Topic 7 DT HL

User-Centred Design (UCD)

Designing with the user's needs, tasks, and environment in mind for a better experience.

Iterative UCD Process

A process that involves users and uses their feedback often to improve the product.

UCD Team

A team with different skills who understand the user, the task, and where the product is used.

5 Stages of UCD

Research, Concept, Design, Implementation, Launch.

Research Stage

Learning about users through interviews, focus groups, and observing how they use products.

Concept Stage

Thinking of creative ideas to solve user problems.

Design Stage

Creating and testing mock-ups of the product again and again.

Implementation Stage

Final testing of the real, working product.

Launch Stage

Releasing the product to users, making the change from old to new easy.

Disadvantages of UCD

Takes more time, costs more, hard to use all the feedback.

Advantages of UCD

The product fits users better and is easier to use.

User

The person using the product.

Task

What the user wants to do with the product.

Environment

Where the product will be used.

Inclusive Design

Designing for everyone, including those with disabilities or challenges.

Anthropologist

Studies human behavior and why people do what they do.

Ethnographer

Studies cultures and societies by observing people directly.

Psychologist

Studies mental health and human behavior.

Usability

How easy and effective a product is to use.

Usability Objectives

Usefulness, effectiveness, learnability, and how users feel about the product.

Enhanced Usability

Leads to better acceptance, fewer mistakes, faster use, and less training needed.

Usefulness

How well the product helps the user do what they want.

Effectiveness

How accurately and quickly the task can be done.

Learnability

How easy it is to learn how to use the product.

Attitude

How the user feels about using the product.

Simplicity and Ease of Use

The product is not confusing or hard to use.

Intuitive Logic & Organisation

The layout and features make sense.

Low Memory Burden

The user doesn't have to remember too much to use the product.

Visibility

Important features are easy to see.

Feedback

The product gives responses to show actions were successful.

Affordance

The shape/design shows how to use it (e.g. a handle shows it should be pulled).

Mapping

Buttons and controls match the real-world outcome (e.g. stove knob positions).

Constraints

Design that limits incorrect use.

Population Stereotypes

Common expectations of how something works, based on culture.

User Population

The people who might use the product.

Classification of Users

Sorting users by age, gender, habits, physical condition, etc.

Personae

Made-up characters that represent the typical user.

Secondary Personae

Not the main user, but still important.

Anti-Personae

People the product isn't for.

User Research

Studying how users behave and what they need.

Scenarios

Stories showing how a user might use the product.

Use Case

A step-by-step explanation of how the user interacts with the product.

Field Research

Watching people use the product in real life.

Method of Extremes

Testing the product with users who are very different from each other.

Observation Strategy

Watching how people use products and learning from their actions.

Focus Groups Strategy

Talking to groups of users to hear their opinions and ideas.

Affinity Diagramming

Organising ideas from group brainstorming.

Participatory Design

Letting users help design the product.

Paper Prototyping

Users test a paper version of the product.

Role of Facilitator

Guides the test and explains how to use the prototype.

Role of User

Pretends to be the real user of the product.

Role of Computer

A person acts like the system and responds to the user's actions.

Usability Laboratory

A place where users are tested and watched by researchers in another room.

Testing House

A company that tests products with real users.

Four-Pleasure Framework

Includes socio, physio, psycho, and ideo pleasure.

Socio-Pleasure

Enjoyment from connecting with others (e.g. social media).

Physio-Pleasure

Pleasure from touch, sound, or smell (e.g. good pen feel).

Psycho-Pleasure

Satisfaction from thinking, learning, or solving (e.g. puzzles).

Ideo-Pleasure

Pleasure from supporting values or ethics (e.g. buying eco-products).

ACT Model

Design method to create positive emotional responses.

Attract (ACT)

How it looks and draws attention.

Converse (ACT)

How users interact with it.

Transact (ACT)

How well it works and meets needs.