visualising the user experience
Post on 23-Sep-2014
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DESCRIPTION
Design visualisations are information products that communicate how new products or services will work. The way they do this is by showing the new product or service in action, using a combination of text and pictures to tell the story of the future user experience.TRANSCRIPT
Visualising design
Darren Menachemson
the problem
This is not your audience.
Humans’ ability to make a rational decision is inversely proportionalto the complexity of the information upon which the decision is based.
the problem
So why do we do this?
“You can’t eat an elephant in one bite”
- Some Guy
“We need a smaller elephant.”- Me
“That’s like 200 pages of high-level design. Um, do you know what high-level actually means?”
- Anon
AestheticInformation architectureInteraction designBusiness architectureStrategic design
Defining the “design” bit
the solution
What is a visualisation?Shows the future solution in operation
Scope is as big as it needs to be
Narrative is led by an experience set
Uses visual language
What is a visualisationShows the future solution in operation
Scope is as big as it needs to be
Narrative is led by an experience set
Uses visual language
TimeJan Jul Jan Jul
Construction complete
Deployment complete
System in use
the solution
What is a visualisationShows the future solution in operation
Scope is as big as it needs to be
Narrative is led by an experience set
Uses visual language
people things channels process location Time &sequence
messaging Systems &tech
the solution
What is a visualisationShows the future solution in operation
Scope is as big as it needs to be
Narrative is led by an experience set
Uses visual language
the solution
What is a visualisationShows the future solution in operation
Scope is as big as it needs to be
Narrative is led by an experience set
Uses visual language
From http://www.kwikpoint.com
the solution
Who are they for?Execs – decision making
Stakeholders – consultations
Users – design walkthroughs
Other project teams – shared vision
Comms, training, etc, etc
Reuse factor
Bridesmaid dress
Jeans
Some examples…Simple one-pager…tells a story in a single page, describing key people, systems, processes, UI features, business outcomes.
Don’t just tell the design decision makers – show them, warts and all. Get beyond the hype and the confusion!
Some examples…Simple one-pager…tells a story in a single page, describing key people, systems, processes, UI features, business outcomes.
Don’t just tell the design decision makers – show them, warts and all. Get beyond the hype and the confusion!
Some examples…Full scenario spelling out the design, including:• High-level overview• Persona• Stepped process• User impact lenses
Some examples…Comic book, focussingon a user experience.
From http://www.boxesandarrows.com
Some examples…Hand drawn systems, post-it messages and play-actor actors…
Lo-fi works too!CRM
InboxRegister
Client manager Service user
How much detail is enough?
Somewhat complex, detailed, informative. Some understanding and analysis required
Simple, unambiguous.
A. As much as isneeded (sorry)
Very complex, highly detailed. Specialist analysis required.
Very complexVery simple
Discuss business outcome
Show a message flow
Highlight a bit of UI
Abstract an interaction set
Examine the user’s outcome
Demonstrate a strategic risk eventuating
Show a service desk interaction
Principles for getting the right pitch…• Show what you need ‘em to know• Generate the right discussion• Let them walk away with clarity
The process of visualisingUnderstand the contextLearn about the context, systems, users, and the desired business outcomes
Find the senior sponsorUnderstand the issues and solve them, review regularly, escalate, add value
Pick the right brainsFacilitated workshops, interviews, project meetings, documentation, user discovery
Partner with the teamBuild strong relationships, share the work, build a sense of contribution and ownership
Get something out EARLY,review, iterate, repeat
Have a deadline and an eventSenior stakeholder commitment v. important
Visual ideas
Know your “style”Branding, recognition, consistency
Gather your resources(photos, icons, abstract people etc)
Have techniques for dealing with issues(breakouts, post-its, zooms, relationships/groupings)
Source imageswww.istockphoto.com
Edit imagesPhotoshop/Illustrator
Layout visualisationPowerPoint
A visualisation workbench
Others:• Adobe Flash• Plasq Comic Life• Etc
A visualiser! ! The offspring of a talented BA, a passionate user experience architect and a mad information designer (process mapping + design)
! ! Very strong communicator (including storytelling, facilitation)
! ! Able to facilitate and build relationships with senior people
! An understanding of IT concepts and business architecture
! Preferably people and project management experience
! Ability to help lead and shape solutions, championing the user and the business outcome
Hard to find, sometimes hard to hold onto.
The “Oh, hai, nice to meet you” phase
The “I’ve got to do a WHAT?”phase
The “I’ve got real work to do and we’re drawing piccies?” phase
The “All these hard questions and nasty issues. I wish it were all still ambiguous!” phase
The “At last! The right conversation”phase
The “maybe we should visualiseit” phase
Drawbacks
Time-intensiveSpecialist skills
Sounds “funky” until you see itThe fun doesn’t end after the event
What it avoids/provides
• Cultural/semantic misunderstanding• “I didn’t think that’s what I agreed to”• Early review at concept stage• Contextualising issues• Shaping the right solution
Try it…Choose one of these• Last meal you cooked…• How you booked your last flight…• Your last big shop at a supermarket…
Sketch up a rich visualisation showing the user experience, process, channels, technology, data etc – either in-line or layered (60 seconds)
Walk the person next to you through it (60 seconds)
Stories can bind complexity, because stories are fundamental to our humanity.