The document provides an overview of a workshop on user experience (UX) design, including its history, principles, and various methodologies such as agile and lean UX. It outlines an agenda covering topics like user research, competitive reviews, card sorting, wireframes, and usability testing. The session aims to equip participants with foundational knowledge and practical techniques essential for effective UX design.

1. Introduction to User Experience Design
School of Visual Arts | 15 February 2020 Robert Stribley

2. Today’s presentation will be available on SlideShare following the workshop:
www.slideshare.net/stribs

3. Robert Stribley
Associate Creative Director, Experience
Introductions
📷 ✍️ 📚 📻 🎥
☕

4. About You
• What’s your name?
• What do you do for work?
• What do you do for fun?
• Coffee, tea or bottled water?
Introductions

5. Goals for our workshop today:
• Understand the basic concepts of user experience (UX)
design
• Review the basic deliverables a UXer develops within a
project
• Experience the general process and techniques used on
a design project
Introductions

7. Morning
• History & Definition
• UX Principles
• Design Process
• Agile
• Deliverables
• Our Project
• User Research
Agenda

8. Afternoon
• Competitive Review
• Card Sorting
• Site Maps
• Page Types
• Navigation
• Sketching
• Break
• Wireframes
• Usability Testing
• Responsive Design
• Q&A
Agenda

9. History & Definition

10. information
architecture
interaction
design
content
strategy
usability
testing
user research
user
experience
Background

11. Image by Oliver Reichenstein on
flickr

12. Walt Disney,
the original
user
experience
designer?

13. A Brief History of UX
1975
• Richard Saul Wurman coined the term “information architecture”
to describe the field now more often described as “information
design”
1994
• Argus Associates founded in Ann Arbor, MI, the first firm devoted
to IA
1998
• First edition of Peter Morville and Lou Rosenfeld’s Information
Architecture for the World Wide Web, affectionately known as
“The Polar Bear” book
2000
• First IA Summit, Boston, MA – Defining Information Architecture
History of UX

14. Partially adapted from: “A brief history of information architecture” by Peter Morville and Information Architecture: Designing
information environments for purpose, edited by Alan Gilchrist and Barry Mahon
A Brief History of UX
2002
• Boxes & Arrows, online journal for UX and design goes live
• 3 new books on UX published, including Jesse James
Garrett’s The Elements of User Experience
2014
• Capital One purchases Garrett’s UX-consulting firm
Adaptive Path
2020
• The 20th IA Conference will be held in New Orleans, April
2020
History of UX

15. in•for•ma•tion ar•chi•tec•ture n.
• The combination of organization, labeling, and
navigation schemes within an information
system.
• The structural design of an information space to
facilitate task completion and intuitive access to
content.
• The art and science of structuring and classifying
web sites and intranets to help people find and
manage information.
• An emerging discipline and community of
practice focused on bringing principles of design
and architecture to the digital landscape.
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web (1st Edition), p. 4, Rosenfeld and Morville
Navigation
Interaction
Art/Science
Discipline/
Community
Defining UX

16. userscontent
context
IA
Defining UX
Information Ecology Diagram by
Peter Morville and Louis
Rosenfeld

17. interface
(skin)
information architecture
(skeleton)
Defining UX

18. Defining UX

19. metaphor: architectural plans
Defining UX
Flickr.com: Cornell University Library

20. UX Principles

21. Scent of Information
1

22. 3 Clicks? A myth
Designing for scent is
more successful than
designing for
navigation.
– Jared Spool, UIE
If there is a scientific
basis to the Three-Click
Rule, we couldn't find it
in our data.
- User Interface Engineering,
April 2003
Self Study
“Designing for the scent of information” - Jared M. Spool, Christine Perfetti & David Brittan, User Interface Engineering

24. Progressive Disclosure
2

25. Tease users.
Then draw them to the
details.

26. “Progressive disclosure defers
advanced or rarely used
features to a secondary
screen, making applications
easier to learn and less error-
prone.”
- Jakob Nielsen
Self Study
“Progressive Disclosure” - Jakob Nielsen, December 4, 2006

30. Information Clustering
& Hierarchy
3

31. “Designers can create normalcy
out of chaos; they can clearly
communicate ideas through the
organizing and manipulating of
words and pictures.”
—Jeffery Veen, The Art and Science of Web
Design

32. When information is clustered
appropriately on a screen,
users can scan and quickly
come to terms with the intent
of the content.

33. 1. Group features
and content by
type

34. 1. Group features
and content by
type
2. Position them
according to an
intuitive hierarchy

35. 1. Group features
and content by
type
2. Position them
according to an
intuitive hierarchy
3. Drop or demote
the less important
content

37. Remove Paths Not
4

38. Reduce the field of view
Once users commit to a
path, remove irrelevant
navigation

39. Example
Screenshot

40. 1
2
3

41. The Tyranny of Consistency
5

42. Consistency is an important but
sometimes over-rated tool
It’s key in maintaining a coherent
experience
But develop an eye to know when to
break from it

43. Clarity trumps
consistency.
– Steve Krug, Don’t Make Me Think

45. Related: Design pages so they’re
scalable
Suppress modules or sections of the
page until they're needed
Don’t labor to create content just to
ensure every screen or element is
“consistently” populated

46. Death of the Home Page
6

47. People may come to your homepage
But more and more likely not
They’re more likely coming from Google or social
media
Many sites report only 20% of visitors landing on their
homepages
Some as few as 10 or 5%
• 88% of traffic coming to The Atlantic not hitting home page
• More than 50% of visitors to the NYT not arriving at the home page
Have you ever bought a book on Amazon.com
because you saw it on the homepage?

48. More Important?
• SEO*
• Taxonomy
• Metadata + Tagging
• Mobile friendly
*search engine optimization

49. Example
Screenshot

50. There Is No Fold
7

51. iamthefold.com

52. Large Apple desktop monitor iPhone 6S

53. “Web users spend 80% of their
time looking at information above
the page fold. Although users do
scroll, they allocate only 20% of
their attention below the fold.”
- Jakob Nielsen, “Scrolling and Attention,” March 22, 2010

54. “People will look very far down a page if (a) the layout encourages scanning, and (b) the initially viewable
information makes them believe that it will be worth their time to scroll.
Finally, while placing the most important stuff on top, don't forget to put a nice morsel at the very bottom.”
- Jakob Nielsen, “Scrolling and Attention,” March 22, 2010

55. Know Your Audience
8

56. Consider the amount
of attention an
audience needs on a
particular screen*
*It may be zero

57. Recapping:
• Scent of Information
• Progressive Disclosure
• Information Clustering & Hierarchy
• Remove Paths Not Taken
• The Tyranny of Consistency
• Death of the Home Page
• There Is No Fold
• Know Your Audience

58. Design Process

59. Discovery Definition Development
Design Process
Design

60. Discovery Definition Development
• Stakeholder Interviews
• Business Requirements
• Feature Prioritization Matrix
• Competitive/Comparative Audit
• User Research
• Analytics
• Site Inventory
• Site Map
Design Process
Design

61. Discovery Definition Design Development
• Personas
• Content Audit
• Card Sorts
• Use Cases
• Site Map
• User Journeys
• Sketching
• Conceptual Wires/Design
• Experience Brief
Design Process

62. Discovery Definition Design Development
• Site Map
• Content Matrix
• User Flows
• Sketching
• Concept Diagrams
• Wireframes
•Functional Specifications
• Visual Design
• Stakeholder Reviews
• Prototype
• Usability Testing
Design Process

63. Discovery Definition Development
• User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
• Quality Assurance (QA)
• Usability Testing
Design Process
Design

64. Design Process

65. Design Process

66. Design Process
Self Study
“Design Thinking 101” by Sarah Gibbons on July 31, 2016 -Nielsen Norman Group

67. Design Process
Self Study
“How to solve problems applying a Design Thinking, UX, HCD or any Creative Process from scratch V2” – Dan Nessler, February 6, 2018, Medium

68. Agile

69. What is “agile”?
Relating to or denoting a method of project management, used especially for software development, that
is characterized by the division of tasks into short phases of work and frequent reassessment and
adaptation of plans.
"agile methods replace high-level design with frequent redesign”
—Oxford English Dictionary, contrast with “waterfall”
Agile Methodology

70. What is “agile”?
points
stories
epics
scrum
sprints
standu
p
backlog
backlog
grooming
kanban board
Agile Methodology

71. Bug fixing for past sprints
Sprint Diagram by Sasha Tsimbler
Agile Methodology

72. Lean UX
Agile Methodology
“Lean UX … is less focused on deliverables than traditional UX. It requires a greater level of collaboration
with the entire team. The core objective is to focus on obtaining feedback as early as possible so that it can
be used to make quick decisions. The nature of Agile development is to work in rapid, iterative cycles and
Lean UX mimics these cycles to ensure that data generated can be used in each iteration.”
—A Simple Introduction to Lean UX, Interaction Design Foundation

73. Deliverables

74. Site Map Discovery

75. Personas Definition
TOP NEEDS
Fast Fueling, Parking, Showers
Minimal Out of Pocket Costs
TOP NEEDS
Safe and Clean Services
Variety of Food Options
TOP NEEDS
Assurance (parking, dumping, fueling lanes)
Saving Money on the Road
PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS RVERS 4-WHEELERS

76. User Journeys Definition
Self Study
“An introduction to user journeys” - Jason Hobbs, September 6, 2005, Boxes & Arrows

77. User Stories Definition

78. Use Cases Definition

79. User Flows Definition

80. Sketching > Wireframe > Design Design

81. Concept Diagrams Design

82. Wireframes Design

83. Creative / Comps Design

84. Prototypes Design

85. Our Project

86. Our Project
Events.com
Events.com want to revamp their website to become the go-to online
resource for people wanting to attend or promote a large variety of
events across the United States.
The experience should default to the city you’re in—New York—but
allow users to change to other cities within the U.S.
Promotion means you should also be able to create new events on the
site.

87. Discovery

88. User Research
User Research in Copenhagen’s Elderly
Homes

89. “Through research, we aim to learn
enough about the business goals, the
users, and the information ecology to
develop a solid strategy.”
– Louis Rosenfeld & Peter Morville
Discovery: User Research

90. Goal
Identify patterns and trends in user behavior, tasks,
preferences, obstacles.
Methodology
• Focus Groups
• Surveys
• Interviews
Discovery: User Research

91. William James on User Research?
“[I]n a delicate inquiry like this, little is
to be gained by distributing circulars. A
single patient with the right sort of
lesion and a scientific mind, carefully
cross-examined, is more likely to
deepen our knowledge than a
thousand circulars answered as the
average patient answers them, even
though the answers be never so
thoroughly collated by the
investigator.”
– William James, “The Consciousness of Lost Limbs,”
1887
Discovery: User Research

92. Class Exercise: Survey Questions
• How do you learn about events in NYC?
• What type of events are you interested in?
• What’s more important to you:
– Price
– Type of Event
– Location
– Date
• Do you ever need to promote an event?
• Do you ever invite people to an event?
Discovery: User Research

93. Lunch

94. Afternoon
• Competitive Review
• Card Sorting
• Site Maps
• Page Types
• Navigation
• Break
• Sketching
• Wireframes
• Usability Testing
• Responsive Design
• Q&A
Agenda

95. Competitive Review
image by brandon schauer

96. “This type of assessment helps set an industry
‘marker’ by looking at what the competition is up to,
what features and functionalities are standard, and
how others have solved the same problems you might
be tasked with.”
– Dorelle Rabinowitz
Discovery: Competitive Review

97. Heuristic Evaluation
… involves evaluators examining the
interface and judging its compliance with
recognized usability principles (the
“heuristics”)—Wikipedia
Self Study
For a more detailed explanation of heuristic evaluation, see Jakob Nielsen’s Ten Usability Heuristics.
Discovery: Competitive Review

98. Sample Usability Criteria
These examples aren’t comprehensive. Appropriate criteria will depend on the project to be completed.
Home Page
• Elements are appropriately weighted and distributed
• Information is clustered in meaningful ways
Navigation
• Navigation structure is concise and consistent
• Paths to important information are intuitive and unobstructed
Content
• Content is content chunked appropriately
• Headings and titles are scannable
• Content is current. There are visible indications of content freshness.
Design
• Colors are appropriate for the Web. White space is used appropriately. Text is readable.
Search
• Search results are relevant and cleanly presented
Functionality
• Functionality and forms are efficiently designed
Messaging
• Errors messages are presented in clear language. Help readily available contextually to users
• Appropriate channels are provided for user feedback
Discovery: Competitive Review

99. Methodology
• Review and analyze competitor sites according to
particular criteria (heuristics)
• Draw key findings, which can influence and guide IA
through the design phase
• Include a scorecard for high-level comparison of
points across all sites
Also: Comparative Reviews
Discovery: Competitive Review

101. Competitive Review
Our Competitors
Discovery: Competitive Review

102. Key Findings
• Search is fairly prominent on each site
• Filtering on events is valuable, but not always easily available
• Calendars are helpful, but not always prominent
• Profiles and social features are handled with varying degrees of detail
• Free events are often highlighted
• Event detail pages may have maps, RSVP, sharing, rating, commenting
functionality
• Displaying other venues and restaurants adds utility
• Option to add or promote an event isn’t always prominent
Discovery: Competitive Review

103. Definition

104. Card Sorts

105. “There are often better ways to organize data
than the traditional ones that first occur to us.
Each organization of the same set of data
expresses different attributes and messages. It
is also important to experiment, reflect, and
choose which organization best communicates
our messages.”
– Nathan Shedroff, Experience Strategist
Definition: Card Sorts

106. Methodology
• Grouping and labeling with index cards, post it notes
• Two types:
Open – Participants sort cards with no pre-established categories. Useful for
new architectures
Closed – Participants sort cards into predetermined, provided groups. Useful
for fitting content into existing architectures
• Online card sorts – e.g. OptimalSort
Goals
• Organize content more efficiently
• Find names for categories based on users’ perspectives
Self Study
"Card sorting: a definitive guide" by Donna Spencer and Todd Warfel, Boxes and Arrows, 2004/04/07
Definition: Card Sorts

107. Case Studies:
• Wachovia Wealth Management Group
• American Red Cross
• Mercedes Benz
Definition: Card Sorts

108. Card Sort
As individuals:
• Take 5 minutes to think of all the events a person could
attend
• Write each event you come up with on a Post-It note
Definition: Card Sorts
5mins

109. Card Sort
Now, as a group:
• Take a few minutes to organize your events into
categories (group & label them)
• Then we’ll share some categories
Definition: Card Sorts
15mins

110. Characteristics & Findings
• Looking for redundancies
• Lumping and splitting
• Outliers and miscellaneous items
• Placing items in multiple categories
• Categories versus filters
– E.g. Free, Family, Outdoors
• Unique but intuitive labels
– E.g. Geeks, Relax, Fun With Strangers (flash mobs, brewery tours)
Definition: Card Sorts

111. Next Steps
With the results of a card sort we then can:
• Build consensus
• Refine terminology
• Create a site map
• Help define navigation
Definition: Card Sorts

112. Definition: Card Sort Tools
Post-It
This free app from 3M lets you scan
your Post-It Notes, organize and
share them.
Now with hand-writing recognition.

113. Design

114. Site Maps

115. Conceptual DesignDesign: Site Maps
“A site map is a high-level diagram
showing the hierarchy of a system. Site
maps reflect the information structure,
but are not necessarily indicative of the
navigation structure.”
– Step Two Designs

118. Site Map Tools:
• Omnigraffle (Mac)
• Microsoft Visio
• InDesign
• Sketch
Design: Site Maps

119. Page Types & Templates
The Mercator Atlas of Europe
From The British Library

120. Home Page Category Page Details Page
Examples:
Design: Page Types & Templates

121. Navigation
Navigation Bridge, USS Enterprise
by Serendigity, Flickr

122. “Navigation refers to those
elements in the UI that allow
users to reach specific
information on the site.”
– Nielsen Norman Group
Self Study
The Difference Between Information Architecture (IA) and Navigation
Design: Navigation

123. Types of Navigation
• Site Structure – major nav
• Hierarchical – product families
• Function – sitemap, privacy
• Direct – banner ad/shortcut
• Reference – related links
• Dynamic – search results
• Faceted Navigation – filters results
• Breadcrumb – location
• Step Navigation – sequence through forms/results
Self Study
Adapted from Atsushi Hasegagwa’s The 7 Navigation Types of Web Sites
Design: Navigation

124. Areas of Navigation
• Global – universal header/footer
• Local – left nav/right nav
• Local content – text links, buttons
Self Study
Adapted from Atsushi Hasegagwa’s The 7 Navigation Types of Web Sites
Design: Navigation

125. Self Study
Adapted from Atsushi Hasegagwa’s The 7 Navigation Types of Web Sites
Styles of Navigation
• Rollover
• Dropdown
• Flyout
• Tabs
• Accordion
• Hamburger
Design: Navigation

126. Mega Dropdowns
Design: Navigation

127. Design: Navigation

128. Power Footers
Design: Navigation

129. Afternoon Break

130. Sketching
Aerial Screw by Leonardo da Vinci, 1485-1487

131. “There are techniques and
processes whereby we can put
experience front and center in
design. My belief is that the
basis for doing so lies in
extending the traditional practice
of sketching. ”
—Bill Buxton
Design: Sketching

132. Attributes of a Sketch
• Quick
• Timely
• Inexpensive
• Disposable
• Plentiful
• Clear vocabulary
• Distinct gesture
• Minimal detail
• Appropriate degree of refinement
• Suggest & explore rather than confirm
• Ambiguity
Design: Sketching

133. - Stefan Klocek, “Better together;
the practice of successful
creative collaboration,” Cooper
Journal
“Ninja. Rockstar. Gifted
genius. Many of the ways
we talk about creative
work (whether it’s design
or development) only
capture the brilliance of a
single individual.”
Design: Sketching
Emphasizing
Collaboration

134. Defining Collaborative
Sketching
• Rooted in Design Studio Methodology
• Grew out of industrial design and
architecture
• No “rockstars”
• Todd Zaki Warfel
o Create. Pitch. Critique.
o 6.8.5 (6 to 8 sketches in 5 minutes)
• Different versions/methods but steps
included to encourage outcomes
Design: Sketching

135. Goals for Collaborative Sketching
• To communicate your ideas effectively by visualizing
them
• To benefit from the participation of your colleagues
• To quickly generate ideas and refine through iterations
Design: Sketching

136. 1.Discuss
2.Sketch
3.Share
4.Iterate
Design: Sketching
Process

137. • Discuss the purpose of the specific experience you’re
sketching
• What does it need to accomplish?
• What features are necessary?
• How would you prioritize them?
• Who’s the audience?
• You’re not discussing layout or design
• Just the problem you’re trying to solve
• You’re not sketching yet
Discuss
Design: Sketching

139. Sketch
• Sketch silently
• Limit your time – 5,10 minutes
• Sketch as much as possible, as many different
ideas as possible
• Don’t worry about mistakes or style
• Emphasis is on the quantity of ideas, not the
quality of the sketches
Design: Sketching

140. Design: Sketching

141. Design: Sketching

142. Share
• Review your work with your team
• Keep it short – 60 seconds each
• Offer your feedback to others
• What you like
• Questions about what didn’t work for you
• You’re not grilling your colleagues and this isn’t a
competition
Design: Sketching

143. Iterate
• Now sketch again if you need to
• Or collaborate on a high-level wireframe (e.g.
via whiteboard)
• Then begin your wireframe with a more
informed view, with more and better ideas
• Iterate on your design
Design: Sketching

144. Class Exercise:
In teams, sketch your ideas.
Event Detail Page
1. Take 15 minutes first to
discuss what features
belong here
Remember, no sketching
yet
Design: Sketching

145. Class Exercise:
In teams, sketch your ideas.
Event Detail Page
1. Take 15 minutes first to discuss what features belong
here
2. Time for silent sketching
Design: Sketching

146. Class Exercise:
In teams, sketch your ideas.
Event Detail Page
1. Take 15 minutes first to discuss what features belong
here
2. Time for silent sketching
3. Time for sharing your sketches
Design: Sketching

147. Class Exercise:
Did you come up with any
differentiating ideas for an
event page?
Design: Sketching

148. Sketching Tools:
The following apps are all for the
iPad:
• Adobe Ideas (Free)
• Bamboo Paper (Free)
• Muji Notebook ($3.99)
• Penultimate (Free)
• SketchBook (Free)
• Paper (Free)
• Adonit Forge (Free)
Design: Sketching

149. Wireframes
sculpture by Jaume Plensa, Yorkshire Sculpture Park

150. Wireframes
“Web site wireframes are blue prints that
define a Web page’s content and
functionality. They do not convey design –
e.g. colors, graphics, or fonts.”
- FatPurple
Design: Wireframes

155. Design a Home Page
In your teams, create your final deliverable, a
home page for Events.com
1) Discuss features needed for a
homepage
Design: Home Page

156. Design a Home Page
In your teams, create your final deliverable, a home page for
Events.com
1) Discuss features needed for a homepage
2) Sketch your ideas for a homepage
individually
Design: Home Page

157. Design a Home Page
In your teams, create your final deliverable, a home page for
Events.com
1) Discuss features needed for a homepage
2) Sketch your ideas for a homepage
individually
3) Discuss your sketches again with your
team
Design: Home Page

158. Discussion
Did you think to incorporate …
1) Filter by date, price, location?
2) City switcher?
3) Add an event?
4) What differentiates your design from others?
Design: Home Page

159. Wireframing & Prototyping
Tools:
• Adobe XD
• Axure
• Figma
• Invision Studio
• Mockingbird (online, free)
• Omnigraffle
• Sketch
• Visio
Self Study
Smashing Magazine: 35 Excellent Wireframing Resources
Also:
• Balsamiq
• iPlotz
• iMockups (iPad)
• Omnigraffle (iPad)
Design: Wireframes

160. Usability Testing
Testing apps on the iPad by K2_UX

161. Usability Testing
“Usability testing refers to evaluating a product or service by
testing it with representative users. Typically, during a test,
participants will try to complete typical tasks while observers
watch, listen and takes notes. The goal is to identify any
usability problems, collect qualitative and quantitative
data and determine the participant's satisfaction with the
product.”
- usability.gov
Design: Usability Testing

162. Types
• Paper prototype
• Clickable prototype
• Full HTML
• Eyetracking
Design: Usability Testing
Methods
• In person/remote
• Moderated/unmoderated
• “Guerilla”

163. Responsive Design

164. Responsive Web Design
“Rather than tailoring disconnected designs to each of an ever-
increasing number of web devices, we can treat them as facets
of the same experience. We can design for an optimal viewing
experience, but embed standards-based technologies into our
designs to make them not only more flexible, but more adaptive
to the media that renders them. In short, we need to
practice responsive web design.”
– Ethan Marcotte, Responsive Web Design, A List Apart
Self Study
Ethan Marcotte: Responsive Web Design
Design: Responsive Design

165. Design: Responsive Design

166. Responsive Design Characteristics
• Think “mobile first”
• Maintain content and features across devices
• Adjust designs to display content effectively on various
devices or resolutions
• Reposition modules if needed but maintain hierarchies
• Much more in my Guidelines for Responsive UX Design
class
Design: Responsive Design

167. Final Home Page Collaboration
In your teams, create your final deliverable, a home page for Events.com
Collaborate as a team on a final version of the home
page
Design: Final Exercise

168. Development

169. Books:
• Information Architecture for the World Wide
Web – Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville
• Information Architecture: Blueprints for the
Web – Christina Wodtke, Austin Govella
• The Elements of User Experience – Jesse
James Garrett
• Designing Web Navigation: Optimizing the
User Experience – James Kalbach, Aaron
Gustafson
• Design of Everyday Things – Donald
Norman
• Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug
• Lean UX – Jeff Gothelf, Josh Seiden
• Responsive Web Design – Ethan Marcotte
Additional Resources
Web Sites:
• Alertbox
• A List Apart
• Boxes & Arrows
• wireframes.tumblr.com

170. Further Studies:
• School of Visual Arts
• Continuing Ed classes
• MFA in Interaction Design
• The IA Summit
• Interaction 19 (IXDA)
• Pratt – Course in Information Design
• Rosenfeld Media
• General Assembly
• Skillshare
• The Information Architecture Institute
• Nielsen Norman Group
• User Interface Engineering
Additional Resources
Videos:
• The Design Studio Method – Todd Zaki
Warfel (Vimeo)
• The Right Way to Wireframe – Russ Unger
(YouTube)

171. Podcast
Khoi Vinh

172. My article on how to find a UX job:
UX: Your Guerilla Guide to Breaking In

173. My next class

174. Also Recommended

175. Slideshare address:
www.slideshare.net/stribs
stribley@outlook.com

176. Q&A

177. thank you