & abilities • Market size & influence • Demographic attributes • Technology attributes • Technology attiudes • Communicating • Quotes

Scenarios

• Scenario Based Design: Elaborate the design by writing scenarios (=stories) about the current domain and existing interactions.
• Problem scenarios - Describes current practice.
• Activity scenarios - Describes ideas of how to meet the users needs.
• Claims Analysis: Examine features of existing practice looking for good and bad aspects.