I gave this talk at World IA Day, Manchester 2018. Task models have been somewhat eclipsed by experience maps and service blueprints as the sexy UX deliverables of late. I’m all for a juicy mapping exercise when I’m helping an organisation make strategic decisions. But what if the job at hand is the result of all that strategising: designing a website or an Alexa skill, say? Task models are a simple, yet incredibly powerful, design tool. I talk about getting started with task modelling, and how a task model can influence design. I include practical examples from the world of e-commerce.

1. The Lost Art
of
Task Modelling
Jesmond Allen @jesmond

2. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Silver_vintage_mist_overlay_%289735187967%29.jpg

3. (about 2010…)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Silver_vintage_mist_overlay_%289735187967%29.jpg

4. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Diamond_Ring_Stage_of_21-8-2017_Eclipse_2.jpg

5. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Diamond_Ring_Stage_of_21-8-2017_Eclipse_2.jpg

6. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Diamond_Ring_Stage_of_21-8-2017_Eclipse_2.jpg

8. Task
keep in touch
with my
friend
Solutions
• visit and talk
• write a letter
• send a telegram
• make a phone call
• send an email
• send a text
• Facebook
• WhatsApp, Snapchat,
whatever the kids are
using these days…

9. B
A
E
A B
C
D
E

11. £0 £££

12. £0 £££
£0 £££

13. £0 £££
£0 £££

14. https://ux.stackexchange.com/questions/23462/why-dont-atms-give-you-cash-before-your-card

15. https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=28&doc_id=1286751

17. https://twitter.com/hpdailyrant/status/961994199431135233

19. Main nav Sort and filter Product details

20. Good
job!

22. Messaging around quality,
reliability and guarantees
Show match
schedules up front
Product page
contents

27. 1Understand your users

28. 1Understand your users’ tasks

29. 1Understand your users

31. 2Identify common steps

33. 3<Magic goes here>

34. Boxes, arrows &
washing machines

35. Main task
Step 1 Step 2 Goal
Factor
1
Factor
2
Factor
3
Step 3

36. Main task
Step 1 Step 2 Goal
Factor
1
Factor
2
Factor
3
Step 3
Step 4

37. Produce a task model
Research
users’
tasks
Identify
common
steps
Boxes
Arrows
Washing
machines
Draw diagram
Order &
name steps
Feedback
Win!

38. ?Any questions…?
@jesmond
jesmond@jesmondallen.co.uk