UX projects differ by industry and product and situation. Here are a couple of basic patterns.
To practice this pattern, we are going to use todo.html
Hypothesis -- todo.html is an excellent todo app
Cognitive walk trough -- what does excellent mean when it comes to todo list apps?
-- what kind of excellence is feasible given the current situation (budget, skills)
Heuristic analysis -- you are the experts. Use todo.html: what works, what doesn't, what would improve it
then get chatgpt to re-prototype and test again
Either of those two patterns might take place entirely in one person's head, but typically many people with different skill-sets are involved as well as a project manager who keeps the whole process running smoothly on time and on budjet.
If the object of analysis already exists
, like an app or a website or a device or a service, you are engaged in finding out if it does what it is supposed to do, how easy it is to use, and if there are any off lable uses. Sometimes users find unexpected ways to use a product or to find previously unknown ways to do what is known it can do.
If the object of analysis does not yet exist
, you are participating in a design/test/re-design/test/prototype/test iteration
Review the following case studies for format and content. Then use Claude and ChatGPT to get their advice about what the standard parts of a UX case study are. Here are the results of one such query. Using what you observed andd the AI advice you were able to generate, write a template for a potential UX case study, subject headings only.
Haven Self Care Meditation App UX UI Case Study
Book Share UX UI Case Study (PDF)
Building a platform for pet parents "Whiskers" -- UX Case Study
We have a prototype todo.html app built by ChatGPt. We will use it to learn what it can and cannot do. We will brainstorm a list of usability improvements and then see if we can get ChatGPT to create our improved version. If we can, then we will see if we can add a new feature or two. This kind of study is basically a heuristic study in that we are the experts and the informants. The difficulty here will be in describing what we want clearly enough to get ChatGPT to make it for us. We may need to try agin and perhaps again.
We are going to enlist a friend each to use our todo app while we observe them using it. This will give us a change to practice observation research. Recording, note-taking, staying out of the way. We will also explain think aloud protocal to our testers and ask them to talk us through their first encounter and and use of the app.
The first part of this assignment will be to select screen and user recording software.
George: Hey ChatGPT, Can you suggest some free screen and voice recorder software options?
ChatGPT: Certainly! There are several free screen and voice recorder software options available. Here are a few popular ones:
- OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software): OBS Studio is a versatile open-source software that allows you to record your screen and capture audio. It's widely used by gamers and streamers but can be used for various recording purposes.
- ShareX: ShareX is an open-source screen capture and recording software that offers a wide range of features, including the ability to record both screen and audio. It's highly customizable and offers post-capture editing tools.
- Flashback Express: Flashback Express is a user-friendly screen recorder that's free to use. It allows you to record your screen, webcam, and audio. The free version has some limitations but is suitable for basic recording needs.
- Screencast-O-Matic: Screencast-O-Matic offers a free version that allows you to record your screen, webcam, and voice. It's easy to use and suitable for creating tutorials and basic recordings.
- Apowersoft Online Screen Recorder: This is an online screen recording tool that's simple to use. It doesn't require any downloads or installations. It can capture both screen and audio, making it a convenient choice.
- Icecream Screen Recorder: Icecream Screen Recorder is a free and user-friendly tool for capturing your screen and adding voice narration. It also offers basic editing features.
Remember that the availability of features and ease of use may vary from one software to another. It's a good idea to try out a few of these options to see which one best suits your needs and preferences.
We will assign one of these to each of us. Your task is to use the one assigned to you and make a pitch to the rest of us for or against using the one you tested.
Interviewing testers. Obviously interviews can serve different purposes in different contexts. Interrogation is different from cross examination and both are profoundly at odds with interviewing users. There is nothing advirsarial nor conspiratorial happening here. Nor is this a job interview where the candidate is trying to impress the interviewer while the interviewer is trying to understand the other as a person and potential co-worker. When doing UX, the goal is to verify what you think you observed about their experience. The user isn't trying to hide or accommodate and the interviewer isn't pushing an agenda or making decisions about the user as user (this product is not for this type of user is not the right kind of conclusion). Interviews like these are conversations where the user does 90% of the talking and the interviewer simply asks short, clear, questions, and listens intently, perhaps asking for clarification or asking a follow-up question to go further down a train of thought. The tone should be conversational. The interviewer needs to resist any effort to guide the answers towards expected or preferred outcomes. Your goal is always to be supportive and attentive but not in anyway directive.
So, what would the primary goal of the todo interview be? Might they be different depending on the interviewee or should the goal be the same? What questions should you ask and in what order? Where are there possible branches and how might you know if you need to branch?
George: Hey Bing, What are some best practices for user experience intervieing?
Bing: Some best practices for user experience interviewing are:
- Set a clear goal and objective for your interviews. What do you want to learn from your users? How will you use the insights to inform your design decisions?
- Recruit the right participants. You want to interview people who represent your target users, not just anyone who is available or willing. Use screening criteria to select participants who match your user personas or segments.
- Find a suitable location. You want to conduct your interviews in a place that is comfortable, quiet, and free of distractions. Ideally, you want to observe your users in their natural environment, where they would normally use your product or service.
- Write effective interview questions. You want to ask open-ended, non-leading, and unbiased questions that elicit rich and detailed responses from your users. Avoid yes/no questions, multiple-choice questions, or questions that suggest a desired answer.
- Conduct the interview with empathy and respect. You want to establish rapport with your users, listen actively, and probe deeper into their answers. Don't judge, interrupt, or argue with your users. Remember, you are there to learn from them, not to test them.
- Report on the interview results. You want to analyze the data you collected from your interviews, identify patterns and themes, and synthesize key insights and findings. You also want to communicate your results to your team and stakeholders in a clear and actionable way.
This is solid advice. You might want to run the query yourself as Bing offered references.
Now we are going to design an app or a website (what's the difference?) or a product or service. We will take this as far as a mockup, perhaps a highfidelity mockup but not a fully functioning thing. Stopping just short will relieve us of having to code, to say nothing of arranging manufacturing. Although, if you want to take it that far I won't stand in your way.