User-Centered Analysis and Conceptual Design (UCA)

Strategy

Introduction to UCA

• Mental models
• Knowing how the user works
• Which UCA steps to perform
• Obstacles of user-centered analysis
• ROI—justifying the right process

Exercise: Evaluate task flow

Exercise: Calculate ROI

Creating a Design Strategy

• Components of a design strategy
• Site strategy drives design strategy
• Where to get strategy information
• Mining existing documentation
• Working with brand objectives

Exercise: Develop a design strategy

Uncovering the user’s conceptual model

Profiles and Personas

• The value of profiles and personas
• User profiles
• Task profiles
• Environment profiles
• Personas

Exercise: Develop user profiles

Exercise: Develop high-level task / content list

Exercise: Create task prioritization diagram

Exercise: Create environmental profile

Exercise: Develop personas

Field Studies

• Data gathering methods
• Choosing the right method
• Elements of the field interview
• Developing good interview questions
• Good and bad interview technique
• Conducting a user observation

Exercise: Write interview questions

Exercise: Conduct interviews

Complementary Data Gathering Methods

• Value of complementary methods
• Focus groups
• User group meetings and usability roundtables
• Facilitated workshops and JAD sessions
• Using surveys and other indirect methods
• Online surveys
• Using multiple methods

Exercise: Create online survey

Exercise: Choose the best data gathering method to use

Deriving the user experience model

Scenario and Task Analysis

• The power of a scenario
• Scenarios vs. use cases
• Determining the level of detail
• Scenarios drive priorities
• Identifying functions and tasks
• Common errors and challenges in task analysis
• Characterizing the new task design

Exercise: Develop scenarios

Exercise: Fix task flow

Primary Noun Architecture

• Value of primary nouns
• Identifying primary nouns
• Describing primary nouns
• Primary noun views
• Defining primary noun details
• From primary nouns to navigation

Exercise: Determine primary nouns and views

Exercise: Develop primary noun table

Exercise: Create high-level navigation diagram

Information Architecture

• Costs of poor organization
• Basic organization schemes
• Hybrid schemes
• Shallow vs. deep structures
• Labeling systems
• Affinity diagrams and card sorting techniques
• Card sorting tools

Exercise: Conduct and analyze a card sort

Exercise: Create high-level information architecture

Getting Ready for Design

• Getting sign-off on the contract for design
• Using concept sketches to drive out requirements
• Setting usability criteria

Exercise: Develop usability criteria