HOW
MACGYVER
DESIGN
WOULD
DO
RESEARCH
RESOURCE-FRIENDLY TIPS TO PROMOTE A QUALITY UX
REFRESH B’MORE | M. JACKSON WILKINSON | JUNE 10, 2009

THE INTRO

That’s
“Michael”
M. JACKSON WILKINSON
Aficionado: 1980s Network Television

Angus “Mac”
MacGyver

PROBLEM SOLVER

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS

ELEGANT SOLUTIONS

Us, the...
DESIGNERS

PROBLEM SOLVERS

EXPERTS

DESIGN PROBLEMS

ELEGANT SOLUTIONS

The
PROBLEM

TIME

BUDGET

The
CHALLENGE

DESIGN PROBLEMS

ELEGANT SOLUTIONS

TIME

BUDGET

Two Potential
SOLUTIONS

Solution #1:
EFFICIENCY

USER RESEARCH

Method #1:
REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF PARTICIPANTS

Method #2:
INCREASE RECRUITING
EFFICIENCY

Method #3:
RESEARCH ONLY WHAT
IS NECESSARY

Method #4:
GUERILLA DESIGN
RESEARCH

Method #5:
TALK TO PEOPLE WHO
TALK TO CUSTOMERS

Method #6:
USE YOUR CUSTOMER
FEEDBACK LOOP

INTERACTION DESIGN

Method #1:
START DELIVERING
SKETCHES

Method #2:
TEST USING PAPER
PROTOTYPES

Method #3:
EXPLORE ALTERNATE
DESIGNS

Method #4:
WORK WITHIN AGILE
PROCESSES

Solution #2:
EXPERTISE

Tool #1:
DESIGN THINKING

DESIGN THINKING:
Solving design challenges
through interdisciplinary
methods grounded in user &
business goals.

DESIGN THINKING:
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

DESIGN THINKING:
{ Trial & Error }
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

DESIGN THINKING:
{ Design Theory }
{ Trial & Error }
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

Method #1:
DESIGN THEORY

Method #1:
DESIGN THEORY
Research from other
disciplines which may apply
to design challenges.

Method #1:
DESIGN THEORY
Example:
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY

Method #1:
DESIGN THEORY
Example:
MENTAL MODELS

DESIGN THINKING:
{ Design Principles }
{ Design Theory }
{ Trial & Error }
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

Method #2:
DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Method #2:
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Derived from theory, design
principles are fairly actionable
conclusions applied to design.

Method #2:
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Example:
COGNITIVE LOAD

Method #2:
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Example:
LOSS AVERSION

DESIGN THINKING:
{ Design Patterns }
{ Design Principles }
{ Design Theory }
{ Trial & Error }
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

Method #3:
DESIGN PATTERNS

Method #3:
DESIGN PATTERNS
Solutions many others have
had to particular design
problems in the past

Method #3:
DESIGN PATTERNS
WARNING: These are solutions
to others’ problems, not
necessarily to your problem.

DESIGN THINKING:
{ Design Patterns }
{ Design Principles }
{ Design Theory }
{ Trial & Error }
A
The Problem
B
The Solution

Tool #2:
HEURISTICS

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
the site has ample content that is worth being
sought and found by its intended audience
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY content is found or discovered easily through
searching, browsing, and or spidering
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
a user’s time would be well-spent in the effort
to achieve their goals on this site
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY a user would encounter a consistent experience
throughout the site and duration of the visit
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY the site’s interface is easy to use, and any
applicable learning curves are reasonably short
PRESENTATION
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION the site conveys an appealing and appropriate
visual message to further the site’s objectives
MARKETING

CONTENT
FINDABILITY
EFFICIENCY
CONSISTENCY
LEARNABILITY
PRESENTATION
MARKETING
the site has effective social, search, & e-mail
hooks to further appropriate goals

Tool #3:
FOCUS

FIN

Get in Touch!
speakerrate.com/whafro
jackson@jounce.net
@whafro