Introduction + Process + Interviewing
Session 1 - April 3, 2014
School of Visual Concepts - UX1
http://svc-ux1.leannagingras.com
Week 1: Introduction, process and interviewing
what is UX? what does “doing UX” look like?
Week 2: Analysis and workflows
how do we use our interview insights?
Week 3: User-centered design techniques
how do we go from workflows to good designs?
Week 4: Prototyping and guerilla testing
how do we communicate and test design?
Week 5: Measuring UX
how do we measure UX impact and make UX actionable?
Class: Lecture, discussion, exercises, and studio
Homework: Readings - articles, blogs, books
Project: Apply what you learn as we go
Questions? Need help?
Website: http://svc-ux1.leannagingras.com
Email: gingras.leanna@gmail.com
Twitter: @leegoesplaces
Agenda
Week 1: Introduction, process and interviewing
● Introduction, review syllabus
● What does good UX mean?
● Core principles of UX
● What does UX in action look like?
● Interviewing!
WHAT DOES GOOD UX MEAN?
iPhone Wethar app vs Dark Sky app
http://semanticstudios.com/publications/semantics/000029.php
every facet means something different to
different people in different contexts.
To create a good user experience, first you have to understand what “bad” means.
THE DEFINITION OF “USEFUL” DEPENDS ON THE USER
“When creating great experiences, it’s not so much about doing
what users expect. Instead, it’s about creating a design that
clearly meets their needs at the instant they need it.” – Jared
Spool
CORE PRINCIPLES OF UX
COLLABORATION
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kjb727/5711194174/
LEARNING FAST
We dig sketching because it’s fast, easy and disposable
http://uxdesign.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/05/what-is-user-experience-design-overview-tools-and-resources/
UNDERSTANDING USERS
UNDERSTANDING
CONTEXT
Context totally changes how users approach the problem “I want to share my thoughts”.
NEEDS, NOT FEATURES
http://blog.1000memories.com/94-number-of-photos-ever-taken-digital-and-analog-in-shoebox
ALIGNING PERSPECTIVES
Squarespace’s target user here is the website’s audience: the casual browser. My users!
Squarespace’s target user here is the website’s administrator or content creator. ME!!!
WHAT DOES UX IN ACTION LOOK
LIKE?
Source: UX for Lean Startups
http://www.jjg.net/elements/pdf/elements_simpleplanes.pdf
http://www.discoverdesign.org/design/process
http://www.discoverdesign.org/design/process
http://www.discoverdesign.org/design/process
http://www.discoverdesign.org/design/process
UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
https://people.musc.edu/~paggis/WebMakers/pix/UseSidewalks.jpg
A problem can have multiple solutions, but the correct design depends on what the user
needs.
GOOD PROBLEM DEFINITIONS
BAD: People forget to take their pills
EHH: People with complicated pill schedules forget to take their pills
GOOD: Tom needs to take his antibiotics every 12 hours
GOOD: Young, busy professionals forget their pills
GOOD: Chronically ill people need to take specific pill combinations multiple times a day
Define your problem.
tell us about the project you’ll be working on.
what problem are you trying to solve?
who are you trying to solve it for?
INTERVIEWING
UX DETECTIVE WORK
Competitive analysis
Market analysis
Google trends
Tweets and Facebook comments
Support calls
Metrics
Interviewing
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED
1. Decide what you want to learn
2. Decide who you want to learn about
3. Decide where you will learn it
4. Decide how you will learn it
“Please show me how you organize your primary source material”
GET THEM TO SHOW, NOT TELL
Here, student drew a picture of her studying setup. She arranges all her materials into
different piles by time, and then re-arranges them by usefulness as needed.
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN
Goal: Create an app that helps personal trainers and their clients work
together better
Interview objectives:
● learn what information PTs and clients are sharing now
● learn how the team keeps track of overall workout program progress
● learn what tools clients use during actual workouts on-site
Goal: Create an app that helps personal trainers and their clients work
together better
Interview objectives:
● learn what information PTs and clients are sharing now during sessions
● learn how the team keeps track of overall workout program progress
● learn what tools clients use during actual workouts on-site
DECIDE WHO YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT
Goal: Create an app that helps personal trainers and their clients work
together better
Interview objectives:
● learn what information PTs and clients are sharing now during sessions
● learn how the team keeps track of overall workout program progress
● learn what tools clients use during actual workouts on-site at the gym
DECIDE WHERE YOU WILL LEARN IT
Goal: Create an app that helps personal trainers and their clients work
together better
Interview objectives:
● learn what information PTs and clients are sharing now
“walk me through the history of your working relationship”
observe: what do they talk about during their sessions?
● learn how the team keeps track of overall workout program progress
● learn what tools clients use during actual workouts on-site
DECIDE HOW YOU’LL LEARN IT
DOCUMENT IT
Your options:
● Notes
● Audio
● Photos
● Videotape
● Sketches
● Be creative
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
● debrief with team as soon as possible!
● scribble down top 5 impressions
● refine interview guide if needed
INTERVIEWING TIPS
● Your most powerful tool is show & tell!
● Ask questions that allow for explanations & stories
● Ask why, even if it seems dumb or obvious
● Use silence to your advantage - wait 3 seconds after they finish a sentence
● Listen, listen, listen! Be engaged in your body language & don’t check your phone
● Resist the urge to correct them! their misconceptions are clues to go digging
For more, check out Steve Pordigal’s Interviewing Users
Exercise: Interview
Pair up with someone in class.
One of you come see me for your secret objective.
Exercise: Get ready to interview
Pair up with someone in class &
brainstorm “show and tell” questions for your project.
Homework:
Plan your interview objectives, location, questions.
Interview 3 people who fit your target user.
Bring notes next week!

Session 1: UX Process + Interviewing