COMP719-2025-S1-Wk7-2

COMP719-2025-S1-L7 User Research 1: Cognitive Task Analysis

Design Thinking Phases

• A non-linear approach to tackle ill-defined or unknown problems involving five phases:

  • Empathize

  • Define

  • Ideate

  • Prototype

  • Test

  • Implement

• Note that the process is not linear.

The Double Diamond Design Thinking Process

• Adapted from the Design Council (2004).

• Involves a cyclical process: User Problem -> Tasks / Activities -> Context Phenomenon -> Design Problem.

HCI Analysis-Design-Evaluate Process

Analysis / User Research (Empathize)

• Understand the User Problem.

• Problem Analysis:

  • Who are the users?

  • What do they do?

  • What's difficult?

  • Why is it difficult?

• User – Task, Activities, Work:

  • What is the primary task?

  • Context, Purpose

  • Work Phenomenon

• Methods:

  • Interviews

  • Task Analysis (TA): HTA, Process chart / process maps, model the problem

  • Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA): cognitive strategies

  • Observation

  • Surveys and Questionnaires

  • User Journey Map

  • Personas

• Understanding Human Capabilities and limits e.g. ABCS Framework

Design (Define & Ideate)

• Define the Design Problem:

  • What will the design do to address the problem and primary task?

• Ideate:

  • Generate several design alternatives

  • Conceptual Design

Prototype

• Rapid prototyping

• Lo-fidelity prototyping

  • Sketching, storytelling

  • Storyboards

  • Wireframes

  • Mock-ups

• Hi-fidelity prototype (interactive)

• Implement as software

Evaluate (Test)

• Evaluate without people (analytic methods)

  • Heuristic Evaluation (expert)

  • Cognitive Walkthrough

  • e.g. Human Working Memory Capacity (7 \pm 2), GOMS / KLM, PUMA, Fitts Law, etc.

• Evaluate with people

  • Controlled settings

    • Usability Testing

    • Usability Experiments

    • Usability labs

  • Natural settings

    • Living labs

    • Field studies (studying actual users use a device in-situ)

Stage comparison

• Double Diamond stages: Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver

• NN/g Design Thinking stages: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, Implement